"自由花" (Flowers of Freedom) - Cantonese Hymn of the Tiananmen Square Protests [Lyrics + Translation]

From the night of June 3rd through the early morning of June 4th, 1989, the Chinese People's Liberation Army violently cleared Beijing's Tiananmen Square of protesters, ending a six-week demonstration that had called for democracy and widespread political reform. Chinese troops and security police stormed through Tiananmen Square, firing indiscriminately into the crowds, even literally crushing some protesters beneath their mechanical beasts. As tens of thousands of young students fled, other protesters fought back, stoning the attacking troops, and overturning and setting fire to military vehicles.

That morning, the smell of blood lingered in the hot summer air. The exact number killed may never be known, but estimates range from several hundred to several thousand.

Flowers of Freedom was written by Hong Kong artist Thomas Chow shortly after the protests. The song expresses shock, disbelief, and immense pain. But there is also steely determination, resilience, and hope to be found in its words. It is important not to forget the words, the people, and the enduring message of “flowers of freedom” from the events of China’s past and what it means for its future.

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Romanized Lyrics:

Mōng bät líu dïk Nīn jyùt jáa bät wúi cāam sìk

Säm säm säm cyú cĩ züng jáa gêi jïk Náa nīn náa zìk

Cāng gïng tûng sïk Nīn jyùt léoi zyũn fâa wāi lìk

Jät dĩm zän léi jät gô léi sõeng Wíng jyún dèi cām mìk

Jāu jāu cōeng cōeng gâi zùk cīn hōng Bät dũng hêoi gïng pâa

Gïng gïng gïk gïk tüng tüng zãam hêoi Bät bït dö hôn täa

Fāu fāu cām cām zôk jàt jān kwān Sëoi bät syût jät wàa

Bät sõeng cïng cõ fän sïk tâai dö Zän säm jïk jî gãa

Dàan jáu jät gô mùng Bät wúi sẽi gêi zòek bàa

Mōu lèon jyú zãm mö dãa Zì jāu jīng sì wúi höi fäa

Dàan jáu jät gô mùng Bät wúi sẽi gêi zòek bàa

Lōi zì néi ngó dïk säm Gêi zòek bàa

Mōng bät líu dïk Nīn jyùt jáa bät wúi cāam sìk

Säm säm säm cyú cĩ züng jáa gêi jïk Náa nīn náa zìk

Cāng gïng tûng sïk Nīn jyùt léoi zyũn fâa wāi lìk

Jät dĩm zän léi jät gô léi sõeng Wíng jyún dèi cām mìk

Jāu jāu cōeng cōeng gâi zùk cīn hōng Bät dũng hêoi gïng pâa

Gïng gïng gïk gïk tüng tüng zãam hêoi Bät bït dö hôn täa

Fāu fāu cām cām zôk jàt jān kwān Sëoi bät syût jät wàa

Bät sõeng cïng cõ fän sïk tâai dö Zän säm jïk jî gãa

Dàan jáu jät gô mùng Bät wúi sẽi gêi zòek bàa

Mōu lèon jyú zãm mö dãa Zì jāu jīng sì wúi höi fäa

Dàan jáu jät gô mùng Bät wúi sẽi gêi zòek bàa

Lōi zì néi ngó dïk säm Gêi zòek bàa