You still can't tell her everything,
Because you're still too weak.
You get used to her in no time at all.
You call this your rock 'n' roll.

But your enthusiasm has faded,
And your innocence taken leave.
She knows nothing of your anything.
The way she sees you - so naive.

With the same old style and now old age,
You sustain this mundane happiness with lies.
You have an open mind and a guitar,
And you are looking for a new love to make a little rock 'n' roll.

Someone asks you, "What are you doing?"
You say this is the fashionable rock 'n' roll of today.
Someone asks you, "Don't you feel tired?"
You say you've gotta work and sweat to live for real.
It's no problem; it's simple this way.
Do what you can while you're young.
This isn't love. This is passion.
It's a shock your body gives your rotting soul.

You don't want to tell her everything,
Because you're still too weak.
You're only used to getting her fast,
Because you play a kind of rock 'n' roll.
Maybe she is not home waiting for you,
Maybe she went out alone.
Her reservations just bring on more lies,
And make meaningless all that was wise.

You're full of strength,
But in spite of your honesty, you're frail.
Her body has tradition's sweet smell.
While she waits for fresh flesh rock 'n' roll.

Someone asks you, "What are you doing?"
You say this is the fashionable rock 'n' roll of today.
Someone asks you, "Don't you feel tired?"
You say you've gotta work and sweat to live for real.
It's no problem; it's simple this way.
Do what you can while you're young.
This isn't love. This is passion.
It's a shock your body gives your rotting soul.

Cui Jian: vocals, backing vocals, guitar, programming
Eddie Randriamampionona: acoustic guitar
Zhang Ling: bass
Ba Te: percussion