City Life

Lyrics, Music and Vocal: Xu Duo

Through the red-eyed woman workers working overtime,

Through the small street vendors who run for escape when policemen come,

Through the workers standing on a roof of a high-rise threatening to jump if their salary is not to be paid,

Through the small low houses rented to the migrant workers outside the fifth-ring road,

We have to take a second look at the city.

Through that recently abolished migrant detaining regulation,

Through that finger cut off by a machine like a falling leave,

Through the miners in the dark pit risking their life at any moment,

Let all hypocrisy and unfairness get out of the way.

Salespersons are hawking the European life-style,

Hawking lottery and “super-girl competition”, these dreams are mirages,

Hawking their desires, with fancy packaging,

Hawking us, the cheap and durable goods.

Just do not think that the world will stay like this,

Just do not think that the poor can be easily written off,

Just do not think that your trick can cheat all of us,

Let all hypocrisy and unfairness get out of the way.