Songs of 1989: Last Shot

Technically, Last Shot was not a song directly associated with the 1989 movement. But the song acquired a new meaning when the pop star Cui Jian sang it in public concerts barely half a year after the massacre.

People who attended the concerts described that Cui Jian wore a faded army uniform and a red bandanna as he usually appeared. The stadium was dark and then filled with blinding light pulses and blasting heavy metal as if machine guns were blazing. As he went through the moving lyrics, there was no escaping of the memory of the massacre.

The song itself was written in 1988, a year before the massacre. It was another song that was dedicated to the martyrs of the Sino-Vietnam border war. Nonetheless, Cui Jan's tour in 1990 was quickly shut down. Later, this song was performed without any lyrics.

A record with the lyrics is available here.

A stray bullet hit my chest.
Suddenly, memory swells in my heart.
I have tears, yet without sorrow.

If this were to be the last shot,
I would like to accept this magnificent honor.
Oh, the last shot.
Oh, the last shot.

Don't know how many, how many words I have yet to say.
Don't know how many, how many pleasures I have yet to enjoy.
Don't know how many, how many people who are like me.
Don't know how many, how many last shots there have been.

Lying peacefully on this warm earth,
With morning dew, sunset, and flowers blossoming,
Oh, I leave nothing but those words
To be with this world.

A stray bullet hit my chest,
Suddenly, memory swells in my heart.
Oh, the last shot.
Oh, the last shot.

一颗流弹打中我的胸膛　
刹那间往事涌在我心上
哦　只有泪水
哦　没有悲伤
如果这是最后的一枪　
我愿接受这莫大的荣光
哦　最后一枪　
哦　最后一枪
不知道有多少　
多少话还没讲
不知道有多少　
多少欢乐没享
不知道有多少　
多少人和我一样
不知道有多少　
多少个最后一枪

安睡在这温暖的土地上　
朝露夕阳花沐自芬芳
哦　只有一句话　
留在世界上

一颗流弹打中我的胸膛　
刹那间往事涌在我的心上
哦　最后一枪　
哦　最后一枪