Since the early twentieth century, Hong Kong has always been an important venue for Cantonese opera development. After 1949, as a result of political turmoil in the Mainland, performers and troupes converged and resettled in the territory, leading to a tremendous prospering of Cantonese opera in the subsequent decade. This development is linked intimately with the rise of the electronic media.
Performers and troupes began to grasp the possibilities offered by film and radio to re-examine age-old performance practices with regard to acting, singing, script writing, instrumentation, and stage set-up. They brought in novel elements from the theatre and movie world, and participated in the production of films and records. With these acts, they are extending the movement to modernize Cantonese opera that began in the 1930s.
Wong Jum-sum was thoroughly immersed in the world of Cantonese opera from young. Through his close encounter with master performers like Hung Sin-nui, Ma Si-tsang, Yam Kim-fai, Pak Suet-sin and Tong Dik-sang, he witnessed first hand the modernization of Cantonese opera, and was mightily moved by the adventure and passion he saw.
Composers: Jimmy Kennedy,
Nat Simon
Lyricists: Jimmy Kennedy,
Nat Simon
Vocalist: Patti Page
You told me I was your darlin'
You kept me hangin' around
Somebody else is your darlin'
So lonesome and blue I'll be found
Down the trail of achin' hearts
Where nobody's hidin' their tears
You sent me there where sadness starts
Down the trail of achin' hearts
Once I was passing your window
Under the light of a star
Somebody else played my love song
And played it on my old guitar
Down the trail of achin' hearts
Where nobody's hidin' their tears
You sent me there where sadness starts
Down the trail of achin' hearts
After you've had all your darlin's
Maybe you'll be on the shelf
One of these days, little darlin'
Now you may be down there yourself
Down the trail of achin' hearts
Where nobody's hidin' their tears
You sent me there where sadness starts
Down the trail of achin' hearts
