世人都曉神仙好，
惟有功名忘不了。
古今將相在何方，
荒冢一堆草沒了。
Though the virtues of the God,
All mankind may fully know,
Earthly longings and ambitions
they unwillingly forego.
Yet pause and think ! The wise and brave
of old, now where are they ?
Their graves overgrown and hidden with weeds
Themselves a heap of clay.
世人都曉神仙好，
只有金銀忘不了。
終朝只恨聚無多，
及到多時眼閉了。
Though the virtues of the God,
All mankind may fully know,
Still the heaping up of riches
They reluctantly forego.
Daily they lament their failure,
With their first and latest breath,
When satiety arrives
Then their eyes are closed in death.
世人都曉神仙好，
只有姣妻忘不了。
君生日日說恩情，
君死又隨人去了。
Though the virtues of the God,
All mankind may fully know,
Still the love of lovely women
They reluctantly forego.
The virtues of their living Lords
Daily, women will commend,
Buried, once beneath the sod
To others they their love extend.
世人都曉神仙好，
只有兒孫忘不了。
癡心父母古來多，
孝順子孫誰見了。
Though the virtues of the God,
All mankind may fully know,
Yet the love of sons and grandsons
They reluctantly forego.
Foolish, tender-hearted parents
in the world are very many --
Filial and obedient children,
Who has ever met with any ?
民歌簡譜
