Music of Thai Freedom

Note: Andrew MacGregor Marshall is a reporter from Scotland, who is not Thai, who became involved in reporting on the Thai monarchy and then became a lese majesty victim. He has written several books on Thailand and is working on a biography of the new King, Vajiralongkorn. He was one of the first to share the now famous photos of Vajiralongkorn covered in tatoos wearing a white crop top and sagging jeans, and so was instantly accused of having photo-shopped the pictures. However the pictures are real as is Vajiralonkorn’s fondness for going out in weird and skimpy outfits. After several similar incidents were documented and shared around the world, it became impossible for the Thai government to continue pretending all the pictures are fake. Instead they warned people not to follow Andrew on Facebook and that anyone who even looks at Andrew’s posts may be accused of lese majesty. The first verse of the song echoes the abuse that is often hurled at Andrew MacGregor Marshall simply for trying to tell the truth. There are also many, many Thais grateful to Andrew, and this song is a tribute written by Rishadan Port of the band Faiyen.

แอนดรูว์เขาเป็นฝรั่ง แอนดรูว์ไม่ใช่คนไทย
Andrew is a Farang. Andrew isn’t a Thai
แอนดรูว์จะไปรู้อะไร แอนดรูว์เป็นทาสทักษิณ
So what is Andrew going to know? Andrew is a slave of Taksin
แอนดรูว์ชอบปล่อยข่าวลือ แอนดรูว์ไม่ได้หวังดี
Andrew likes to release rumors. Andrew doesn’t wish [people] well.
แอนดรูว์ไม่ได้พูดความจริง คนไทยเราไม่ยอมรับ
Andrew didn’t tell the truth! We Thais refuse to accept this!

แอนดรูว์ แมกเกรเกอร์ มาร์แชล คืออดีตนักข่าวรอยเตอร์
Andrew MacGregor Marshall is a former Reuters reporter
ทำงานมา 17 ปี ต้องลาออกเพื่ออุดมการณ์
He worked for 17 years and had to leave because of principles
แอนดรูวต้องการเผยแพร่ ความจริงของประเทศไทย
Andrew needs to publicize the truth of Thailand.
ความจริงที่ถูกปิดไว้ แต่รู้กันทั้งโลกา
The truth that has been hidden away. But everyone knows all over the world.

แล้ว ความจริงนั้นคืออะไร ทำไมใครพูดไม่ได้
And what is that truth. Why can’t people say [it]?
ความลวงนั้นลวงอย่างไร มีใครกล้าพูดออกมา
That deception deceives how? Does anyone dare say it out loud?
ความจริงพิสูจน์ได้ไหม คนไทยมีสิทธิ์อยากรู้
The truth can it be proven? Thai people have a right to be eager to know
ปิดปากคนด้วยกฎหมาย จะปิดได้นานแค่ไหน
Shutting mouths of people by law, can cover [things] up for however long

แอนดรูว์เขาเป็นฝรั่ง แอนดรูวไม่ใช่คนไทย
Andrew is a Farang. Andrew isn’t a Thai.
แอนดรูว์จะไปรู้อะไร แอนดรูว์เป็นทาสทักษิณ
How is Andrew going to know anything? Andrew is a slave of Taksin
ปิดหูปิดตาเข้าไป หลอกตัวเองกันได้ทุกสิ่ง
Going about with eyes and hears closed, [we] can fool ourselves about everything.
หากแอนดรูว์เขาพูดความจริง คนไทยต้องกล้ายอมรับ
If Andrew speaks the truth, Thai people must be brave enough to accept it.

ช้างตายทั้งตัวเอาใบบัวมาปิดไม่มิด (x4)
When an elephant dies, and you go to cover its whole body with one lotus leaf, that won’t conceal it.* (4X)

ความจริงนั้นคืออะไร ทำไมใครพูดไม่ได้
What is that truth. Why can’t people say [it]?
ความลวงนั้นลวงอย่างไร มีใครกล้าพูดออกมา
That deception deceives how? Does anyone dare say it out loud?
ความจริงพิสูจน์ได้ไหม คนไทยมีสิทธิ์อยากรู้
The truth can it be proven? Thai people have a right to be eager to know
ปิดปากคนด้วยกฎหมาย จะปิดได้นานแค่ไหน
Shutting mouths of people by law, can cover [things] up for however long

ความดีนั้นดีจริงไหม ที่อวยนั้นจริงหรือเปล่า
That goodness, is it really good? Do we grant that it is good or not?
ความเลวที่ถูกปิดไว้ ซ่อนมันไว้ด้วยความกลัว
The evil that is hidden away, [they] hide it away with fear
ดีจริงต้องกล้าพิสูจน์ ต้องเปิดให้คนถกเถียง
Real goodness must dare to be tested and proven. It must be open for people to debate
ปรับตัวเสียแต่วันนี้ มิเช่นนั้นอาจสายเกินไป
Adjust yourself right away, today. Otherwise, it could be too late.

*This is a saying that is like the English-language saying about the big elephant in the room, except it’s pretty vivid if you imagine an elephant dying and people trying to cover it up with a lotus leaf instead of burying it. I just learned from Andrew MacGregor Marshall that this saying was the epigram in his first book #thaistory.

By ไฟเย็น (Faiyen)
Specifically:
Lyrics, Melody : Port, Pook
Arranged : Port, Khoontong
All Vocals : Uncle Somchai
Please Support the artists and Buy this song at Bandcamp:
Download เพลงวงไฟเย็นได้ที่ https://faiyen.bandcamp.com/track/feat-7

Note: There is so much going on in this simple song, which is illustrated by stickers from a set made for the social media platform LINE, which is one of the most popular platforms used in Asia. The sticker set is called “Silly Family” and lampoons the Thai royal family. The stickers were pulled down within days of being posted, after the Thai government complained that the stickers would wound the feelings of the Thai people. (Echos of the religious taboo against drawing pictures of the Prophet Mohammad.) The stickers remind people of various incidents in the lives of the Thai royals. Similar to the British royal family, the Thai royal family provides lots of ridiculous incidents to gossip about, however gossiping about the Thai royal family is very dangerous. In this song, a clueless king is asking “What have I (or we) done to make everyone hate us so much?” In popular songs, the king is presented as working tirelessly for the Thai people. This relentless propaganda paired with the fact that anyone who gossips about the reality of the Thai monarchy can be thrown in jail, explains why there is a strong undercurrent of resentment against the King and the whole royal family.

เราไปทำอะไร ให้เขาเจ็บช้ำน้ำใจ
What have I done to hurt their feelings?
คนไทยจึงได้โกรธเกลียดเราขนาดนี้
So that Thai people hate me to this extent?
THIRD TIME ADD: [เจ็บปวดที่สุด I’m totally hurt!]

ขอให้บอกเรานะ
Please tell me
ว่าจะให้เราปรับตัวอะไร ยังไง ยังไงบ้าง
How can I adjust myself in some way, somehow?

เราเคยบอกเอาไว้
I told you before
จะครองแผ่นดินโดยธรรม
I’ll rule the land by means of justice
เพื่อประโยชน์สุขของชาวสยาม
For the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people

เราเหน็ดเหนื่อยเพียงไหน
However much I am tired and exhausted
ปิดทองหลังพระเท่าไร
However much gold leaf I stick on the back of the Buddha statue [However much I do my work quietly without singing my own praises]*
ถึงมาว่าเราเป็นคนไม่ดี
It comes in that they’re saying I’m a bad person

ขอให้บอกเราที่ ให้เราปรับตัวยังไง
Please tell me so I can make whatever adjustments
3X

ตอนนี้น้ำตาจะไหล ไปจ้องแม่น้ำดีกว่า
Right now so many tears will flow. I should just go stare at the river. That would be better.

*There is a Thai saying “ปิดทองหลังพระ” (“To put gold [leaf] on the back of the Buddha [stature],” meaning to do good works without drawing attention to yourself. In Thailand people make merit by applying gold leaf to the Buddha statue. Most people want their gold leaf to be on the front where everyone can see it, but the person who isn’t worried about being admired will apply the gold leaf to the back of the Buddha statue. It is equivalent to the English saying, “Don’t blow your own horn.” or “Don’t sing your own praises.” The band Carabao has an extremely famous song about King Bhumibol calling him a “ผู้ปิดทองหลังพระ” or a “Person Who Puts Gold Leaf on the Back of the Buddha Statue” (There is a spectacular performance of this song for King Bhumipol’s birthday, that includes a herd of saluting elephants and Add Carabao himself walking on water.)

by Faiyen
Support the artists, who are refugees, by buying and downloading the song from Bandcamp

Note: For a year, the junta has promoted the idea that it would be horribly disrespectful to discuss politics or the monarchy during the recommended year of mourning for King Bhumipol. Well, that year is over. The Thai people may wear colorful clothes again. It is now or never for facing facts about King Bhumipol (who has practically been deified) and his son, Vajiralongkorn, the new king, who NEVER will be. According to this song, many are losing faith and taking down their picture of King Bhumipol (without replacing it with a picture of the widely hated Vajiralongkorn).

ภาพที่มีกันอยู่ทุกบ้าน ได้อันตรธานหายไป หายไป
A picture that everyone used to have in their home has disappeared and is gone, gone
เสื่อมศรัทธา คนเขาเริ่มเข้าใจ จะไปบ้านใคร ภาพหลุด ภาพหลุด
Losing faith, they begin to understand. Go to anyone’s house and the picture will be down
าพที่เห็นมานาน เคยมีติดบ้านติดเรือน
The picture that was one there attached to the home, attached to the house
ฝังจิตฝังใจไม่ลืมเลือน เขาบิดเบือนว่าเป็นเทวดา
Implanted in the heart and mind so one doesn’t forget, he distorts things such that he’s a god.
ฝังความคิดเข้าไป ใช้การโหมโฆษณา
Implants thoughts using concentrated advertising
แต่ปิดบังความเลวชั่วช้า รำคาญตาเลยปลดลงฝาบ้าน
But hiding the evil. It offends the eyes! Take it down from the wall of the home!

ก่อนเคยแขวนบูชา เขาบอกว่าปกป้องคุ้มภัย
Before [when they] used to hang [it on the wall] and worship it, they said it protects against dangers
วันเวลาหมุนเวียนเปลี่ยนไป จึงมั่นใจไม่ศักดิ์สิทธิ์นี่หนา
And time rolls by, things change. Therefore [one] is confident [it’s] not sacred.
หลงแขวนไว้ตั้งนาน เคยรักมั่น วันนี้เสื่อมศรัทธา
[They] were obsessed with hanging it up for so long now. Once loved it with certainty. Today, lose faith.
กลายเป็นภาพที่หมดราคา รำคาญตาเลยปลดลงฝาบ้าน
It becomes a worthless picture. It offends the eyes! Take it down from the wall of the home!

ภาพที่มีกันอยู่ทุกบ้าน ได้อันตรธานหายไป หายไป
A picture that everyone used to have in their home has disappeared and is gone, gone
ประชาชนเขาเริ่มเข้าใจ เดี๋ยวนี้คนไทย เลิกกราบ เลิกกราบ
The citizens begin to understand. Right now, Thais stop prostrating themselves [before a picture].

“Return Democracy to the People!” – English Version. [A spoof of Dictator Prayut’s “Returning Happiness to Thailand”]  Original Thai-language spoof by Port Faiyen; Singable English translation by Ann Norman

Note: I sang this song the morning of Dictator Prayuth’s visit to the White House on October 2, 2017, to express my disgust. Whatever the meaning of US President Trump’s White House invitation to a the leader of a successful coup that overthrew a democratic government in 2014, it cannot be interpreted as sign that Americans now respect Prayut Chan-o-cha any more than they respect authoritarian President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte, invited that same weekend, or North Korean Dictator Kim Jung Un, who President Trump said a day later he would consider inviting. So either President Trump was calling Asian world leaders indiscriminately that weekend, or he really had a list of evil dictators in his head and he was systematically going down that list. On behalf what I hope is still the majority of Americans, I apologize for a US President who seems oblivious to human rights concerns, at home or abroad. And I continue to condemn the power grab of General Prayut Chanocha in Thailand.

That day the People’s Party rose, the system changed to democracy
We built it up for all to see. Each time snatched away
The coups keep coming 10s of times. Democracy is held at bay
The rights of people are betrayed. And who’s it all for?

Then today you come back for some more
With guns and tanks, you plunder what’s not yours

You made democracy fall using dictatorship
Made it slip, claimed the coup protects the king
No need to tell truths, or respect rule of law or anything
Just stop your evil doing, return happiness to us by leaving now

Those who won’t give up the fight, pledge we will endure the risk
Democracy, it will exist. Crush dictatorship
Thailand doesn’t belong to just one group, but the whole citizenship
The power belongs to every Thai, choosing electively!

And at last, respect our rights and freedoms! Why can’t you!
Immediately restore democracy!

You made democracy fall using dictatorship
Made it slip, claimed the coup protects the king
No need to tell truths, or respect rule of law or anything
Just stop your evil doing, return happiness to us by leaving now

2X

For a country good and endless
Return happiness, bring back democracy

Composed by Port, Arranged by Khoontong, Music by Faiyen
Released October 26, 2017
Please support the artists who are political refugees and BUY THE SONG at BANDCAMP

Translation of Faiyen’s note about this song: After king Bhumibol died October 13, 2016, many Thai artists came out, one after another, composing songs praising the King’s virtue which derived its power from one-sided advertising and promotion of this king for an entire half century, by means of Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, which forbids insulting the King and carries a severe penalty of 3-15 years in jail for one offense. Gradually it silences, not allowing mainstream news or anyone whosoever, to present any perspective or information that reflects negatively on the King and royal family. Therefore, the band Faiyen, would like to be the #1 artists to chose to present one more viewpoint, another side to King Bhumibol, which Thai society does not dare mention, in order to stand firm in an ideology and point of view that will reveal the dark truth that has been bullying and suppressing people in Thai society for so long.

ในหลวงโชคดีที่มีคนไทย
The king is lucky to have the Thai people.
คนไทยโชคร้ายที่มีในหลวง
The Thai people are unlucky to have the king.
โหมโฆษณาประชาสัมพันธ์ จนซาบซึ้งไปถึงในทรวง
Mobilizing advertising to the people until the appreciation reaches their chests
ล้วนหลอกลวงคนไทยมานานหลายปี
Totally deceiving the Thai people for so many, many years now

ในหลวงไม่ได้ดีเหมือนที่เขาหลอก
The king isn’t good like he’s tricked us [into believing]
เขาครองบัลลังก์หลั่งเลือดตั้งแต่ขึ้นมา
He reigns with killing from the very beginning
ล้มรัฐบาลด้วยรัฐประหาร ปกครองด้วยการเข่นฆ่า
Overthrowing government(s) with coups, governing with murder
ตั้งแต่ตุลา ถึงพฤษภา ประชาวอดวาย
From October [9, 1976 & 14, 1973] to [Bloody] May [1992 & 2010]

ปิดปากคนด้วยกฎหมายลิดรอนเสรี
Gagging peoples with laws that take away their freedom
ข่มเหงย่ำยีกดคนให้จนดักดาน
Bullying, ravaging, and oppressing people so they are poor forever
คนทุกคนมีดีมีเลว แต่ในหลวงห้ามคนวิจารณ์
Every person has good and bad, but the king forbids people to criticize [him]
กลัวคนประณามว่าตนเป็นคนเช่นไร
He’s afraid someone will ask accusingly, “And what kind of person are you!?”

70 ปีปกครองด้วยความหวาดกลัว
Seventy years of ruling with fear.
ใครไม่รักพระเจ้าอยู่หัว จะโดนเสียบหัวประจาน
Whoever doesn’t love His Majesty will be publicly shamed
เขาทำแค่หนึ่ง ซาบซึ้งว่ามหาศาล
He does only one [thing]. [But some people] appreciate that he does so many, many millions of things
ที่เขาสูบกินเป็นล้าน คนไทยกลับไม่รู้เลย
That he devours millions [more], the Thai people totally don’t know

ในหลวงโชคดีที่มีคนไทย
The king is lucky to have the Thai people.
คนไทยโชคร้ายที่มีในหลวง
The Thai people are unlucky to have the king.
ระบอบราชาธิปไตยทำลายคนไทยทั้งปวง
The monarchy regime ruins all the Thai people
เรารักในหลวง หรือแท้จริงเรารักตัวเอง
We love the king or in truth we love ourselves?

ระบอบราชาธิปไตยทำลายคนไทยทั้งปวง
The monarchy regime ruins all the Thai people
เลิกรักในหลวง แล้วหันมารักประชาชน
Stop loving the king and turn to loving the people.

by ไฟเย็น Faiyen
released October 20, 2017
Lyrics by Jom, Sahai Saengdao
Melody by Jom
Arranged by Khoontong, Jom

Please buy the song at Bandcamp to help the band Faiyen, who are also refugees in a country bordering Thailand.

Note: The Rohyingya have been called “The Most Persecuted People on Earth” and it look as they are experiencing genocide. The Rohingya of Myanmar (Burma) are stateless, that is without citizenship in their own country, even the fact that many were born in Burma and with ancestors there going back to the 1800s. They happen to be Muslim in a predominantly Buddhist country and have been marginalized to the point that they have no rights even within their own country, and often live in camps within the country and are not allowed to travel or work outside of the camps. On August 25, a militant group of Rohingya attacked police posts and Myanmar troops responded by clearing and burning Rohingya villages, driving more than 400,000 Rohingya (predominately women and children) into neighboring Bangladesh, which was itself already suffering from catastrophic flooding. People had hoped that when Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi came to power in she would begin to help the Rohingya and prevent what seems to be a brewing Holocaust, but shockingly she also seems to question or downplay the volumous reports of atrocities suffered by the Rohingya. And she won’t even call them “Rohingya,” which is the name they use for themselves. This is happening next door to Thailand, so the Thai band Faiyen, has written a song to raise awareness. Please send money to a charity of your choice to helping the Rohingya refugees.

THIS SONG IS IN ENGLISH, so no translation is necessary, but here are the words:

* Aung San Suu Kyi, does she believe in human rights?
Aung San Suu Kyi, who gets the Nobel Peace Prize.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who gets the Nobel Peace Prize.
Aung San Suu Kyi, does she believe in human rights?
Does she believe in human rights?

You and I, we are all human.
Rohingya, they are human too.
Refugee, we’re still human.
You and me, we stand for humanity.

(*)

Please ask her why Rohingya children
and women had fallen by Peace Prize Government?

(*)

Tear drops in my eyes when having ethnic cleansing.
Tear drops in my eyes when she said there is Nothing.
Under the same sky we have the same human rights.
Please save life! Rohingya from genocide in Myanmar. (*)

Words and Melody by รัฐ พิฆาตไพรี* Rat Pikaatpairee (of the band Tattoo Colour)
Arranged by Tattoo Colour

Note: This music video is very interesting because it was done by a very popular mainstream Thai band living in Thailand, rather than by persecuted activists living in Thailand, whose members are in and out of jail, or by dissidents who have had to flee the country and live in exile. And yet Tattoo Colour is exactly on point about all the despicable things going on in Thailand. How do they get away with it? Well . . . this song is just a silly love song about the dictatorship of a demanding girlfriend . . . and why would you think otherwise, Prime Minister Prayut?

ความรักไม่มีเหตุผล
Love doesn’t have a reason
ไม่มีความเท่าเทียมใดๆ
There’s no equality of any kind
ต้องยอมรับเอาไว้ทุกอย่าง
You must be willing to accept everything
ไม่มีวันชนะ ต่อให้มีเหตุผลเท่าไรก็ตาม
There’s no day of victory. However many reasons, it doesn’t matter

นี่คือชีวิตที่ต้องเผชิญ
I have a life in which I must face
ลำบากทุกครั้งที่คุยกับเธออยู่ร่ำไป
difficulty each time I chat with her, repeatedly
จะกี่เหตุผลในใจที่มี
However many reasons that I’ll have in my heart
ก็อยากจะเถียงเธอดูสักที จะดีไหม
And I’ll want to debate with her, “Look, just once!” would it be a good idea?

อย่าเลย อย่าเสี่ยง
Don’t! Don’t risk it!
ถูกให้ตาย ตอนสุดท้ายเราก็ผิด
[I’m] totally correct, but in the end I’m wrong
จะยังไงก็ต้องเจอ นี่คือเธอผู้ไม่แพ้
Anyway, I’ll still find this is one who doesn’t lose
ก็แล้วแต่ ให้ทำใจเอาไว้
It’s up to me to come to terms with it.

ความรักไม่มีเหตุผล
Love doesn’t have a reason
ไม่มีความเท่าเทียมใดๆ
There’s no equality of any kind
ต้องยอมรับเอาไว้ทุกอย่าง
You must be willing to accept everything
ไม่มีสิทธิ์จะเถียง
There’s no right to dispute
ไม่มีสิทธิ์เรียกร้องอะไรไปกว่านี้
No right to demand anything more than this

รู้ต้องบอกไม่รู้
If you know, you must answer “I don’t know”
ไม่มีความคิดเห็นใดๆ
There are no opinions of any kind
อดทนรับเอาไว้ทุกอย่าง
Endure and accept every sort of thing
ไม่มีวันชนะ ต่อให้มีเหตุผลเท่าไรก็ตาม
There’s no victory day. However many reasons, it doesn’t matter

แผ่นดินพายุจะพังทลาย
A storm will destroy the land
ไม่อาจทำร้ายทำอันตรายเธอได้เลย
It probably can’t harm or hurt her at all
ผิดถูกไม่รู้ชนะเหมือนเคย
Wrong or right, it’s all the same, I’ll never know victory.
สนุกสนานกับฉันได้เลย ไม่เป็นไร
[She] can have fun with me, it’s OK.

บอกแล้ว อย่าเสี่ยง
Told [you] already, don’t risk it.
ถูกให้ตาย ตอนสุดท้ายเราก็ผิด
[I’m] totally correct, but in the end I’m wrong
จะยังไงก็ต้องเจอ นี่คือเธอผู้ไม่แพ้
Anyway, I’ll still find this is one who doesn’t lose
ก็แล้วแต่ ให้ทำใจเอาไว้
It’s up to me to come to terms with it.

ความรักไม่มีเหตุผล
Love doesn’t have a reason
ไม่มีความเท่าเทียมใดๆ
There’s no equality of any kind
ต้องยอมรับเอาไว้ทุกอย่าง
You must be willing to accept everything
ไม่มีสิทธิ์จะเถียง
There’s no right to dispute
ไม่มีสิทธิ์เรียกร้องอะไรไปกว่านี้
No right to demand anything more than this

รู้ต้องบอกไม่รู้ ไม่มีความคิดเห็นใดๆ
If you know, you must answer “I don’t know”
อดทนรับเอาไว้ทุกอย่าง
Endure and accept every sort of thing
ไม่มีวันชนะ ต่อให้มีเหตุผลเท่าไรก็ตาม
There’s no victory. However many reasons, it doesn’t matter
ต่อให้มีเหตุผลเท่าไรก็ตาม
Even if I have however many reasons, it doesn’t matter
และจะเป็นอย่างนี้ไปนานเท่านาน
It just will be like this for a long while.

*The title “เผด็จเกิร์ล” (pet-de-girl) is a made-up word which is almost like the word for dictatorship “เผด็จการ” (pet-de-gaan) but the last syllable is the word “girl” in English.

On the Album บทเพลงของมิตรสหายท่านหนึ่ง (Songs from One of Our Comrades) by Faiyen at Bandcamp 
Lyrics : เกษียร เตชะพีระ Kasian Tejapira, จอม Jom (Faiyen), พอร์ท Port (Faiyen)
Melody : พอร์ท Port (Faiyen)
Arrangement: ขุนทอง Khoontong (Faiyen)

Note: This song responds to the events of December 2013 to January 2014 in Thailand. The People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) or People’s Committee for Absolute Democracy with the King as Head of State (PCAD) under Suthep Thaugsuban, was protesting in the streets to remove Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Suthep’ group marched to overthrow the government and proceed with national reform through a non-elected royalist council, in order to “eradicate” the “Thaksin regime” (Yingluck is Taksin’s sister). Yingluck dissolved Parliament and called for new elections, which the PDRC refused to participate in. This song is on the side saying “Enough already! Stop the ralleys that create the conditions for violence.” In May 2014, General Prayut staged a coup saying he wanted to prevent violence and “return happiness to the people.” The PDRC applauded the coup and disbanded.

เราไม่ใช่มวลมหาประชาชน
We aren’t the great mass of people (PDRC)
เราเป็นเพียงผู้คนที่เหนื่อยหน่าย
We are just people who are tired
ที่เห็นคนธรรมดาต้องมาตาย
Of seeing that ordinary people died,
สังเวยความกระหายอำนาจรัฐ
Sacrificed in the thirst for state power

เราไม่ใช่มวลมหาประชาชน
We aren’t the great mass of people (PDRC)
เราเป็นเพียงผู้คนที่อึดอัด
We are just people who feel uncomfortable
ที่เห็นเงาความรุนแรงกระหน่ำซัด
to see the shadow of violence threatening to crash down
เราจึงตัดสินใจเดินออกมา
And so we’ve decided to walk out

* พอกันทีความรุนแรงไม่แปลงเปลี่ยน
Enough already with the violence that’s never changed
เราจุดเทียนคนละเล่มเต็มสนาม
We’ll light a different candle throughout the field
ตาสบตา ใจสบใจ ใต้แสงงาม
The eyes glimpse eyes, hearts glimpse hearts under the beautiful light
ร่วมในความยึดมั่นสันติธรรม
Joining in adherence to peace and justice

เทียนถูกจุดส่องใสในเงาหม่น
Candles shine in the dark shadows
คนหนึ่งคน ใจหนึ่งใจ ร่วมใส่แสง
The people, one person, the hearts one heart, together shining light
ให้เปลวเทียนแผดเผา ล้างเงาแห่งความรุนแรง
So that the candle flame burns washing out the shadow of violence
จะเปลี่ยนแปลงสังคมสู่สันติภาพ
It will alter society towards peace

Words and Melody by: จิตร ภูมิศักดิ์ Chit Poomsak
Arranged by: จอม, พอร์ท, ขุนทอง Jom, Port, Koontong of Faiyen
From the excellent NEW Faiyen album “Songs from One of Our Comrades, Part 1” บทเพลงของมิตรสหายท่านหนึ่ง ภาค 1, released June 19, 2016, available at Bandcamp.CLICK HERE to purchase the album or individual songs.

Note: This song is from the album “Songs from One of Our Comrades,” containing Faiyen covers of a wide variety of pro-democracy and revolutionary anthems from Thailand and around the world. Here is a rousing up-tempo version of the ballad Fah Mai (New Sky). The YouTube begins with one line in the original style. Enjoy!

Female voice sings:

โน่นขอบฟ้าเรืองรองทาบทองอำไพ ใสสดงามตา คือฟ้าใหม่
Way over on the horizon brilliantly overlaid in gold, clear and pleasing, it’s a new sky . . .

[Fast music starts:]
โน่นขอบฟ้าเรืองรองทาบทองอำไพ ใสสดงามตา
Way over on the horizon brilliantly overlaid in gold, clear and pleasing
คือฟ้าใหม่ ใกล้มา นำมวลทาสเป็นไท
It’s a new sky approaching closer leading the slaves to be free
อาบด้วยแสงเสรีภราดรธรรม ฟุ้งเฟื่องประจำ
To be regularly bathed in the light of freedom, equality, and justice
งามล้ำกว่า ก่อนไกล ชีพสดใสเริงรื่น
Beauty just over the edge. Before too long, [we are] living bright and cheerful.

เร็วลุกขึ้นเถิด เร็วลุกขึ้นเถิด ทุกชั้นชนไทย
Hurry, get up! Hurry, get up, Thai people of every class!
ชนผู้รักชาติ รักความเป็นไท จงสามัคคี
Patriotic people who love liberty must unite!
เร็วลุกขึ้นเถิด เร็วลุกขึ้นเถิด ทุกชั้นชนไทย
Hurry, get up! Hurry, get up, Thai people of every class!
พร้อมใจกัน ก้าวตรงไป สู่ไทยเสรี
Join together to walk right on towards a free Thai [country]

Lyrics by Khun Opas; Music by Faiyen
Arranged by Port, Jom, Khoontong (of the band Faiyen)

This song is on Faiyen’s new album บทเพลงของมิตรสหายท่านหนึ่ง ภาค 1 (“Songs from One of Our Comrades, Part 1”), released June 19, 2016, which is available at Bandcamp. CLICK HERE to purchase the album or individual songs.

No translation needed on this one. It’s in English and the Karaoke words are on the video. The man in the video is Opas Chansuksai, 68 years old and in poor health, who got 3 years in prison, reduced to a year and a half, for scribbling some graffiti on a bathroom stall at a shopping mall. He reportedly wrote [in Thai]:

“The comedian government that robbed the nation, led by f**king Prayuth. They have issued ridiculous policies of amature comedians. Their main job is to use the monarchy (The uncle [a censored physical description]). Their main weapon is the Article 112. You [***] I’m sick of seeing your face everyday. It tells me that you are near the end because of the looming internal conflict.”

When he had served most of the time, the authorities threatened to prosecute him for a second message he written on the same day as the first message. The lyrics of this song were written (in English) by Khun Opas from prison.