Music time! Enjoy “嘀嗒” by Kan Kan

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 侃侃 (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.