Lời cô giáo trẻ (Words of A Young Teacher) - Cô Phượng [Vinh Sử] (1973)

HABANERA

Em là cô giáo tóc thề bờ vai

I'm a teacher, tresses rest on my shoulders   
Xuân tròn đôi tám mơ mộng tương lai

In the spring of life, eighteen, dreaming of the future  
Trời cho mang nét trang đài

Heaven has allowed me wear the countenance of a lady's chambers  
Ngõ tim chưa bước chân ai

Nobody has yet set foot upon the pathway to my heart  
Vui bên đàn học trò thơ ngây

Happy by my flock of innocent students

Em là cô giáo nơi tỉnh lẻ xa

I'm a teacher in a remote province  
Quen giọng thanh thót trong vần ê a

Who has gotten used to the warbled syllables "ay" and "ah"  
Dạy khuyên em bé thật thà

Guiding the sincere little ones  
Lễ nghi yêu kính Mẹ Cha thương Ông Bà hơn cả đời ta.

In ceremonies I love and respect my folks and cherish my grandparents more than my life. 

Nhiều khi trường tan chuông đổ xôn xao

Often at the end of the school day when the bell loudly rings  
Ngoài sân tan tác hoa phượng, em nghe lòng mang nổi bâng khuâng

Out on the yard scattered poinciana flowers, I feel a sad longing  
Chợt thương ngày nào lên sáu lên năm

Suddenly fond of those growing to be five and six  
Hồn nhiên trong tuổi học trò

Unaffected at this age of schooling  

Nay kỷ niệm để dành nằm mơ!

Those are memories for when I lie dreaming!

Em là cô giáo tuy nghèo mà vui

I'm a teacher, though poor, it's fun
Không đòi đua chỉ an phận mà thôi

I don't imitate, just content with my fate  
Làm thân giáo chức đâu ngại

Dedicating myself as an educator with no hesitancy 
Dìu đưa em bé tương lai

Guiding the little one's futures  
Đi xây dựng danh vọng ngày mai.

Building a name for themselves tomorrow.  

nguồn: Cô Phượng, "Lời cô giáo trẻ" (Khánh Hội-Saigon: Ấn phẩm Họa Mi, 1973).

This song borders on socialist realism portraying an idealized model of social behavior. She's sixteen years old, obedient to her family, prepared to live a life of poverty, yet wholly dedicated the development of children in a remote province where her work will perhaps go unnoticed. Through her guidance, Vietnam will benefit from a future cohort of young people ready to make Vietnam a better place.

This depiction is betrayed at the outset by her awareness of her beauty and potential. Her "sad longing" arises from the knowledge at this moment that she might find romantic fulfillment, yet nobody "has set foot on the pathway to [her] heart." The scattered remains of poinciana flowers that she describes have to bring to mind the red remnants of celebratory firecrackers after a wedding.

nguồn ảnh: Phạm Hoàng, "Hoa phượng 'nhuộm' đỏ sân trường ở phố núi Gia Lai," Dân Trí May 22, 2023

It's an attractive image: an independent teen girl, long hair wearing a white, virginal áo dài. The kids see her as an attentive helpful teacher. She sees herself pulled in more than one direction -- fully committed to her family and profession, yet simultaneously conscious of her beauty and of feelings that she has not fully articulated to herself. 

This innocence makes her more attractive. Most Vinh Sử songs happen a little later on, when something would crushed this the feelings of this self-possessed young woman - her parents or her poverty would block her from the marital bliss that she is not convinced that she desires. Perhaps the joy and fulfillment that comes from leading a class of tiny children sounding out their vowels is enough to dispel all of her vague, disquieting longing? The plaintive music undercuts the confidence in her ability to be satisfactied by this alone.

Thanh Tuyền introduced "Lời cô giáo trẻ" on the Kim Đằng 1 cassette in August 1973.