Red Cloth” (一块红布, Hóng Bù) is a song by Cui Jian (崔健), often called the father of Chinese rock. Cui Jian rose to fame in the 1980s as a pioneer of rock music in China, using his music to express deep emotions, social critique, and personal struggles. Here’s the Chinese lyrics with English translations, pinyin and more.
This song, like many of Cui Jian’s works, is filled with metaphorical lyrics. The “red cloth” covering the singer’s eyes symbolizes blindness, control, or a loss of freedom, while the song’s tone shifts between obedience, struggle, and resignation. It reflects themes of illusion, censorship, and submission, making it a powerful and thought-provoking piece.
Even if you don’t understand every word, Red Cloth’s haunting melody and raw emotion make it a compelling listen, especially for those interested in the deeper messages within Chinese rock music. If you’re new to Cui Jian, this song is a great introduction to his rebel spirit and poetic lyricism.
崔健 – 一块红布 (1991)
Verse 1
那天是你用一块红布
蒙住我双眼也蒙住了天
你问我看见了什么
我说我看见了幸福
Verse 2
这个感觉真让我舒服
它让我忘掉我没地儿住
你问我还要去何方
我说要上你的路
Verse 3
看不见你也看不见路
我的手也被你攥住
你问我还在想什么
我说要让你做主
Chorus
哦 我感觉你不是铁
却像铁一样的强和烈
哦 我感觉你身上有血
因为你的手是热乎乎
Verse 4
这个感觉真让我舒服
它让我忘掉我没地儿住
你问我还要去何方
我说要上你的路
Bridge
哦 我感觉这不是荒野
却看不见这儿的土地已经干裂
哦 我感觉我要喝点水
可你的嘴将我的嘴堵住
Outro
我不能走我也不能哭
因为我的身体已经干枯
我要永远这样陪伴着你
因为我最知道你的痛苦
Lyrics with pinyin and translation
Verse 1
那天是你用一块红布
Nà tiān shì nǐ yòng yī kuài hóng bù
That day, you used a piece of red cloth
蒙住我双眼也蒙住了天
Méng zhù wǒ shuāng yǎn yě méng zhù le tiān
To cover my eyes and also cover the sky
你问我看见了什么
Nǐ wèn wǒ kàn jiàn le shén me
You asked me what I saw
我说我看见了幸福
Wǒ shuō wǒ kàn jiàn le xìng fú
I said I saw happiness
Verse 2
这个感觉真让我舒服
Zhè gè gǎn jué zhēn ràng wǒ shū fu
This feeling really makes me comfortable
它让我忘掉我没地儿住
Tā ràng wǒ wàng diào wǒ méi dì ér zhù
It makes me forget that I have no place to stay
你问我还要去何方
Nǐ wèn wǒ hái yào qù hé fāng
You asked me where else I wanted to go
我说要上你的路
Wǒ shuō yào shàng nǐ de lù
I said I wanted to follow your path
Verse 3
看不见你也看不见路
Kàn bù jiàn nǐ yě kàn bù jiàn lù
I can’t see you, and I can’t see the road
我的手也被你攥住
Wǒ de shǒu yě bèi nǐ zuàn zhù
My hand is also tightly held by you
你问我还在想什么
Nǐ wèn wǒ hái zài xiǎng shén me
You asked me what I was still thinking about
我说要让你做主
Wǒ shuō yào ràng nǐ zuò zhǔ
I said I wanted you to take control
Chorus
哦 我感觉你不是铁
Ó wǒ gǎn jué nǐ bú shì tiě
Oh, I feel that you are not made of iron
却像铁一样的强和烈
Què xiàng tiě yī yàng de qiáng hé liè
Yet you are as strong and fierce as iron
哦 我感觉你身上有血
Ó wǒ gǎn jué nǐ shēn shàng yǒu xuè
Oh, I feel that there is blood in your body
因为你的手是热乎乎
Yīn wèi nǐ de shǒu shì rè hū hū
Because your hands are warm
Verse 4
这个感觉真让我舒服
Zhè gè gǎn jué zhēn ràng wǒ shū fu
This feeling really makes me comfortable
它让我忘掉我没地儿住
Tā ràng wǒ wàng diào wǒ méi dì ér zhù
It makes me forget that I have no place to stay
你问我还要去何方
Nǐ wèn wǒ hái yào qù hé fāng
You asked me where else I wanted to go
我说要上你的路
Wǒ shuō yào shàng nǐ de lù
I said I wanted to follow your path
Bridge
哦 我感觉这不是荒野
Ó wǒ gǎn jué zhè bú shì huāng yě
Oh, I feel this is not a wasteland
却看不见这儿的土地已经干裂
Què kàn bù jiàn zhè ér de tǔ dì yǐ jīng gān liè
Yet I can’t see that the land here has already cracked
哦 我感觉我要喝点水
Ó wǒ gǎn jué wǒ yào hē diǎn shuǐ
Oh, I feel like I need to drink some water
可你的嘴将我的嘴堵住
Kě nǐ de zuǐ jiāng wǒ de zuǐ dǔ zhù
But your mouth blocks my mouth
Final Verse
我不能走我也不能哭
Wǒ bù néng zǒu wǒ yě bù néng kū
I can’t walk, and I can’t cry
因为我的身体已经干枯
Yīn wèi wǒ de shēn tǐ yǐ jīng gān kū
Because my body has already dried up
我要永远这样陪伴着你
Wǒ yào yǒng yuǎn zhè yàng péi bàn zhe nǐ
I want to stay by your side forever like this
因为我最知道你的痛苦
Yīn wèi wǒ zuì zhī dào nǐ de tòng kǔ
Because I know your pain the best
Key vocabulary from the song
ChinesePinyinEnglish MeaningNotes / Explanation红布hóng bùred clothSymbolizes control, censorship, or blindfolding.蒙住méng zhùto cover, to blindfoldOften used when blocking vision.双眼shuāng yǎnboth eyes双 (shuāng) means “pair” or “both.”幸福xìng fúhappiness, blissDeeper than “快乐 (kuài lè),” often refers to life satisfaction.感觉gǎn juéfeeling, senseCan be a noun or verb (to feel).舒服shū fucomfortableUsed for both physical and emotional comfort.忘掉wàng diàoto forget completelyStronger than just 忘记 (wàng jì).地儿dì érplace (colloquial)Northern Chinese slang for “place.”攥住zuàn zhùto grasp tightlyMore forceful than just “hold” (握住 wò zhù).做主zuò zhǔto make decisions, to take controlLiterally “be the master.”强和烈qiáng hé lièstrong and fierceUsed to describe toughness.身上shēn shàngon the bodyRefers to physical presence.热乎乎rè hū hūwarmA descriptive, affectionate way to say “warm.”荒野huāng yěwilderness, wastelandImplies desolation.土地tǔ dìland, soilRefers to physical ground.干裂gān liècracked due to drynessDescribes parched land.堵住dǔ zhùto block, to sealOften used for stopping movement or sound.干枯gān kūdried up, witheredCan describe plants, bodies, or emotions.陪伴péi bànto accompany, to stay withOften used to express companionship.痛苦tòng kǔpain, sufferingA strong word for emotional or physical distress.
Key sentences & their meanings
1. 那天是你用一块红布，蒙住我双眼也蒙住了天。
Nà tiān shì nǐ yòng yī kuài hóng bù, méng zhù wǒ shuāng yǎn yě méng zhù le tiān.
That day, you used a piece of red cloth to cover my eyes and also cover the sky.
Meaning: This suggests blindfolding, censorship, or control—not just over the individual, but over the entire world.
2. 你问我看见了什么，我说我看见了幸福。
Nǐ wèn wǒ kàn jiàn le shén me, wǒ shuō wǒ kàn jiàn le xìng fú.
You asked me what I saw, I said I saw happiness.
Meaning: The speaker is unable to see reality and instead accepts a false sense of happiness, possibly due to manipulation.
3. 这个感觉真让我舒服，它让我忘掉我没地儿住。
Zhè gè gǎn jué zhēn ràng wǒ shū fu, tā ràng wǒ wàng diào wǒ méi dì ér zhù.
This feeling really makes me comfortable; it makes me forget that I have no place to stay.
Meaning: The comfort is illusory—it makes the person forget their real struggles and displacement.
4. 你问我还要去何方，我说要上你的路。
Nǐ wèn wǒ hái yào qù hé fāng, wǒ shuō yào shàng nǐ de lù.
You asked me where else I wanted to go, I said I wanted to follow your path.
Meaning: This suggests blind obedience—the speaker does not have their own direction and follows someone else’s.
5. 哦，我感觉你不是铁，却像铁一样的强和烈。
Ó, wǒ gǎn jué nǐ bú shì tiě, què xiàng tiě yī yàng de qiáng hé liè.
Oh, I feel that you are not made of iron, yet you are as strong and fierce as iron.
Meaning: The person being addressed is not literally unbreakable, but their will and power are like iron—resilient and forceful.
6. 哦，我感觉你身上有血，因为你的手是热乎乎。
Ó, wǒ gǎn jué nǐ shēn shàng yǒu xuè, yīn wèi nǐ de shǒu shì rè hū hū.
Oh, I feel that there is blood in your body because your hands are warm.
Meaning: This could imply a human presence behind the control—the force guiding the speaker is not a machine but a real person with emotions.
7. 哦，我感觉这不是荒野，却看不见这儿的土地已经干裂。
Ó, wǒ gǎn jué zhè bú shì huāng yě, què kàn bù jiàn zhè ér de tǔ dì yǐ jīng gān liè.
Oh, I feel this is not a wasteland, yet I can’t see that the land here has already cracked.
Meaning: There is a disconnect between perception and reality—the speaker is made to believe they are in a good place, but in reality, the land is suffering.
8. 哦，我感觉我要喝点水，可你的嘴将我的嘴堵住。
Ó, wǒ gǎn jué wǒ yào hē diǎn shuǐ, kě nǐ de zuǐ jiāng wǒ de zuǐ dǔ zhù.
Oh, I feel like I need to drink some water, but your mouth blocks my mouth.
Meaning: This could symbolize suppression of needs, desires, or even freedom of speech.
9. 我不能走我也不能哭，因为我的身体已经干枯。
Wǒ bù néng zǒu wǒ yě bù néng kū, yīn wèi wǒ de shēn tǐ yǐ jīng gān kū.
I cannot walk, and I cannot cry, because my body has already dried up.
Meaning: The speaker has lost all strength and ability to resist, symbolizing total exhaustion or oppression.
10. 我要永远这样陪伴着你，因为我最知道你的痛苦。
Wǒ yào yǒng yuǎn zhè yàng péi bàn zhe nǐ, yīn wèi wǒ zuì zhī dào nǐ de tòng kǔ.
I want to stay by your side forever like this, because I know your pain the best.
Meaning: Despite all suffering, the speaker chooses to remain with the person in power, suggesting loyalty, shared pain, or possibly resignation.
Expressions and phrases to learn
ExpressionPinyinMeaning蒙住双眼méng zhù shuāng yǎnTo blindfold, to cover one’s eyes看不见路kàn bù jiàn lùTo not see the road (metaphor for lack of direction)做主zuò zhǔTo take control, to decide强和烈qiáng hé lièStrong and fierce身上有血shēn shàng yǒu xuèTo have blood in one’s body (symbolizing humanity or life)土地已经干裂tǔ dì yǐ jīng gān lièThe land has already cracked (symbolizing hardship)堵住嘴dǔ zhù zuǐTo block someone’s mouth (symbolizing suppression)不能哭bù néng kūUnable to cry (emotionally or physically exhausted)陪伴着你péi bàn zhe nǐTo accompany you (loyalty or submission)你的痛苦nǐ de tòng kǔYour pain (recognizing suffering)
Song meaning and interpretation
红布 (Hóng Bù, “Red Cloth”) is a song by Cui Jian (崔健), known as the “father of Chinese rock.” The lyrics use symbolism and metaphors to express blindness, control, and struggle. The “red cloth” represents deception, ideological control, or a manipulated perception of happiness.
The blindfolding suggests being kept from seeing reality.
The “following the road” without knowing the direction implies blind obedience.
The dried-up body and cracked land hint at suffering, exhaustion, and a lack of freedom.
This song is often interpreted as a political statement about authority, censorship, and personal freedom in China. It remains one of Cui Jian’s most powerful and controversial songs.
Chinese summary
这首歌讲述了一个人被一块红布蒙住眼睛，看不见世界，但他说自己“看见了幸福”。这表示他可能被控制或欺骗，不知道真正的现实。
歌中还提到，他的手被抓住，无法决定自己的方向，只能跟随别人。这代表失去自由，只能服从。即使他感觉到温暖，他仍然在一个干枯、没有希望的地方，无法逃走，也无法哭泣。
最后，他决定一直陪伴着对方，因为他明白对方的痛苦。这首歌用隐喻表达了迷失、服从和现实的残酷。
Quiz questions
Part 1: Meaning & symbolism
1⃣ “红布” 在歌词中象征什么？
A. 爱情 (Love)
B. 盲目和控制 (Blindness and control)
C. 幸福 (Happiness)
D. 旅行 (Travel)
2⃣ 歌词中说：“你问我看见了什么，我说我看见了幸福。” 这个“幸福”是真实的吗？
A. 是的，是真实的幸福。
B. 不是，这是一种幻觉。
C. 不是，这是自然景色的描述。
D. 是的，因为他找到了爱。
3⃣ 下面哪句话表达了主人公失去了自由？
A. “你问我还要去何方，我说要上你的路。”
B. “这个感觉真让我舒服。”
C. “哦，我感觉我要喝点水。”
D. “我要永远这样陪伴着你。”
Part 2: True or false (判断题)
4⃣ 歌词中提到“热乎乎的手”，表示这个人对主人公很好，很温暖。
True () 或 False ()
5⃣ 这首歌表达的是一个人在自由中寻找方向的快乐经历。
True () 或 False ()
Part 3: Fill in the blank (填空题)
6⃣ 歌词中，主人公的眼睛被________蒙住了，看不见天空。
A. 白布 (bái bù)
B. 黑布 (hēi bù)
C. 红布 (hóng bù)
D. 蓝布 (lán bù)
7⃣ 歌词中提到：“哦，我感觉我要喝点水，可你的________将我的________堵住。”
A. 手，手
B. 嘴，嘴
C. 眼睛，眼睛
D. 路，路
8⃣ 歌词最后一句是：“我要永远这样________着你，因为我最知道你的________。”
A. 陪伴，痛苦
B. 保护，快乐
C. 追随，幸福
D. 遵从，命运
Answers section (答案) – Check after trying!
1⃣ B. 盲目和控制 (Blindness and control)
2⃣ B. 不是，这是一种幻觉。
3⃣ A. “你问我还要去何方，我说要上你的路。”
4⃣ False. 这个“温暖”可能意味着控制，而不是关怀。
5⃣ False. 这首歌表达的是失去自由、被控制和迷失的感觉。
6⃣ C. 红布 (hóng bù)
7⃣ B. 嘴，嘴
8⃣ A. 陪伴，痛苦
