BUFFER

I came down from the sky that night,
Got in a car to go home; that car wasn't fast.
The sound coming out of the radio made me sick,
It seemed familiar to me but I could do nothing about it.
My tired eyes scanned the gloomy outside,
Actually I didn't see or hear anything.
Afterwards I realized at that time I felt,
A nameless and mysterious pain.

A new problem suddenly came into my life:
I wanted to keep distance from everybody.
I didn't want to see my friends.
I didn't want to bullshit anymore.
I didn't want people to discover my bad temper.
I kept silent and did nothing all night long.
Finally I found out that I love this pissed off pain,
Because I can still see my attitude towards life,
And I can feel like my soul is still alive.

The sounds around me make me sick,
They seem familiar but there is nothing I can do.
The sounds around me make me sick,
So soft and aching; but real.

Everything outside the window looks like another world,
So familiar but with the feel of death.
Just the opposite of the hot blood inside my body,
Just like the still sea can't put out the bonfire
I want to fall asleep with this madness.
I want to wake up with this madness.
And take it with me tomorrow and the next day and forever.
But who knew? I got up next morning and washed my face.
The madness disappeared, and the terror came to me.

Just like before I walked out of my door - careless.
I had no hatred or broken desires.
The sounds still made me sick
And made me believe that death might have a soul.
Hey, I'm back! Hey, I'm back.
I said hello to everybody I knew with the same attitude.
I pretended to be confused,
But it wasn't true.
A kind of unspeakable fear was stronger than the madness.

The sounds around me make me sick,
They seem familiar but there is nothing I can do.
The sounds around me make me sick,
So soft and aching; but real.


music and lyrics: Cui Jian
translation: Ben Moger Williams

Cui Jian: vocals, guitar, bass, programming
Eddie Randriamampionona: lead guitar
Liu Yuan: saxophone
Wang Lan: drums
Qiu Ye: backing vocals
Ba Te: backing vocals