This is a Taiwanese Hokkien song. It’s sung in one of Taiwan’s most widely spoken native languages — a language rich with emotion and history. Taiwanese Hokkien songs are more than just music — they carry stories of everyday people, unspoken love, and the weight of loyalty and loss. Even if you don’t understand the words, you can feel the pain, the tenderness, and the soul behind every note. Let the music speak — and let your heart listen. ⸻ This song is a heartfelt ballad that captures the inner voice of a drifter. It weaves together the bonds of brotherhood and the struggles of a love he feels unworthy of. Through cigarettes and bitter liquor, the protagonist confesses his inability to offer a stable future, facing fate with nothing but a weary smile. With honest words, the song speaks a painful truth: “It’s not that I don’t love you — it’s that I’m not worthy of loving you.” Amidst the sorrow, there’s a touch of tenderness, echoing the unspoken confessions buried in many hearts. Below are the English lyrics. ⸻ 【Intro】 (Saxophone performance) ⸻ 【Verse 1】 Cigarettes burn, one after another Ashtray’s full — just like my heart A bitter drink, each sip more sour Your face appears again, lingering in my mind I told you from the start, don’t fall for a guy like me A drifter like me has no dreams ahead Who could know our fate’s like a prison gate Trapping not just me, but also your youth inside ⸻ 【Chorus 1】 What is loyalty? Today they’d fight for me, Tomorrow, they’re gone without a sound You said you just wanted a simple kind of life No fear, no worries But why does it have to be this hard? What are brothers for? Today they’ve got my back, Tomorrow they all disappear You said you didn’t want a love that makes you scared Always on edge But why must it hurt like this? ⸻ 【Verse 2】 I always said, if I made it big, I’d still take care of my brothers Words like that aren’t meant to be a joke When someone comes looking for trouble How could I ever run away? You know the kind of man I am I’ve never lived a peaceful day Love—this road, I was never meant to walk it Loving you was my mistake Just dragged you into a dream If there’s a next life, I won’t be just an ordinary man So I won’t have to use coldness To pay for your sorrow ⸻ 【Chorus 2】 What is loyalty? Today they’d fight for me, Tomorrow, they’re gone without a sound You said you just wanted a simple kind of life No fear, no worries But why does it have to be this hard? What are brothers for? Today they’ve got my back, Tomorrow they all disappear You said you didn’t want a love that makes you scared Always on edge But why must it hurt like this? ⸻ 【Bridge】 You’re standing outside the door of sorrow I’m trapped behind the wall of indifference It’s not that we’ll never meet again It’s not that fate won’t give us a chance It’s just that I’m not the one You should wait for ⸻ 【Final Chorus / Outro】 I know I’m not worth your waiting Not worth a single tear you cried Even my family saw it long ago A drifter like me never turns back One bitter drink, I swallow it down Every word I speak turns into tears ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ ⸻ Taiwanese Hokkien： [Intro] ⸻ [Verse 1 ] 手上的菸 一支點過一支 煙灰缸 滿到快滿過心 苦酒一杯 品一杯猶酸 想起汝的面容浮現阮心頭邊 早就共汝講 莫愛阮這款人 我這个浪子 無半點將來夢 誰人知 咱的命運 親像牢仔門 共阮困住 也困住汝的青春 ⸻ [Chorus 1 ] 義氣是啥物？ 今仔日出山 明仔載無聲息 妳講妳嘛只是 想過平凡人生 莫驚莫惶 啊怎會這呢困難～～ 兄弟是啥物？ 今仔日挺我 明仔載攏變卦 妳講妳嘛只是 想袂一段感情 毋免提心吊膽 啊怎會這呢折磨～～ ⸻ [Verse 2 ] 我早就講 阮若是老大嘛要顧好兄弟 這話若出喙 就毋通開玩笑 有人來找碴 我怎麼可能烙跑？ 妳嘛知 我這款人 袂曉過平靜的日子 愛情遮條路 阮注定無資格 愛妳是我誤 牽拖汝一場夢 若有來生 我袂做一个 普通的查埔人 免閣用無情來換妳的悲傷 ⸻ [Chorus 2 ] 義氣是啥物？ 今仔日出山 明仔載無聲息 妳講妳嘛只是 想過平凡人生 莫驚莫惶 啊怎會這呢困難～～ 兄弟是啥物？ 今仔日挺我 明仔載攏變卦 妳講妳嘛只是 想袂一段感情 毋免提心吊膽 啊怎會這呢折磨～～ ⸻ [Bridge] 汝佇悲傷門外 阮佇無情牆內 毋是永遠無閣見 毋是命運袂予機會 只是無資格予妳閣等我 ⸻ [Final Chorus / Outro ] 阮知我毋值妳等待 毋值妳一滴珠淚 厝內人嘛早就看破 浪子哪會回頭？ 一杯苦酒攏吞落喉 講出喙攏是目屎
