身世渾如水上鷗，

My life is just as a seagull circling up above,

又攜竹杖過南州。

again the bamboo cane carries me passing nowhere. 

飯囊傍晚盛殘月，

Nothing left for me but moonlight dimmed in my bowl,

歌板臨風唱曉秋。

and my singing along with bamboo plate in windy autumn dawn. 

兩腳踢翻塵世界，    

Come back the mundane world never;

一肩挑盡古今愁。  

gone with me the human sorrows ever.

而今不食嗟來食，  

being a beggar still I am a dignified chooser,

黃犬何須吠不休。

so do not bark at me for I am a noble loser.