Translation help: What is the song "Bà Rằng Bà Rí" about? (lyrics pasted within)
Hello, about 20 years ago, I bought an album of traditional Vietnamese music, and I absolutely loved this song called "Bà Rằng Bà Rí." I never understood what it meant. I went to Vietnam in 2008 and asked a local tour guide about the song, and he immediately stonewalled me and said "that song has bad meaning" and refused to answer what it was about. Someone else told me it had to do with child marriage or something, but I have been unable to confirm that. Anyone have any idea? I've copy/pasted lyrics below, although some of the spellings seem to be slightly different in the linked video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHtvOXSLVaw
Bà Rằng bà Rí
hỡi Rằng bà đi
hỡi đi là đâu
bà di khắp chốn
nối dây tơ hồng
cái duyên ông chồng
làm khổ cái đời tôi
hỡi bà Rí ơị..
bà Rằng...bà Rí ơi!!!!
Chồng gì mà chồng bé
bé tẹo tèo teo
chân đi cà kheo
lúc đi phải cõng
lúc khóc phải bồng
cái duyên ông chồng
làm khổ cái đời tôi
hỡi bà Rí ơi
bà Rằng bà Rí ơị..
Chồng gì ma chồng ngáy
ngáy ò ọ o
đêm rồi thì nằm co
làm ăn lười biếng
chẳng lo học hành
cái duyên ông chồng
làm khổ cái đời tôi
hỡi bà Rí ơi
bà Rằng bà Rí ơi !!!
Posted Jun 4, 2019, 3:24 PM UTC