[Intro]
[Instrumental: Guqin Harmonics, clear and cold]
[Instrumental: Jinghu enters, sliding notes (Hua-Yin) mimicking a crane's cry]
[Instrumental: Dialogue - Guqin plays 'Gun-Fu' (rolling), Jinghu responds with long bow]
[Choir: Children's Choir, Ethereal, A cappella]
[Choir: Soprano] 道可道,非常道
[Choir: Alto] 名可名,非常名
[Choir: Tenor] 无名天地始,有名万物母
[Verse 1]
[Vocal: Male, Peking Opera Style, Low and Heavy, 'Pen-Kou' technique]
[Instrumental: Guqin plays 'Lun-Zhi' (tremolo) softly in background]
玄之又玄,众妙之门启
道法自然,天地根未移
恍兮惚兮,其中有真象
窈兮冥兮,妙化生玄机
[Verse 2]
[Vocal: Male, Peking Opera Style, Tempo increases]
[Instrumental: Jinghu plays fast 'Hua-Yin', Guqin plays strong 'Gun-Fu']
昆仑渺渺,道枢系中央
云台虚榭,无中生有相
上善若水,善利万物长
处众所恶,故几于道乡
[Chorus]
[Vocal: Male, Peking Opera Style, High-pitched, Powerful]
[Instrumental: Full Band, Chinese Drums, Gong]
至人无为,万物自化生
不贵奇珍,民不争功名
绝圣弃智,民利百倍增
我无为而民自朴,若太初之形
[Chorus Part 2]
[Choir: Children's Choir, Harmony]
[Choir: Soprano] 乘云气,御飞龙
[Choir: Alto] 游无穷,与道同
[Choir: Bass] (Humming)......
[Vocal: Male, Peking Opera Style, Long Sustain, Jinghu follows vocal melody]
抟扶摇,上九重——
天地为家,寿无穷——
[Instrumental Interlude]
[Instrumental: Guqin and Jinghu Duet]
[Instrumental: Guqin 'Gun-Fu' simulating water, Jinghu 'Hua-Yin' mimicking wind]
[Spoken Word]
[Instrumental: Minimal, Guqin plucking]
[Vocal: Male, Cantonese, Semi-spoken Semi-sung, precise rhyme]
[Melody: re-mi-sol-la] 大道泛兮,其可左右 (daai6 dou6 faan6 gei1,kei4 ho2 zo2 jau6)
[Melody: la-sol-mi-re] 万物恃之而生,而不辞 (maan6 mat6 si6 zi1 ji4 sang1,ji4 bat1 ci4)
[Melody: mi-re-do-la] 功成不名有,衣养万物 (gung1 sing4 bat1 ming4 jau5,ji1 joeng5 maan6 mat6)
[Melody: la-sol-mi-re-do] 而不为主,常无欲可名于小 (ji4 bat1 wai6 zyu2,soeng4 mou4 juk6 ho2 ming4 jyu4 siu2)
[Melody: re-mi-sol-la] 万物归焉,而不为主 (maan6 mat6 gwai1 jin1,ji4 bat1 wai6 zyu2)
[Melody: la-sol-mi-re-mi] 可名为大,以其终不自为大 (ho2 ming4 wai6 daai6,ji5 kei4 zung1 bat1 zi6 wai6 daai6)
[Melody: re-do-la-sol] 故能成其大 (gu3 nang4 sing4 kei4 daai6)
[Verse 3]
[Vocal: Male, Peking Opera Style, Soft and Narrative]
[Instrumental: Guqin (stillness), Jinghu (movement)]
大道坦平,而人好径行
致虚守静,观复归根情
天地所以,长且久者何
以其不自生,故能长生
[Bridge]
[Choir: Children's Choir, Whispering]
[Choir: Soprano] 生而不有
[Choir: Alto] 为而不恃
[Choir: Tenor] 功成而弗居,夫唯弗居
[Vocal: Male, Peking Opera Style, Chanting]
涤心去妄,玄鉴自明
损之又损,以至于无
无为无事,无滞无碍
同于道者,道亦乐得
[Chorus]
[Vocal: Male, Peking Opera Style, High-pitched, Powerful]
[Choir: Children's Choir, Layered]
至人无为,万物自化生
不贵奇珍,民不争功名
绝圣弃智,民利百倍增
我无为而民自朴,若太初之形
[Chorus Part 3]
[Choir: Children's Choir]
[Choir: Soprano] 乘云气,御飞龙
[Choir: Alto] 游无穷,与道同
[Choir: Bass] (Humming)......
[Vocal: Male, Peking Opera Style, Climax, Long Sustain]
抟扶摇,上九重——
天地为家,寿无穷——
[Outro]
[Vocal: Male, Peking Opera Style, Fading]
道可道,非恒道
名可名,非常名
[Choir: Children's Choir, A cappella, Fading out]
[Choir: Soprano] 归真返璞合太清
[Choir: Alto] 逍遥无极乐长宁
[Choir: Tenor] (Humming)......
[Instrumental: Guqin Harmonics, Jinghu plucking, Fading out]