丟丟銅兒 Diu Diu Don-Ah
This nursery rhyme mixes different languages spoken in Taiwan at the time of composition--Taiwanese, Hakka and Japanese. It’s a play of words--words without any specific meaning, used to either create a rhythm or imitate certain sounds. If you listen carefully, you might hear the sound of water dripping in the tunnel!
My arrangement is written in 20th-Century style, using dissonant chords, grace notes, various types of articulation and glissando to capture the playful nature of the folk song.
火車行到伊都，阿末伊都丟，唉唷磅空內。 磅空的水伊都，丟丟銅仔伊都，阿末伊都，丟仔伊都滴落來。
雙腳踏到伊都，阿末伊都丟，唉唷台北市。 看見電燈伊都，丟丟銅仔伊都，阿末伊都，丟仔伊都寫紅字。
人地生疏伊都，阿末伊都丟，唉唷來擱去。 險給黑頭伊都，丟丟銅仔伊都，阿末伊都，丟仔伊都撞半死。
借問公園伊都，阿末伊都丟，唉唷對都去。 問著客人伊都，丟丟銅仔伊都，阿末伊都，丟仔伊都我不知。
拖車走到伊都，阿末伊都丟，唉唷拖我去。 去到公園伊都，丟丟銅仔伊都，阿末伊都，丟仔伊都摸無錢。
拖車大哥伊都，阿末伊都丟，唉唷免生氣。
明年還你伊都，丟丟銅仔伊都，阿末伊都，丟仔伊都有甲利。
The trains goes into the tunnel, inside which the water drips down.
Once stepping into Taipei City, I see neon lights everywhere.
A stranger in the city, I almost get hit by a cab.
I ask people where the park is, but nobody knows.
A truck driver takes me to the park, but I don’t have any money for him.
I said, “Don’t be mad. I’ll pay you back next year, with interest.”