Bright Moon 月光光 is traditional Cantonese children’s folk song, first appearing in the Song and Ming dynasty, and passed down til the present. There are a few variations of this song lyrics, and the song also exists in other Chinese languages.
Videos
This video is a more classical version with realistic photography
Kid’s Version of Bright Moon 月光光 with animation
And Bright Moon 月光光 was sung in a Beyond Concert in 1991 . Including it here because it is one of my favorite bands.
Lyrics
I’ve included the lyrics translation here, as these lyrics are contain words that are not so frequently used. Lyrics offer a glimpse into life in China hundreds of years ago, and the dependency on land and sea.
| Cantonese Lyrics | English Translation |
| 月光光 | Bright Moon |
| 月光光 照地堂 蝦仔你乖乖瞓落床 聽朝阿媽要趕插秧咯 阿爺睇牛去上山崗 啊 蝦仔你快高長大咯 幫手阿爺去睇牛羊 啊… |
Bright Moon, shining on the ground Little Shrimp (term of endearment), be good and go to bed to sleep Tomorrow morning, Mother needs to quickly plant the seedlings (Paternal) Grandfather watches the cows go up to the hill, Little Shrimp, grow tall and big soon Help your (Paternal) Grandfather to watch the cows and sheep |
| 月光光 照地堂 蝦仔你乖乖瞓落床 聽朝阿媽要捕魚蝦咯 阿嫲織網要織到天光 啊… 蝦仔你快高長大咯 划艇撒網就更在行 |
Bright Moon, shining on the ground Little Shrimp (term of endearment), be good and go to bed to sleep Tomorrow morning, Mother has to catch fish and shrimps (Paternal) Grandmother has to weave a net till dawn Little Shrimp, grow tall and big soon You will become adept at rowing the boat out to cast the net |
| 月光光 照地堂 年卅晚 摘檳榔 五穀豐收堆滿倉咯 老老嫩嫩喜洋洋 啊… 蝦仔你快啲瞇埋眼咯 一覺瞓到大天光 啊… |
Bright Moon, shining on the ground On Lunar New Year’s Eve, pick the betel nuts The food crops fills the granary Everyone, young and old, are beaming with joy. Little Shrimp, soon you’ll close your eyes Sleep until the dawn, ah… |
Lyrics Printable
The printer friendly version of lyrics of Bright Moon Cantonese Nursery Rhyme 月光光粵語兒歌 is available for download. First page includes Jyutping, second page without. and English translation is at the end.
You might also enjoy our other nursery rhyme and song lyrics. Each come with a free lyrics printable. We will be slowly adding to the collection. Is there any particular song you would like to see? Please let us know in the comments.