Dare to Ask Where is the Road 敢问路在何方

The extremely funky ending theme song of the series “Journey to the West”

Overview

Chinese Name: 敢问路在何方

English Name: Dare to Ask Where is the Road, Where is the Road，Gan Wen Lu Zai He Fang

Composer: Xu Jingqing 许镜清

Lyricist: Yan Su 闫肃

Original Singer: Jiang Dawei 蒋大为

“Dare to Ask Where is the Road 敢问路在何方” is a song composed by Xu Jingqing 许镜清 in 1986, written by Yan Su 闫肃 and sung by Jiang Dawei 蒋大为. It is well known as the theme song of the series “Journey to the West 西游记” broadcast on CCTV in 1986.

Composition Story Of Dare to Ask Where is the Road

If you deem that there is no decent electronic music in China, then you are wrong.

During the Spring Festival in 1986,  the series “Journey to the West” was broadcast on CCTV. It soon became an instant classic in China and was praised for being one of the most original and faithful interpretations. Along with the figure of Tang Seng and his three disciples struggling forward in the end screen, the ending theme song “Dare to Ask Where is the Way” also became well-known to the public.

While at that time, the style of this song was too unique, which caused a lot of controversies. Some people criticised its Western music style for being too strong to damage the image of traditional Chinese masterpieces. But today, this song is considered a pioneer of Chinese folk and electronic music, integrating drum&bass, techno, trip-hop and other styles, and it is highly psychedelic!

The song “Dare to Ask Where is the Way” not only has strong national characteristics but also embodies the popular and trendy style, because it relies on the coordination of electroacoustic music, folk, and orchestral music.

According to Yan Su’s recollection, it was “easy at first” when he wrote this song, but it got stuck in the later paragraphs that sublimate the theme. While Yan Su was pacing back and forth in the room anxiously, a word from his son reminded him of Lu Xun’s 鲁迅 famous saying. Finally, he combined the hardships of learning from the “Journey to the West” and completed the creation of the full lyrics.

Xu Jingqing 许镜清, an unknown composer at that time, was once asked to leave the crew because of his advocacy of using electro-acoustic music. However, Yang Jie 杨洁, the director of “Journey to the West”, rejected all the arguments and insisted strongly. Because of Yang Jie’s courage, “Dare to Ask Where is the Way” can appear at the end of the TV series as the theme song of “Journey to the West”. The novelty of electro-acoustics made the public feel entertained and relaxed, so the sang quickly became popular.

Lyrics of Dare to Ask Where is the Road

Chinese Lyrics

English Translation

You carry the load, I lead the horse,
Usher in the sunrise and send away the sunset.
Stepping down the bumps into the road,
Set off again after fighting hard and dangerous
lā lā lā lā lā lā lā lā

A lot of spring, autumn, winter and summer.
Ups and downs one after another.
Dare to ask where the road is, the road is under your feet.
You carry the load, I lead the horse,
Frost flowers on both shoulders wading through the mountains.
The wind, the thunder and the lightning are everywhere,
All the way to the end of the world, to the end of the world.
lā lā lā lā lā lā lā lā

A lot of spring, autumn, winter and summer.
Ups and downs one after another.
Dare to ask where the road is, the road is under your feet.
Dare to ask where the road is, the road is under your feet.

Dare to Ask Where is the Road Jiang Dawei蒋大为