Why the song UNFINISHED in Black Myth: Wukong great*|
With full lyrics, and analysis of Chinese-English tranlation explanation for foreigners

A literal translation that strives to capture the meaning of every Chinese character

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When do you hear:*

*If you hear a different song playing not in a black backgroung then you can explore a different ending, as 悟空 will never wear the 紧箍(tightening headband)

This song sings when you fight all the bosses in games and reached the end of end, after the animation when the production members are being shown ¹.

得了千秋功名 千千万生灵涂炭
My glory and fame paid by lives countless as the sand Gained eternal glory, countless(thousands) lives were lost

This line is stark and powerful, even more so in English, as it bluntly exposes the harsh reality that his immortality and fame were built upon a foundation of both necessary and unnecessary bloodshed and collateral damage.

The use of "paid" is a brilliant choice, clearly emphasizing that the price of eternal glory was the immense suffering of living beings. It immediately brings forth a deep sense of compassion and reflection, highlighting how this character, unlike a typical warlord who views the people as mere fodder, is one who reflects on the pain and suffering brought by conflict. He sees the sorrow of an age ravaged by war and empathizes with the people, embodying a hero with profound concern for peace and the well-being of the world—someone who understands the shared plight of humanity, across time and space.

精魂炼成了丹 从此尝不出辛酸
They took my remains and the story passed to no one
The soul is refined into an elixir, never again to taste bitterness.

In the Chinese lyrics, 辛酸 (bitterness|sourness) refers to the taste of suffering, symbolizing that now the core of that pain has been lost. The English translation conveys a different nuance—suggesting that the story has been silenced, kept in secret, and no longer spoken of.

This also reflects part of the game’s plot, where Wukong’s six senses (根器) were taken away, yet the real deeds and words of the Great Sage are no longer remembered by anyone. After knowing all of this, would we, ordinary people, still let our unfulfilled desires drift away like water down the river?

Furthermore, in Chapter 4, it's hinted that The Fourth Sister was taken to Heaven by a crane(I shall transform her to a mighty golden pill and kept it save for you), a part of the story that deepens the emotional impact on anyone who listens to this.

I translated 丹 as "elixir," since in Chinese culture it's something well-defined—representing longevity or immortality. The very difference between this is 丹 are solid shperes, no liquid. In the game, however, it often appears as a pill (like the one given by Xu Gou/the dog), symbolizing the remains, the essence, or the true energy that's left behind.

故事被谱成曲 全是分合聚散
They sang about my tale about the partings, the pain
Stories woven into melodies, all about separations and reunions

In the original story, Wukong (悟空) was expelled by Tang Monk (唐僧) many times. A famous instance is when they encountered 白骨精 (White Skeleton Jing/Spirit or White Bone Demon). This story has been adapted into various art forms, such as 皮影 (shadow puppetry/play) Bilibili youtube a animated one(used to be realy projecting).

Another well-known episode is 真假美猴王 (The Double of the True and False Monkey King or The Two Wukongs), when Wukong killed some thieves. These stories correspond to key moments in the journey, offering listeners a chance to relive the 81 tribulations, heightening the sense of tragedy and grandeur . Though the conflicts between the 妖怪 (Yaoguai) and the four travelers (Wukong, Tang Monk, etc.) may seem thrilling, between you and me (Monk & Wukong, master & his apprentice), they are deeply heart-wrenching.

你我原是 无拘无束身
You and I were free and untamed
You and I were once free man with no restrain

The use of the word "untamed" is brilliant, especially given the many animal-derived characters in the story. After spending hours immersed in this fantastical world, players might start to feel as though they too have become 'wild' creatures. While "untamed" doesn’t directly translate to 无拘无束身 (no restraints), it conveys the same essence.

This phrase, "You and I," sounds almost like a call from Wukong himself, evoking memories of days gone by. The gods and buddhas in the story often act as trainers, teaching people to follow their rules and codes.

This idea that "everything is allowed" perfectly captures the spirit of the Monkey King, who constantly rebels against authority. The famous animated film 大闹天宫 (The Monkey King: Havoc in Heaven) beautifully portrays one of his most iconic stories—his battle against heaven itself—a dream of defiance that resonates with young children everywhere.

The best translation is the

他们被说成书 区区八十一难
The journey became myth like a game with plans
They were narrated into a book, a mere eighty-one tribulation

The various trials and hardships of the journey to the West were simplified into just 81 tribulations and written into legend. In reality, the journey was far more arduous, well beyond the 81 trials, yet for various reasons, the story was not faithfully represented. Why is it will be further developed after.

The word "journey" is quite fitting here, referring to the trek to the West, but it carries much deeper meanings. The real journey—Tang Monk's pilgrimage to India to retrieve the authentic scriptures—was a long, grueling trek through primitive conditions (from 629 to 645, he traveled alone in history). We can say that the journey to the West involved far more than just 81 tribulations.

Now, however, "journey" has evolved to mean much more. It can signify an expedition toward success, similar to the Long March, or even capture the essence of personal struggles and the eventual transformation, as immortalized in poetry and historical narratives in Mao's poems. Nevertheles, players themselves are also taking the trip.

曲唱成歌 不许平凡
For its banned to hear if there's nothing grand
Melodies turned into songs, but nothing more feared than the ordinary

诗凝成画 不容悲欢
A moment of art, there is no sorrow to find
Poems congeal into paintings, missing(no room for) the sorrows and joys

These two lines are repeated in the lyrics and share a deep meaning. While the stories are filled with thrilling tales of heroes, those heroes are often modified to fit a narrative, overshadowing the true purpose of the journey. The essence of the hardships and emotions is lost, reduced to something to be admired rather than understood.

This answers the earlier question of why the journey has been obscured. In short, the entourage is propagated as a model—heroes who achieved salvation. Consequently, their inner turmoil and true concerns no longer matter. It’s like when you’re young, you fight to change the world, but as you grow older and settle into stability, you find yourself constrained. Speaking the truth feels strange, even taboo, as it conflicts with the interests of those in power and not necessary.

The narrator—likely Wukong—seems to feel that even though he has been elevated to the position of a Buddha, the world continues to suffer. He may be the hero, but he’s no longer able to help others. There’s an unspoken implication (though no direct evidence) that certain benefactors in the celestial hierarchy prevent him from abandoning his title to return to his original life with his fellow monkeys. Instead, his story is blown up into something grand, used to intrigue people and make them worship the celestial powers, who profit from more sacrifices.

At first, I did not catch the phrase "nothing more feared than the ordinary" in Chinese(English is quiet straightforward). It is subtle.Combining "no room for sorrows and joys" implys that the grand narrative hides deeper truths—trials that exist beneath the surface. This resonates with the name Black Myth, symbolizing the untold, darker aspects that remain unspoken but always present.

The poetic depiction in the first half sentence of the lyrics uses elegant verbs and settings,

where beauty and hardship are intertwined—just like the contemplative, scenic moments resting parts in the game.

不堕轮回万古传
To be beyond, to be the one
To transcend(not fail into) samsara(cycle of reincarnation) and leave an eternal name

The line "To be beyond, to be the one" is brilliantly translated, especially in this final part. The phrase "to be the one" holds significant meaning, hinting at Wukong's eventual transcendence when all six of his senses become unified into one. The English version conveys a much more direct interpretation—who can break all the chains and become the one, the figure whose vision extends beyond the present and into the future?

This question is the essence of the game’s plot. It suggests a passing of the torch, echoing the sentiment of "The heroes of the past are gone, but the real greatness is found in the present." It’s a message to the player: Don’t look to some resurrected figure like Wukong to save you. Instead, you, as the destined one, are here, now. You have the power to inherit it all and become the next Wukong.

When you finnaly fight with the zombie style Wukong gather all his shells with stories, you understand that he sacrificed for the fellow monkeys, so Who is the one? It’s Wukong, it’s Him, and it could be you.

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The dirctor of the game 冯骥（Feng Ji）, writes all the lyircs AND translated them himself.(He used to major in Biomedical Engineering)

There are saying thart it has strong me withe the famous leader fouder of PRC Chairman Mao. For example, the famous poem³

What's more delicate in detail: In Chinese the lyrics character 尽 is changed to 竟 in title

that Mao wrote in his scripts