Janiza Gesmundo – Late Tang Poetry Assignment
When I read Wang Wei’s “Farewell”, I thought of sad songs from alternative bands that I love listening to. I tried to listen to Secondhand Serenade, Coldplay, MCR, Paramore, Green Day, etc to find the perfect song that best relates to this poem. I believed that I will find one easily because these bands write a lot of “emo” or sad songs that I used to love listening to when I was in high school. When I tried to listen to Dashboard Confessional song “The Best Deceptions”, I immediately knew I’m going to be using that song for this assignment. Just because the first line of the lyrics says:
“I heard about your trip”
and I already knew what was the song is about. “Farewell” by Wang Wei can be understood in a different ways as I read it again and again. For me, I understand it as to someone writing a poem about a friend who is about to leave and having a farewell goodbye. The poem’s first lines are:
“Dismounting, I offer my friend a cup of wine,
I ask what place he is headed to.”
Wang Wei’s simply telling a story of a leave-taking scene by starting to offer his friend a parting drink. He doesn’t know where his friend is going but he is aware about his leave that is why he want to celebrate it. I relate this to Dashboard Confessional’s “The Best Deceptions” as this song is also about a farewell to a friend who is moving somewhere and the writer of the song also didn’t have any idea about the whole trip his friend was headed to. I understand the poem as Wang Wei is questioned about the reasons of his friend’s sudden leave and asking for an explanation.
Meanwhile, Dashboard Confessional’s lyrics include this line many times: “I guess I should have heard of them from you”, the song writer was upset about his friend’s leave and that he wanted to be informed about it. This questions the story why that certain person wanted to a sudden leave and not even telling his friend about his trip. As the Wang Wei’s “Farewell” includes these lines:
“He says he has not achieved his aims”
While in Dashboard Confessional’s “The Best Deceptions”:
“I heard about your regrets
I heard that you were feeling sorry
I heard from someone that you wish you could set things right between us”
In the poem “Farewell”, Wang Wei told us that his friend didn’t achieved his aims, his expectations or predictions. I compare this to “The Best Deceptions” lyrics as the song writer mentioned reasons why his friend left him and had a farewell goodbye.
In “Farewell”, the second to the last line is:
“Now go, and ask me nothing more,”
Wang Wei is now replying a dissatisfaction from his friend whose fulfillment wasn’t met. While Dashboard Confessional has also the same situation as this line from “The Best Deceptions” says:
“I’ll be all right when my hands get warm
Ignoring the phone, I’d rather say nothing
I’d rather you’d never heard my voice”
I found the last line from “Farewell” a little bit confusing as I don’t fully understand what “white clouds drifting” mean. But I understood it as like a promise to a friend that they can still keep in touch with each other. Communication can still happen between them after this sad farewell. His goodbye will not mean a forever leave from his friend.
“White clouds will drift on for all time.” – Farewell, Wang Wei
“So kiss me hard ’cause this will be the last time that I let you
You will be back someday
And this awkward kiss that screams of other people’s lips
Will be of service to keeping you away” – The Best Deceptions, Dashboard Confessional.
Dashboard Confessional’s “The Best Deceptions” lyrics: http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-best-deceptions-lyrics-dashboard-confessional.html
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnGp3ylJ2x8
I found another song that reminded me “Farewell” but it is in a Tagalog language. I grew up listening to Filipino songs and I really love this Filipino band. I found this song that also has a great connection to Wang Wei’s Farewell poem. It’s also about someone who is about to leave and he is upset saying goodbye. Here is the English Translation of the song “Bye Bye Na” by Rivermaya:
“Bye Bye Na” by Rivermaya music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrwuVEHJu1Q
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