Recently I am reading Lyrics, Painting and Life, a book written by veteran Cantonese lyricist Cheng Kwok Kong. I am not very familiar with his lyrics but I still respect him a lot. I would have given up teaching, if I were to keep an education officer’s job and rush Cantonese lyrics after working hours. But Mr Cheng did not give up teaching. And his persistence helped him produce children and motivational songs.
It was a tough job to write lyrics back then. The music labels gave musical stave to a lyricist, who needs to replay his or her walkman / radio again and again to write lyrics. Cheng always received songs for recording the next day. Which meant the lyrics could not be edited anymore after it was submitted. Several chapters of the book also shared the inspiration of some of his songs. More outstanding was that he could edit his lyrics when taking public transport to submit his work at offices of music label or recording studio.
Given Mr Cheng’s perseverance and his capability to handle and achieve great accomplishment in different genre of lyrics writing, it is worthwhile for translators to learn from him. Coming back to my translation and copywriting work, I always strive to delve into different genres to broaden and strengthen my business writing. At the end of the day, it still boils down to reading more and listening to various programmes to acquire new knowledge.
最近睡前讀著香港資深詞人鄭國江的書《詞畫人生》。我個人對他的歌詞不大熟悉，但是心中依然非常佩服他。說實在的，若要我數十年堅持教書，下班時間不斷趕工寫著一首又一首廣東歌詞，我大概會首先放棄教職。但鄭Sir數十年不變，這份堅持亦成就了他筆下很多首兒歌與勵志歌。
那個時代的填詞人實在不好當。唱片公司常常拿簡譜給填詞人，卡式錄音帶必須不斷倒帶重聽旋律，這才能寫好一闕詞。鄭國江常常接到第二天馬上要錄音的曲，所以歌詞填下去不能再改，他在書中亦分享一些歌的靈感來源。更厲害的是，他可以搭車時候一邊修改歌詞，到了唱片公司或錄音室馬上交稿。
鄭國江堅持不懈的精神確實很值得譯者學習。他的詞路很廣，而且每個詞類都有很高成就。對照翻譯與廣告文案工作，我則要求自己多涉獵幾個領域，好好磨練既廣且深的一枝筆，說到底還是靠讀書、多聽節目學習新知識。
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