“Every afternoon I stand by the riverbank / Asking the boatman, where is my husband?”, “Every afternoon I stand by the riverbank / The one who pulls the other to death doesn't move”,...).
- Repeat the line “ Birds fly back to the mountain…”
(“Birds fly back to the mountains of mourning / Do you remember this love, everyone?” “Birds fly back to the mountains of mourning / Do you remember this love, everyone?” “Birds fly back to the mountains, it’s dark / I’m sitting in front of the gate, waiting for you”, “Birds fly back to the mountains, it’s dark / There’s no tree for birds to perch on, no food for birds to eat”, “Birds fly back to the mountains, it’s dark / If you don’t take care of things, what are you sitting here for”,…).
- Repeat the line “ When the husband is angry, the wife…”
Maybe you are interested!
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Structure of Tay Folk Song Texts Considered According to Successive Relationships -
The influence of Mong folk songs in the poem The Bride's Song - 1 -
Identifying Vietnamese folk songs from 1945 to present - 4 -
Teaching Dong Anh Folk Songs to vocal music students of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism - 1 -
The Confucianism adaptation in Vietnam through proverbs and folk songs - Vietnamese folk songs - 3
(“When the husband is angry, the wife speaks less / Rice boils on a small fire, it will never burn”, “When the husband is angry, the wife speaks less / When the husband is angry, the wife throws the pestle”, “When the husband is angry, the wife makes peace / Smiles happily and asks: What are you angry about?”, “When the husband is angry, the wife makes peace / Smiles happily and asks: What are you angry about?”,…).
- Repeat the line " Playing with flowers to know the scent of flowers"
(“Playing with flowers lets you know the scent of flowers / Holding them by the feet lets you know how old they are”, “Playing with flowers lets you know the scent of flowers / Pear flowers are white, eggplant flowers are green”, “Playing with flowers lets you know the scent of flowers / Pick them when they are fresh, throw them away when they are withered”, “Playing with flowers lets you know the scent of flowers / First is lily, third is jasmine”,...).
- Repeat the line " With the moon, my love (love) betrays the light"
(“When there is a moon, I am the one who betrays the lamp / When there is a husband, I am the one who betrays the friend who doesn't say hello”, “When there is a moon, love is the light bulb / On the 30th of the first lunar month, I can't find the moon / When there are betel leaves, I am the one who betrays the river / When there are temples in the north and temples in the east, they are left to wither”, “When there is a moon, love is the light bulb / On the 30th of the first lunar month, go find the moon”,...).
- Repeat the line " Have betel but no..."
(“Having betel but no areca / How can we make each other's lips red?”, “Having betel but no lime / Having you but no me is also sad”, “Having betel but no lime / Having blankets and mats but no one to sleep with”,...).
- Repeat the line “ The little bird”
(“The little bird / Its feathers are red / Its beak is yellow / It calls to the people in the village / Don't be greedy for silk and cloth”, “The little bird has a yellow beak / It stands in front of the gate of the village gate and calls to the yellow-clad soldier
/ Don't be greedy for riches and fame and betray my love", "The little bird / Its beak is green / It sits on a branch / It calls, "Hey, brother Sau...", "The little bird, red head, yellow beak / Standing on an old tree calling, "Hey, where's the guy coming from?...", "The little bird / Its tail feathers are red / Its beak is yellow / It sits on a banyan branch",...).
- Repeat the line " Be a worthy man..."
(“Be a man, be worthy of being a man / Eat with your wife and ask for the pot / Live or die, I am also reckless / I will not leave the pot for you” , “ Be a man, be worthy of being a man / Stretch the chopsticks to make them longer, eat the rice of your children”, “Be a man, be worthy of being a man / Bend your back, lean on your knees, carry two sesame seeds”,...).
+ Structural molds
The structure of the group of folk songs has created fixed patterns. This is also a form of repetition. These patterns are formulas and are very diverse. For example :
-Form: " The water... is both clear and cool / The road... is sandy and easy to travel" , the reader (listener) has felt the expression of the form "Place name, landscape, local products" , showing pride in a certain place name. Therefore, to introduce the place where they live, the author often relies on the above form and of course the place name is changed to suit each region . In Ha Bac, people are proud of the characteristics: " The water of Tho Ha is both clear and cool / The road of Van Van is sandy and easy to travel". Thanh Hoa is proud of
The people of Nghe An cannot forget: "The water of Trinh Thon is both clear and cool / The road of Trinh Thon is sandy and easy to walk". The people of Nghe An cannot forget: " The water of Ngoc Son is both clear and cool / The road of Nam Giang is sandy and easy to walk". The folk song of Quang land is: " Binh Dao well is both clear and cool / The road of Binh Dao is sandy and easy to walk / Why do you have red cheeks / Let me miss these moons that don't come back...". The way of composing based on an existing mold is a popular way of composing orally. Although composing according to a mold, the lyrics of the folk song are still suitable because the meaning changes according to each region, time and era. Although composing according to a mold, the lyrics of the folk song are still good, because the feelings of the composer are put into it - a standard mold recognized by everyone - making the folk song both general and specific. General for the whole country, specific to each locality .
- Khuon " ...who built it so high / Who dug the river so deep?"
(“ Who built that mountain so high / Who dug that river so deep?”; “Who built Hong Mountain so high / Who dug Lam River so deep?”; “Who built Thay Rampart so high / Who dug Gianh River so deep?”; “Who built Truoi Mountain so high / Who dug Dinh River so deep?”; “Who built Truong Mountain so high / Who dug Lach Vich so water flows into a basin ?”)
- Khuon " No... also can..."
(“Not fragrant, but jasmine / Not elegant, but a person from Shang Jing”, “Not fragrant, but sandalwood / Not clear, but water flowing from the source”, “Not fragrant, but sandalwood / Not sweet, but water flowing from the Han River / Not fragrant, but jasmine / Not elegant, but a person from Shang Jing”,...).
- The mold " Not greedy...Greed because (of )..."
(“Not greedy for a house with a swaying tile roof / Greedy for a handsome smiling face”, “Not greedy for a field with a pond of money / Greedy for a man with a long beard and a kind heart / Not greedy for a field with a deep pond / Greedy for a man with a long beard and a kind heart”, “Not greedy for a field with a pond of rice / Greedy for a scholar's pen and inkstone”, “Not greedy for a field with a deep pond / Greedy for a scholar with a long beard and a kind heart”,…).
- Mold " If you don't love or remember, then... You still throw it away"
water…"
(“If you don't love or miss me, then don't / And yet pour ginger water to make it spicy”, “If you don't love or miss me, then don't / And yet pour lime water to make it strong”,…)
- Khuon " See... then remember.../ See... then love..."
( “ Seeing coconut makes me think of Ben Tre / Seeing lotus makes me think of Thap Muoi countryside”, or: “ Seeing coconut makes me think of Ben Tre / Seeing beautiful rice flowers makes me think of Can Tho ”).
- The stereotype “ A smart bird flies before it's caught / A smart girl (person)…” (“A smart bird flies before it's caught / A smart girl (person) is already angry when it's in her hand”, “A smart bird flies before it's caught / A smart person (person) smiles before it's caught”, “A smart bird flies before it's caught / A smart person (person) opens his hand to help”,…).
- Mold “ A clever bird perches on the mandarin's roof / A clever man looks for a wife…”
(“A clever bird perches on the roof of a mandarin’s house / A clever man looks for a wife, a good girl looks for a husband”, “A clever bird perches on the roof of a mandarin’s house / A clever man looks for a wife, a good girl looks for a husband / A clever bird is caught in a red net / Whoever can untangle it will be rewarded with a tael of gold”, “A clever bird perches on the roof of a mandarin’s house / A clever man looks for a wife, a good girl looks for a husband / In the past and present, those with rosy cheeks / Would rather serve a gentleman than marry a petty man”,…).
- The mold " Still fate...No fate..."
(“If we are destined, we will marry three pigs / If we are not destined, we will marry a cat with a short tail”, “If we are destined, we will marry three pigs / If we are destined, we will beat three pigs and chase them away / If we are destined, we will be welcomed and escorted / If we are destined, we will leave early and return late, regardless / If we are destined, we will be married to a red dress
"Still destined to sell persimmons / No longer destined to sell jackfruit for her husband to pick", "Still destined to sell persimmons / No longer destined to sell jackfruit for her husband to pick", "Still destined to sell persimmons / No longer destined to sell jackfruit for her husband to pick / Still destined to be picky / No longer destined to grab even male crabs", "Still destined to still be hoeing, still craving / No longer destined to be stuck in the warehouse gate", "Still destined to laugh before speaking / No longer destined to call nine or ten times but not answering", "Still destined to wear sandals and shoes / No longer destined to wear clogs with rope straps", "Still destined to close the door to choose a husband / No longer destined to sell at a shop and sit and watch pedestrians", "Still destined to close the door to choose a husband / No longer destined to open the door to call a beggar", "Still destined to close the door to choose a husband / No longer destined to sit under a persimmon tree to pick flowers", "Still destined to be the one to welcome and see off / No longer destined to be as deserted as Ba Danh pagoda / Still destined to be picky / No longer destined to chew the dregs of pickled onions", "Still destined to be picky / No longer destined to grab taro and onions / Still destined to choose young men / No longer destined to be Mr. he also married her").
- The mold " Old husband, young wife is... / Old wife, young husband is..."
(“Old husband, young wife is fate / Old wife, young husband is wasted money ”, “Old husband, young wife is a fairy / Old wife, young husband is a debt of fate ”, “Old husband, young wife is beautiful / Old wife, young husband is like sisters”, “Old husband, young wife cherish / Young husband, young wife has many bitter things”, “Old husband, young wife are like flowers / Old wife, young husband is like lost ghosts”,…).
- Mold " Single... / Married (Married)..."
(“Unmarried, playing around / Once married, dare not wander anywhere”, “Unmarried, cover up / When married, leave the boat to someone”, “Unmarried, go here and there / When married, just go straight”, “Unmarried, take care of yourself / If your parents take care of you, your flower will wither”.
- Mold “ With you, the market will be crowded / You get married…”
(“With you, the market is crowded / With you getting married, the market is happy”, “With you, the market is crowded / With you getting married, the market is over / With you, the uncle is old
/Without her, the uncle would also pass away”, “With her, the market would be crowded / Without her, the market would not have any session”,…).
Comparison form : there are two types of comparison: analogical comparison and absolute comparison.
Similar comparisons are often expressed through three structures:
+ " ... which (any) is as tall (beautiful, smart,...) as..."
+ " ...which is as deep (good, fierce, handsome,...) as..."
( “ No bridge is higher than Cai Coi bridge / No girl is as good as Ben Tre girl”, “ No lamp is higher than Thu Ngu lamp / No wind is as fierce as Dong Nai wind”, “ No boy is as smart as Cao Lanh boy / No girl is as handsome as Ba Tri girl”, “ No bridge is higher than fame bridge / No duty is heavier than husband and children’s duty”, “No pass is higher than Coc tree pass / No slope is higher than My Cang slope/”, ... ).
+ A like B (A and B are people, things, events,...)
Folk songs often use the comparison form " A like B" . Just the folk songs following the pattern of women's status have vivid comparisons. In Northern folk songs, "My body" is often compared with images: "a piece of peach silk", "falling raindrops", "rain showers", "well in the middle of the road",... ( "My body is like a piece of peach silk / I dare not tear a single square for anyone"; "My body is like a rain shower / Drops falling into the well, drops falling into the flower garden"; "My body is like a well in the middle of the road, / The wise wash their faces, the common people wash their feet",... ). In Central folk songs, "My body" is compared to: "fish swimming in competition for bait", "small boat", "river water", " hanging statue", "star ", "dried areca nut" ( "My body is like fish swimming in competition for bait, / I seek refuge in a big river, a bay"; "My body is like a small boat / Only afraid of the headwind, more afraid of the rough waves", "My body is like a hanging statue / Your body is like a painter carving my heart", "My body is like river water /
Although seeing the face, knowing the depth of the heart", "Your body is like a star / My body is like the Heavenly Emperor sitting on it", "Your body is like a piece of dried areca nut, / The pure prefer thin, the coarse prefer thick",...)... In Southern folk songs, there are images: "floating banyan fruit", "gizzard shank fish"... - images associated with fields, gardens, rivers, canals,... ( "Your body is like a floating banyan fruit / Waves and wind tossing, where do you know where to land?"; "Your body is like a gizzard shank fish / Bustling in the market, who will it end up in?",... ). With the same object, people can compare it with many different images through the creative association and discovery of folk authors. This contributes to the diversity in the way folk songs of different regions are displayed. The content - the idea of the folk song governs the structure. If the content has a comparison, its structure is also a comparative structure.
Absolute comparison mold
The absolute comparison (most) in traditional folk songs is very flexible and diverse, usually:
A + first + A' (A and A' are place names)
( "The most beautiful place in the South is Bang Goi market / The most beautiful place in the North is Van Kham, the most beautiful place in the West is Huong Canh",...)
Adjective + most + is + A (A is a place name)
(“The most joyful is Dong Xuan market / Everything is available, near and far, for sale and purchase”, “The deepest is Bach Dang river / Three times the enemy came, three times the enemy was defeated / The highest is Lam Son mountain / There is Mr. Le Loi advancing from the mountains”,...).
Sometimes the reverse is also true:
Nhat + adjective + is + A (A is a place name)
( “ The highest is Tan Vien mountain / The deepest is Thuy Tien pond in Cua Vuong”, “ The highest is Chop Chai mountain / The widest is the sea, the longest is the river”, “ The highest is Dan Ne mountain / The most crowded is Ban market, the most joyful is Chua market”, “ The highest is Tan Vien mountain
/ I can still overcome my own fate”, “ The highest is Tan Vien mountain / The most beautiful, the most beautiful is the Fairy in the sky”, “ The highest is Vong mountain / The widest is Quyen, the most crowded is Giau market”, “ The most beautiful is the girl from Cau village / Skillful in eating, skillful in dressing, skillful in serving parents”, “ The most delicious is Lam Dien sugarcane...”, “ The deepest is Thai Binh Duong”, ...).
Sometimes it's as simple as ranking:
First...../ Second (second)....
( “ First is the Thanh Hoa queen / Second is the Boi lady, third is the Thach Sung”, “First is close to mother and father / Second is close to the well, third is close to the temple”, “First is afraid of heroes / Second is afraid of poor people who risk their lives”, “First is a foolish wife in the house, second is a slow buffalo, third is a blunt knife”,...).
If traditional folk songs have an absolutely diverse and flexible comparison framework, new folk songs (born after 1945) often have a very standard comparison framework, because the author, when composing, relies on both traditional folk songs and linguistic knowledge. The framework is as follows:
-First line: Place name A + superlative adjective ( “ most beautiful”, “ highest”, “ deepest”, “ longest”,...) + x (landscape, products, people,....). Can be converted into the following template :
A is the most beautiful (tall, deep, long,...) + x
-Next line : Place name B is paired with place name A, has
mold:
B is the most beautiful (tall, deep, long,...) + x'
For example : The most beautiful lotus in Thap Muoi / The most beautiful name in Vietnam is Uncle Ho. Folk songs following this comparative pattern are often paired together, creating an equal comparison between the lines.