Unearthing the concealed meanings in 走到飛 (Go to Fly) song's lyrics with Vygotsky’s

cultural – historical approach

Elly Ramadhani Sipayung 1090651 Fall 109

Introduction
Vygotsky (1986) suggested the difference between sense and a mere meaning. Meaning is only
one of the zones of sense, the most stable and precise zone. A word derives its sense from the
context in which it appears; in different contexts, it changes its sense. (245/1/1-4)
The sense of a word, according to Frederic Paulhan, is the sum of all the psychological event
aroused in our consciousness by the word. It is a dynamic, fluid, complex whole with several
zones of unequal stability. (244/4/1-3)
A word in context means both more and less than the same word in isolation: more, because it
acquires new context; less, because its meaning is limited and narrowed by the context.
(245/2/10-13)
The ability to distinguish between meaning and sense of a spoken or written speech will help
us avoiding conflicts but also to understand the one we are talking with better. Understanding
one’s words means understanding his thought which endangered by motivation, i.e., by his
desires and needs, the interests and emotions (Vygotsky, 1986).
Hip-hop (hereinafter referred to as rap) is one genre of music that often accused to contain the
lyrics which seem crude and simple-minded, the diction substandard, the rhymes raucous,
repetitive, and frequently raunchy (Shusterman, 1991). All the false beliefs saying rap lyrics
are superficial and monotonous, if not altogether moronic. But actually, any rap songs not only
the witty vernacular expression of keen insights but also forms of linguistic subtlety and
multiple levels of meaning whose polysemic complexity, ambiguity, and intertextuality can
sometimes rival those of high art’s so-called open work (Shusterman, 1991).
Cultural – Historical Approach
Understanding one’s speech would be easier if we are willing to dig into the history that lies
behind that person. What culture he is been with his entire life and how it shapes him. This
enables us to recognize the cognitive process by which an individual decides on and
commits to a particular course of action. As stated by Vygotsky (1986) that a true
comprehension of one’s thought is only possible when we understand his affective-volitional
basis. A will comes from affect (feeling or emotion), motivation (goals and expectations),
and cognition (thinking). This will however, sometimes was concealed purposely by the means
of security or convenience.
Bob Marley conceals the actual message he wants to deliver in his song entitled “Concrete
Jungle” (officially released in 2002).
No sun will shine in my day today; (no sun will shine)
The high yellow moon won't come out to play:
(that high yellow moon won't come out to play)
I said (darkness) darkness has covered my light
(and the stage) And the stage my day into night, yeah.
Where is the love to be found? (oo-ooh-ooh)
Won't someone tell me?
'Cause my (sweet life) life must be somewhere to be found -
(must be somewhere for me)
 Instead of concrete jungle (la la-la!)
Where the living is harder (la-la!).

The diction chosen by Marley, at the very first glance might give us a grasp of a darkness,
hopeless – surrender theme. Some of his huge fans tried to disclose Marley’s thought that lies
in the song with a cultural – historical approach. Vygotsky (1928, p.57/1/3) suggested this
approach as a method of reasoning.
“When Bob Marley wrote "Concrete Jungle," he was broke and stranded in a foreign country. While writing the
song, he most likely reflected upon his time in the impoverished neighbourhoods of Jamaica. One of the lyrics says,
“No chains around my feet But I’m not free.” This line depicts Marley being ensnared in the troubles of poverty
with no way out. Furthermore, "Concrete Jungle" focuses around the ghetto-like slums of West Kingston, Jamaica.
West Kingston was often called the “Jungle” or “Concrete Jungle.” During his song, Marley focuses on the poverty
and brutality that has plagued West Kingston, and implies his desire to spread his messages to audiences other than
Jamaica.” (Anonymous user on lyricsinterpretation.com January 22nd, 2017)

“This song is about prison, period. Prison is a jungle in itself. A jungle made of concrete. Many times, there is
literally no sun, no moon, no light. The chains are, at that point off, but one is still not free, captive. No soft touch
and no caress; a tragic reality but still most do their best in spirit and find a way to laugh (as clowns) which is a
direct and bold way to refer to it. Concrete jungle.” (Kevinmm, user on lyricsinterpretation.com on October 28th
2019)

“The high yellow moon is the white woman. She won’t come out to play…poor her. Time will tell.” (Anonymous
user on lyricsinterpretation.com on March 11th 2019)

But there is never an absolute right or wrong when it comes to interpretation, particularly when
it’s aided with a will to understand one’s message in a meaningful way.
Alexander Griboedov’s “Woe from Wit” is one of the masterpieces of Russian drama. A verse
comedy set in Moscow high society after the Napoleonic wars, it offers sharply drawn
characters and clever repartee, mixing meticulously crafted banter and biting social critique.
Its protagonist, Chatsky, is an idealistic ironist, a complex Romantic figure who would be
echoed in Russian literature from Pushkin onward. Chatsky returns from three years abroad
hoping to rekindle a romance with his childhood sweetheart, Sophie. In the meantime, she has
fallen in love with Molchalin, her reactionary father Famusov’s scheming secretary. Chatsky
speaks out against the hypocrisy of aristocratic society—and as scandal erupts, he is met with
accusations of madness. This play used by Vygostky to illustrate what he called “an affective-
volitional basis” (p.252/3 – p.253/1).
Text of the Play Parallel Motives
SOPHYA:
O, Chatsky, but I am glad you’ve come Tries to hide her confusion.
CHATSKY:
You are glad, that’s very nice; Tries to make her feel guilty by teasing her. Aren’t you
But gladness such as yours not easily one tells. It rather seems ashamed of yourself! Tries to force her to be frank.
to me, all cold,
That making man and horse catch cold
I’ve pleased myself and no one else
LIZA:
There, sir, and if you’d stood on the same landing here Tries to calm him. Tries to help Sophya in a difficult
Five minutes, no, not five ago situation.
You’d heard your name clear as clear.
You say, Miss! Tell him it was so.
SOPHYA:
And always so, no less, no more. Tries to reassure Chatsky. I am not guilty of anything!
No, as to that, I’m sure you can’t reproach me.
CHATSKY:
Well, let’s suppose it’s so. Let us stop this conversation; etc.
Thrice blessed who believes.
Believing warms the heart.
The cultural – historical approach is particularly significant to make an artistic appropriation
for rap and reggae songs. Rap and reggae’s cultural roots and prime following belong to the
black underclass of American society; and its militant black pride and thematizing of the ghetto
experience represent a threatening siren to that society’s complacent status quo. Rap songs born
when coloured people need recognition (Shusterman, 1991, p.201/1/4). Self-praise often
highlights a rapper’s sexual desirability, commercial success, and property assets, these signs
of status are all presented as secondary to and derivative from his verbal power. Just see how
many rap songs are themed with the appearance of giant chain necklaces, rings, glittered outfits,
physical luxury.
But there is always a lot more to anything that has been said. The failure to grasp the undercover
important messages will make it almost impossible for us to appreciate other entities. As for
rap songs, failure to recognize the traditional tropes, stylistic conventions, and constraint –
produced complexities of Afro – American English (such as semantic inversion and indirection,
feigned simplicity, and covert parody – all originally designed to conceal the real meaning
from hostile white listeners) has induced the false belief that all rap lyrics are superficial and
monotonous, if not altogether moronic (Shusterman, 1991, p.203/1/8).
The “high yellow moon” diction chosen by Marley is something that leads me particularly into
several guesses. As we may know scientifically, when the moon appears orange or yellow, it
simply means that the observer is looking at it through more layers of atmosphere. Similar to
the way in which the sun will look orange or red on the horizon, when the moon is low in the
sky, the light from it will have to pass through more of the blue-absorbing atmosphere to reach
the viewer's eye. By this time, only yellow, orange and red light will remain unabsorbed. a
yellow moon is commonly called a Harvest Moon. However, the phrase is more a reference to
its earlier rising time during fall, which often provides more light after sunset during harvest
season. The optical illusion of an increased moon size or proximity that often accompanies this
yellow colour is called the moon illusion. It is not the same as a supermoon, which is when the
moon is actually closer to the planet.
“The high yellow moon won’t come out to play” would refer to a disappointment or a complaint
to the absence of the moon’s light. But then what about the “harvest season”? My humble –
educated guess would associate this with “the long – awaited time” when chances are available
abundantly. Bob Marley wrote “Concrete Jungle” after he had moved from Jamaica to the
United States to join his mother who was living there at the time. Digesting this particular
knowledge makes me tend to adopt one of his fans’ attempt in disclosing the song’s deeper
meaning.
“While writing the song, he most likely reflected upon his time in the impoverished neighbourhoods of Jamaica.”

The reflection, his very monologue about his history consists not only the dark and grieve
memories but also a hook for his fellow – Jamaicans to be aware of the hope that possibly
happens because “my (sweet life) life must be somewhere to be found”.
I will thus, use the same approach to unearth the following case song to give us a better
understanding about the actual messages that possibly lies in an artist’s work. But still, my
analysis relies greatly on my personal opinion and some factual resources I can figure and
finish it with an educated guess or two.
走到飛 (Go to Fly) – Nerdyboy ft. Trout Fresh, ØZI, Julia Wu, Kumachan, B.C.W, Barry,
and Dwagie
This song was released November 14, 2017 and to date has 16,260,232 views. As written on
the song’s video description, this song is a collaboration between Nerdyboy with other 7
Taiwanese rappers from different generations, different labels and styles, the major reason why
I choose this song.

Figure 1. Music video’s appearance on 我宅 Nerdyboy’s YouTube channel.

The description frankly called this song as a golden hip-hop song in 2017 and “After a year of
hiatus, the 7 singers and 2 producers are just like this song. They are all "walking to fly" on the
road of music!” This song was released as a tribute for Nike. For 35 years since Nike launched
Air Force 1 in 1982, it has been closely linked to sports, music, fashion, art, the streets and
cities, particularly in the hip Hop field. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Air Force 1, a
number of Taiwanese hip-hop singers have joined hands to create the theme song "Go to Fly"
to congratulate them.
Although there’s a declaration of the ‘actual’ meaning and purpose of the song, I will still
humbly attempt to strip the lyrics out verse by verse although the repetitive parts won’t be
analysed twice and finally will come out with the themes. But here I attach the entire lyrics and
the direct translation first along with the remarks.
 走到飛 (GO TO FLY)
Verse 1 – 呂士軒 Trout Fresh

I pull the trigger 讓子彈飛 I pull the trigger let the bullet fly
別中午打來記得 我這時在睡 Don't call at noon and remember that I am sleeping
三寶我專門踢的 別叫哥實在累 I play Sambo, don’t call me so tired
As long as there is a song with my voice
只要有我聲音的歌 Immediately rushed to memorize my words
立刻整批搶著我詞在背 Chaos and monster power win the dominance
亂神怪力 贏到霸台 Fly like
Fly like 天外飛仙 Don't get too close, you will get knocked
別靠太近 會被撞歪 Don't learn from the painful larva
I want to understand this unique knowledge, it’s too dangerous to
怕痛的孑孓 千萬別學
practice randomly
想懂這絕學 亂練太危險 Why not pour me coffee first?
不如幫我倒咖啡先 嗯 Flying shoes with two feet
雙腳腳踏飛鞋 不造飛機 Dare to fly long ago (Taiwan)
早就 造敢若飛(台)
Remarks:
1. Sambo:
a. a Soviet martial art, an internationally-practised combat sport, and a recognized
style of amateur wrestling included by UWW in the World Wrestling
Championships along with Greco-Roman wrestling and freestyle wrestling. It
originated in the Russian SFSR in Soviet Union. The word sambo is an acronym of
the romanization samozashchita bez oruzhiya (Russian: самозащита без оружия),
which literally translates to 'self-defence without weapons'. The correct, official
English spelling, approved by USA Wrestling and the United States Olympic &
Paralympic Committee, is SOMBO;
b. a black person (offensive);
c. a person of mixed race, especially of black and Indian or black and European blood
(historical)
2. “Don't call at noon and remember that I am sleeping,” noon is the usual best time for
people to take a nap. So, to make a call at that time will probably wake him up and thus
bothers him.
3. “Chaos and monster power win the dominance,” refers to the current pandemic and
China’s dominance over WHO and the world (as Dwagie wrote on his song entitled
“WHO” released on March 2020).
4. Don't learn from the painful larva,” refers to Taiwan who evolves to become a powerful
independent country (from a painful larva becomes a beautiful butterfly)
5. “Why not pour me coffee first?” refers to a sarcasm of “You better be ready” before
Taiwan comes at you

Verse 2 – ØZI

我走在東區 Flexing my ones I walk in the east side Flexing my ones

留下了足跡在這路段 Left footprints on this section
面向著金字塔的頂端 Facing the top of the pyramid
I'm On My Grind Rep Taipei City I'm On My Grind Rep Taipei City
Straight to Worldwide Straight to Worldwide
Wearing this pair of flying ones, it blows into the sky
穿著這雙飛的炸到天外
Fly like Peter Pan
飛得像 Peter Pan
Here in Neverland, I have the final say
在這 Neverland 我說的算 The era of change, you will soon be eliminated
變遷的時代 你快被淘汰 Almost buried by time I stand firmly on this cloud
This Forbidden Paradise
 快要被時間掩埋 Waiting for the arrival of Born King
我卻是穩穩的站在這雲端
這 Forbidden Paradise
等待 Born King 的到來
Remarks:
1. East side may refer to either Taiwan which located in the east Asia or the stunning east
coast of Taiwan (from Yilan – Hualien and Taroko Gorge to Taitung – Kenting) or
specifically refers to Nanfang Ao (南方澳) harbour which is located just south of Suao,
where the largest isthmus on the east coast of Taiwan provides a perfect natural harbour,
which just happens to be adjacent to a stretch of coastal water rich in migratory fish.
The harbour is abuzz with activity, especially around the main fish market in the
morning. Flexing the east coast of Taiwan or Taiwan itself means a high pride towards
it.
2. “Facing the top of the pyramid” means Taiwan is at no fear towards other powerful
countries.
3. “I’m on my grind rep [read: reputation, a common abbreviation in rap songs] Taipei
city” refers to the bad perception towards Taiwan.
4. “Straight to the worldwide” refers to Taiwan efforts to become internationally
acknowledged.
5. “Forbidden Paradise” refers to either ØZI’s own hip-hop label (named Forbidden
Paradise1) based in Taipei or Taiwan as a forbidden paradise (as in the LGBTQ paradise
and any other ‘forbidden’ things).

Chorus – Trout Fresh & ØZI

走到飛 (Making my way. Making my way) 走到飞 (Making my way. Making my way)
要走就走到飛 (Do what I say. Do what I say) Go to fly (Do what I say. Do what I say)
走到哪都走到飛 (We'll be okay. We'll be okay) We'll be okay. We'll be okay
遲早會摸到天 因為我們走到飛 Sooner or later I will touch the sky because we walk to fly
走到飛 Yeah Go to fly Yeah
走到飛 Yeah Go to fly Yeah
走到飛 Yeah Go to fly Yeah
Sooner or later I will touch the sky because we walk to fly
遲早會摸到天 因為我們走到飛

Verse 3 – 吳卓源 Julia Wu

聲音有點飄 The voice is a bit floating,

或可能有點高 or it may be a bit high,
倒不用特別跳 but you don’t need to jump in particular.
You will eventually see (Yeah Yeah)
你終究會看到(Yeah Yeah)
flying from Australia to Taiwan.
從澳洲飛到臺灣 Record every dynamic.
記錄每個動態 Speaking naturally in Chinese,
中文說得自然 my bad is at night (Yeah Yeah)
我的壞在夜晚(Yeah Yeah) I changed my attitude, but my style hasn’t changed.
I wear classics on the night sky of Taipei
換了態度但風格沒變樣
穿了經典在台北夜空上

1 “We like anything super poetic and epic, Forbidden Paradise came from that. The classic Adam and Eve story, we're the
forbidden fruit. We're here to give the rest of the world the apple, particularly in Taiwan. After you’re introduced to our culture,
you gain wisdom. We’re opening the Forbidden Paradise for you guys to listen.” – ØZI in an interview with FLAUNT, a
digital news company, August 2020.
Remarks:
1. This verse sung by Julia Wu is more of her acknowledgement of herself and to inquire
the world to recognise her.
2. Julia is a born Australian – Taiwanese and “speaking naturally in Chinese,” and was
gaining her popularity after the Australian Got Talent in 2014.
3. “I changed my attitude, but my style hasn’t changed” means Julia keeps her Taiwanese
identity although she’s gotten western influence as well.

Verse 4 – 熊仔 Kumachan

We've Come A Long Way We've Come A Long Way

爬到走 走到跑 跑到飛 Climb to walk, walk to run, run to fly
飛到了平流層 Flew to the stratosphere
Turn on Autopilot
開啟 Autopilot
Sipping from goblet
Sipping from 高腳杯 You are still chasing on the runway at the airport (yeah)
你還在機場的跑道追(yeah) Hold On
The new wave is spreading
Hold On 興風作浪
But the sparrows don’t come to fight the fighters
掀起腥風血雨 新風潮正擴散 Is sucked into the engine and ground into meat sauce
但麻雀就別來跟戰鬥機作戰 Shift
被吸進引擎裡面絞成肉醬 Can't make a slap
換檔 But an eight can make me drive Wushuang
一個巴掌拍不響 I'm so close that you can't see my light and shadow
但一個八就可以讓我開無雙 Hold on Wait A Minute
我快到讓你看不到我光影 Want to sing along
Hold on Wait A Minute But you can't keep up
Imma Shut It Down (Yeah yo)
想要跟著唱
Hater, who wants to fly before he learns to go, has no chance
但你跟不上 Missile tracking lock was destroyed and crashed home to play with
Imma Shut It Down (Yeah yo) your airplane cup
還沒學會走就想飛的 hater 通通沒機會
飛彈追蹤鎖定被擊毀 墜機回家玩你飛機杯

Remarks:
1. Stratosphere the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, just above the
troposphere, and below the mesosphere. The stratosphere is stratified (layered) in
temperature, with warmer layers higher and cooler layers closer to the Earth; this
increase of temperature with altitude is a result of the absorption of the Sun's
ultraviolet radiation (shortened UV) by the ozone layer.
2. An autopilot is a system used to control the trajectory of an aircraft, marine craft
or spacecraft without requiring constant manual control by a human operator.
Autopilot does not replace human operators. Instead, autopilot assists the operator's
control of the vehicle, allowing the operator to focus on broader aspects of
operations (for example, monitoring the trajectory, weather and on-board systems).
3. Goblet is a bowl-shaped drinking vessel without handles; a drinking vessel (as
of glass) with a foot and stem.
4. 無雙 refers to a criminal action movie with the same title about the "super dollar
bill", a counterfeit banknote that even the U.S. central banking system can't tell if
it's real or not, wreaking havoc around the world in the 1990s.
 Chorus – Julia Wu & 熊仔

走到飛(Watch me go bro) Watch me go bro (Watch me go bro)

要走就走到飛(Now watch me fly bro) Go to fly (Now watch me fly bro)
走到哪都走到飛 Go to fly everywhere
Sooner or later I will touch the sky because we walk to fly
遲早會摸到天 因為我們走到飛
Go to fly Yeah (Let's go...)
走到飛 Yeah(Let's go...) Go to fly Yeah
走到飛 Yeah Go to fly Yeah (Let's do...)
走到飛 Yeah (Let's do...) Sooner or later I will touch the sky because we walk to fly
遲早會摸到天 因為我們走到飛

Verse 5 – BCW 懶領階級

越來越上手 Getting started

感覺像 Tony Montana 混合 Pablo Feels like Tony Montana mixed with Pablo
沒人比肩我 No one is like me
Crazy like that Tesla or Picasso
狂得像那個特斯拉或者畢卡索
No need to take the guy
不用拿傢伙 I still chop you into meat
照樣 把你 剁成 肉 To your nest (rolling tongue), keep (rolling tongue)
到你窩(捲舌) 一個勁兒(捲舌) My Verse shoots at you
我的 Verse 朝你一臉 射 Hold your breath BCW
Came like a deadly plague
快屏住你呼吸 BCW
You have to pay attention
來了像致命的瘟疫 Close to me, all suffocated
你得要注意 必須的 Don't ask why
靠近我全部都窒息 Why my pants are so porous
別再問為什麼 Money burst in my pocket
為什麼我的褲子破了那麼多孔 Like an instructor standing in your head, the fortress blasted a
錢在我口袋都爆開 hole No Mercy
像教官站在你腦袋要塞炸了個洞 No Mercy

Remarks:
1. Antonio "Tony" Montana is a fictional character and the protagonist of the 1983
film Scarface. He is portrayed by Al Pacino in the film, and is voiced by André
Sogliuzzo in the 2006 video game Scarface: The World Is Yours. Embodying the rise
from the bottom to the top, Tony Montana has become a cultural icon and is one of the
most famous movie characters of all time.
2. Pablo refers to Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria (1 December 1949 – 2 December 1993)
was a Colombian drug lord and narco-terrorist who was the founder and sole leader of
the Medellín Cartel. Dubbed "The King of Cocaine," Escobar is the wealthiest criminal
in history, having amassed an estimated net worth of US$30 billion by the time of his
death—equivalent to $59 billion as of 2019—while his drug cartel monopolized
the cocaine trade into the United States in the 1980s and 1990s.
3. The two has been often being linked and even compared to each other. Although the
first one is a fictional character and the latter is a real character, both have a great name
and are the pride to ones with their respective interests and beliefs. The “mix” between
the two means a massive fame.
4. Tesla refers to Tesla, Inc. (formerly Tesla Motors, Inc.), an American electric
vehicle and clean energy company based in Palo Alto, California. Tesla's current
products include electric cars, battery energy storage from home to grid scale, solar
panels and solar roof tiles, as well as other related products and services.
5. Picasso refers to Pablo Ruiz Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973), a Spanish
painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist and theatre designer who spent most of his
adult life in France. Regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century,
 he is known for co-founding the Cubist movement, the invention of constructed
sculpture, the co-invention of collage, and for the wide variety of styles that he helped
develop and explore.
6. Linking the two may refer to the “Tesla bull praises ‘Picasso-like’ quarter, but others
question whether profit can be sustained” news which was a subject of discussion
among the business people. But I honestly have no idea how these two linked leads to
anything. But it generally may refer to luxury and fame as well.
7. MyVerse refers to Natalia Pitti, better known as MyVerse is a American rapper,
songwriter, poet, emcee, and humanitarian best known for being a battle rapper in the
SMACK/URL circuit, a member of the "Rock Steady Crew", and for being a contestant
in the So You Wanna Wild Out competition for the improv comedy show, Wild 'N
Out on MTV and VH1.
Verse 6 – Barry Chen

太多姑娘 情不自禁 Wanna be my wifey Too many girls can't help but Wanna be my wifey
瞧我表情 笑的得意 應該代言 Nike Look at my face and smile proudly, I should endorse Nike
I Pop Champagne (Rock Airforce) I Pop Champagne (Rock Airforce)
全力衝刺到底 Sprint to the end
Hurry up and look up at Air Force One
快點抬頭看空軍一號
Force flies over your head
Force 飛過你頭頂 My Airforce Go All White
My Airforce Go All White All other troubles are Alright
其他麻煩都 Alright Lead the way back to the future
一路領先 回到未來 不屑和誰比賽 Forever classic Just Do It
永遠的經典 Just Do It Difficult movements are unreasonable
高難度動作 沒有道理 Easily win every victory
輕鬆拿下每場勝利 Champion Ring You Know I Got It
冠軍戒指 You Know I Got It

Remarks:
1. Nike refers to Nike, Inc. an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the
design, development, manufacturing, and worldwide marketing and sales
of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services with the tagline “Just Do It”
2. Airforce refers to The Air Force, a range of athletic shoes made by Nike that began
with the Air Force 1 and went on to include the Air Force 2, Air Force 3, Air Force STS,
Air Force 5, Air Force XXV and Air Force 09. The Air Force 1 was created by designer
Bruce Kilgore and was the first basketball shoe to use the Nike Air technology.
3. Airforce One refers to either the shoes or Barry’s very own song with the identical title.
I looked up to his official Instagram page to figure whether he was or is an ambassador
of the brand but maybe utilizing the brand name was just out of his glorification towards
the brand or for the sole purpose of attributing as mentioned earlier.

Chorus – BCW & Barry Chen

走到飛 (Oh Man Oh man) Go to fly (Oh Man Oh man)

要走就走到飛 (Oh Man Oh Man)
走到哪都走到飛 (Oh Man Oh Man)
遲早會摸到天 因為我們走到飛 Yeah
走到飛 Yeah (Oh Man Oh Man)
走到飛 Yeah (Oh Man Oh Man)
走到飛 Yeah (Oh Man Oh Man)
遲早會摸到天 因為我們走到飛 Yeah yeah
Go to fly (Oh Man Oh Man)
Go to fly wherever you go (Oh Man Oh Man)
Sooner or later I will touch the sky, because we walk to fly
Yeah
Go to fly Yeah (Oh Man Oh Man)
Go to fly Yeah (Oh Man Oh Man)
Go to fly Yeah (Oh Man Oh Man)
Sooner or later I will touch the sky, because we walk to fly
Yeah yeah
 Verse 7 – 大支 Dwagie

Check Oh Check Oh
他們不信這鞋是流行走勢 They don’t believe this shoe is trending
不信嘻哈會將市場全統治 Do not believe that hip-hop will rule the market
笑攻頂是瘋子 追流星是弱智 Laughter is a madman, chasing a meteor is a mentally retarded
It’s a big deal to treat the horizon as the limit of the world
把視野當世界極限很有事
I love some superfluous words, so don’t explain
最愛一些贅詞 噓別解釋 Anxious to conceal a bunch of crooks
急切掩飾 沒真材實料的一堆騙子 With fragile ring Hypocrisy pendant
帶易碎戒指 虛偽墜子 You want to catch a leaf in the wind without Ace
你沒 Ace 還想狂風中抓一片葉子 Who wants to be saved? come here
誰想要得救 來這裡 Who is qualified enough?
Just like a big Flow
誰的資格夠 再合體
The shoe has a hook to suit you
像大支的 Flow 才可以 I laughed shut and proud
鞋子有個勾 才合你 It's still polite to fly
笑得閉了口 還得意 I dared to dream I hate you
走到飛著走 還客氣 It’s just a salted fish without dream
我就敢做夢 哎噁你
只是條沒夢想鹹魚而已

Remarks:
1. Dwagie (Chinese: 大 支 ; Pe̍ h-ōe-jī: Toā-ki; born Tseng Kuan-jung Chinese: 曾 冠
榕 ; pinyin: Zēng Guànróng; Pe̍ h-ōe-jī: Chan Koàn-iông, ca. 1984) is
a Taiwanese rapper, best known for using Taiwanese in his performances. His first solo
album was Lotus from the Tongue (舌粲蓮花, 2002), billed as the first ever full rap
album in the Chinese-speaking world. Outside of the hip hop scene he is best known
for his best-selling single, "Taiwan Song", which projects an unapologetic Taiwanese
assertiveness. The title is a playful pun on the Mandarin word for "ode" (頌, pinyin:
sòng), which also sounds like a Taiwanese word for "feeling good" (爽, POJ: sóng), as
well as the English word "song". The March 8, 2004 Asian issue of TIME describes
him as a writer of "pro-Taiwan rap" and the "poster boy of the DPP's southern youth
vote campaign" during the 2004 presidential election. He was also featured in a segment
of the 2007 Discovery Channel special The Mystical Tainan (謎樣台南). He became a
proponent of humane treatment for stray animals in 2009, and has featured their point
of view in his music.
Findings
The remarks of each verse supposed to be a great aid to understand the song. In order to make
it easier, I present the following table to collect the pop-up themes.
Words (phrases)
Theme Remarks
Appeared
Hip hop does treat universal themes like injustice
and oppression, but it is proudly localized as
“ghetto music”, thematizing its root and
commitment to the black urban ghetto and its
Taipei, East-side, culture. Even when rap goes international, it
Local distinctiveness Australia, Chinese, remains proudly local. (Shusterman, 1991,
Taiwan p.207/2/5-7)

Most rappers define their local allegiances in quite

specific terms, most of them by mentioning their
origins.
 In contrast to the standard view that “a poem is
forever,” rap highlights the artwork’s temporality
and likely impermanence: not only by appropriate
deconstructions but by explicitly thematizing its
own temporality in its lyrics. Several rap songs
have declarations of date which implies a
consequent admission of datedness. (Shusterman,
1991, p.207/1/4)
Air Force One, 無雙,
Impermanence/temporality
Nike
The words “Air Force One”, “無雙”, and “Nike”
refer to a mortal entity but this is common in rap’s
postmodern aesthetic, the ephemeral freshness of
artistic creations does not render them
aesthetically unworthy; no more than the
ephemeral freshness of cream renders its sweet
taste unreal. (Shusterman, 1991, p.207/1/13)

Self-praise often highlights a rapper’s sexual

desirability, commercial success, and property
assets, these signs of status are all presented as
Flexing, Footprints, secondary to and derivative from his verbal power.
Hip-hop will rule the Just see how many rap songs are themed with the
Pride/Self-consciousness/ Self-
market, Proud, appearance of giant chain necklaces, rings,
respect
Easily-win, Victory, glittered outfits, physical luxury. But rather for this
No-mercy song, or probably the recent post-modern rappers
start to omit this tendency by dress modestly
without the bling – bling accessories and even to
reduce the swearing and sexual theme.

Table 1. Findings

走到飛 (GO TO FLY), like other rap songs tries to emphasize the power of speaking the
thoughts through music. Rap is a combination between truth and aesthetic legitimacy. Rap is
an open space to the socio – political leaders, they who control the media and institutions. By
voicing their view, through the expertise of word – play, rappers can deliver the message either
underground or openly.
Conclusion
Hip-hop’s genre of “knowledge rap” (or “message rap”) is dedicated to the defiant violation of
the compartmentalized, trivializing, and eviscerating view of art and the aesthetic. Such rappers
repeatedly insist that their role as artists and poets is inseparable from their role as insightful
inquirers of reality and teachers of truth. (Shusterman, 1991, p.212/2/1-3)
This interpretation could be one solid mistake but as Vygotsky said “It would be a mistake,
however, to imagine that this is the only road from thought to word. The development may stop
at any point in its complicated course: an infinite variety of movements to and fro, of ways still
unknown to us, is possible.” (p.254/1/1-4) This is a mere attempt to give a general conception
of the infinite complexity of the dynamic structure of thoughts (p.254/2/13-15) by documenting
facts and combine it with the closest guess.
References
Shusterman, R. (1991). The fine art of rap. New Literary History, 22(3), 613-632.
Vygotsky, L. (1928). The problem of the cultural development of the child. The Pedagogical
Seminary and Journal of Genetic Psychology, 36(3), 56-72.
Vygotsky, L. (1986). Thought and Language [Thirteenth printing, 2002]. London: The MIT
Press.
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