Cannon Fire Lulls The Night

Cannon fire night after night, echo in the city
A street sweeper rests his broom and listens
Cannon fire passes by, waking up the mothers
Cannon fire passes by, an innocent child laments
Midnight sky lights up, flares above the mountains

Cannon fire night after night, echo in the city
A street sweeper rests his broom and listens
Each plane that passes in the night, innocent children are startled
Destroyed shelters, oh yellow flesh and skin
As each night lights up, we’re losing our motherland

Tons of bombs fall on village gates
Tons of bombs fall on golden rice fields
Doors and homes of Viet Nam burn red to the village’s end
Thousands of vehicles, landmines and hand grenades
Thousands of vehicles, enter the towns
Every corner, lies flesh and bones of mothers, brothers and sisters

Cannon fire night after night, echo in the city
A street sweeper rests his broom and listens
Cannons fire night after night, the future falls like yellow leaves
Cannons fire night after night, don’t carry prayers
Children forget to live, each anxious night

Cannon fire night after night, echo in the city
A street sweeper rests his broom and listens
Cannon fire night after night, lull yellow flesh and skin
The familiar sound of cannons is like a sad lament
The children are not old enough to see the motherland.

translated by Tran Duy Tinh