Our National Day is here, and a familiar melody is ringing out across the streets again — “China catches my heart, no one can break us apart...” It’s the classic song My Motherland and Me, beloved for over four decades.
Written by lyricist Zhang Li and composer Qin Yongcheng, the song was born in 1984 and made famous across China by singer Li Guyi. Its words use a perfect metaphor: the motherland is like the sea, and I am a wave; the motherland is like a mother, and I am her child. Waves cling to the sea, and children nestle close to their mothers — this deep affection warms every heart that hears it.
There’s a little story behind it: the lyricist carried the tune for over half a year without finding inspiration — until an autumn trip to Zhangjiajie in 1984, where the breathtaking scenery sparked his creativity and he wrote the lyrics in one breath.
Over the years, the song has been sung through flash mobs, choirs and dances. Today it has an English version, My Motherland and Me, sharing this deep feeling from China with the world.
Songs may grow old, but the love for our motherland stays forever young. This National Day, let’s sing this “words from the heart” to our country together!
