坎坎 滴答 translation: Di Da, by Kan Kan (Chinese song in Lijiang)

If you’ve ever been to the Old Town in Lijiang (it’s almost a requirement for China tourism), you’ll remember its little winding streets. Part of that for many people is the song 滴答 by the singer 坎坎 (KanKan). It’s a simple song, with just guitar, vocals and violins, but it’s very pleasant to listen to. You’ll know it if you’ve heard it - it has a distinctive onomatopoeia line that repeats throughout the song.

As far as I know, Di Da has become a bit of a cliche. You go to Lijiang on a romantic holiday with your partner, hear Di Da everywhere (every shop plays it on repeat), and after that Di Da becomes your nostalgic song for that holiday. Seriously, it seems like vast numbers of people have had the same experience with this song.

It’s also worth remembering that whilst Lijiang is very nice, it’s also maximised its tourism about as far as you can go. It’s a bit like Venice. It is genuinely a nice place but you can’t get away from the fact that it’s making a lot of money, and everyone there knows it.

Anyway, on with the song!

滴答 lyrics translation

嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒 Dídā dídā dídā dídā

时针它不停在转动 Shízhēn tā bù tíng zài zhuǎndòng The hour hand, it never stops turning

嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒 Dídā dídā dídā dídā

小雨她拍打着水花 Xiǎoyǔ tā pāidǎzhe shuǐhuā Light rain, she patters and splashes

嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒 Dídā dídā dídā dídā

是不是还会牵挂他 Shì bùshì hái huì qiānguà tā Will I still worry about him?

嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒 Dídā dídā dídā dídā

有几滴眼泪已落下 Yǒu jǐ dī yǎnlèi yǐ luòxià A few tears have already fallen

嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒 Dídā dídā dídā dídā

寂寞的夜和谁说话 Jìmò de yè hé shuí shuōhuà In the lonely night, who can you talk to?

嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒 Dídā dídā dídā dídā

伤心的泪儿谁来擦 Shāngxīn de lèi er shuí lái cā Who will wipe away broken-hearted tears?

嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒 Dídā dídā dídā dídā

整理好心情再出发 Zhěnglǐ hǎo xīnqíng zài chūfā Compose your mood then set off

嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒 Dídā dídā dídā dídā

还会有人把你牵挂 Hái huì yǒurén bǎ nǐ qiānguà There are people who will worry about you

嗬嗬！ Hē hē! Hey...

嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒 Dídā dídā dídā dídā

寂寞的夜和谁说话 Jìmò de yè hé shuí shuōhuà In the lonely night, who can you talk to?

嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒 Dídā dídā dídā dídā

伤心的泪儿谁来擦 Shāngxīn de lèi er shuí lái cā Who will wipe away broken-hearted tears?

嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒 Dídā dídā dídā dídā

整理好心情再出发 Zhěnglǐ hǎo xīnqíng zài chūfā Compose your mood then set off

嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒嘀嗒 Dídā dídā dídā dídā

还会有人把你牵挂 Hái huì yǒurén bǎ nǐ qiānguà There are people who will worry about you