Songs dedicated to Uncle Ho

In the flow of Vietnamese music in general, and Thanh Hoa province in particular, songs about President Ho Chi Minh always occupy a sacred and solemn place. They represent the boundless love and profound gratitude that artists and writers offer to him.

Songs about Uncle Ho will always resonate in the hearts of every Vietnamese person.

Mentioning songs about President Ho Chi Minh that have stood the test of time, the familiar melody of "Footprints Ahead," composed by musician Pham Minh Tuan based on the poem of the same name by poet Ho Thi Ca, resonates in the hearts of many generations of Vietnamese people. The song realistically and movingly portrays the image of young Nguyen Tat Thanh setting out to find a way to save the country at Nha Rong port 115 years ago.

“When I was just a speck of dust / He had already boarded a ship and gone far away / When our homeland was still in turmoil / He had already boarded a ship and gone far away / When I was just a speck of dust / He had already boarded a ship and gone far away / When Nha Rong Wharf was filled with tears / Uncle Ho's footsteps were placed here”...

The image of "He boarded the ship and went far away" is repeated many times like an echoing refrain. For 30 long years, Uncle Ho endured countless hardships and difficulties in foreign lands. He docked at the ports of Marseille and Le Havre in France; he worked as a laborer on a ship of the Charles Reunion company that sailed around Africa. Along with the ship's journey, he stopped at ports in several countries such as Spain, Portugal, Algeria, Tunisia... He also traveled through Martinique, Uruguay, Argentina, and stopped in the United States. Putting aside all personal worries, Uncle Ho's youth was spent wandering on these ships with his only baggage being his fervent love for his country and people. He did all kinds of arduous work to make a living, seized every opportunity to learn and improve his knowledge, living the life of a working man with the greatest aspiration being to find the truth, the path to save the country and its people.

In particular, the song portrays Uncle Ho's "footprints" on his journey "to find the image of the nation" with evocative imagery deeply ingrained in the Vietnamese consciousness: "Footprints are not light like clouds / Footprints are not soft, not warm / Footprints are not like sunlight / Ten toes deeply bruised from worry / Footprints of a long standing / The weight of the Fatherland on two shoulders / Surely He was moved to tears / His heart burning with anger."

The song "Footprints Ahead" uses simple yet evocative language, combining repetition of words and structures to create a poignant and solemn rhythm. Listening to this song during the fragrant days of May, each of us is not only moved by our love and affection for Uncle Ho, but it also reminds us of the value of independence and freedom – things that were earned through a long and arduous journey. Every peaceful step we take today is a continuation of the "footprints ahead" that were once deeply imprinted in the nation's history, with Uncle Ho as the pioneer: "With light steps, we walk / Uncle Ho was the one who went before / Clearing forests, crossing rivers, opening paths / Giving me a whole life / Giving me a whole life"...

In that shared sentiment, with Thanh Hoa province – a place where President Ho Chi Minh held special affection and visited many times – generations of artists have composed melodies brimming with emotion and deeply rooted in the local identity, as a tribute to him.

"Where the pine forest erects a monument to Uncle Ho" is an impressive song by composer Xuan Lien. The song has a profound and moving feel, both depicting the memory of President Ho Chi Minh's first visit to Thanh Hoa in 1947 and expressing the deep affection and respect that the people of Thanh Hoa had for him, and vice versa.

What makes the song so captivating is the harmonious blend of nature and humanity. The pine forest is not only the setting but also a historical witness, preserving sacred memories of Uncle Ho. The sounds of "spring music" or "the wind in the green pine forest keeps singing" resonate with joy, pride, and boundless gratitude.

Shining brightly in the lyrics and melody, the image of Uncle Ho appears simple yet noble. A man who is approachable and gentle, with a "gentle smile" and a "vast voice," yet possessing extraordinary character and wisdom. Amidst the rustling green pine forest, Uncle Ho's words resonate like the voice of the nation: "Thanh Hoa must become a model province. Every aspect— politics , military, economy, and culture—must be exemplary. Be a model person, a model family, a model village, a model district, a model province. With determination, it will become a model."

Besides "Where the pine forest erects a monument to Uncle Ho," Thanh Hoa's music also includes many songs that encapsulate the deep affection and gratitude of generations of Thanh Hoa people for Uncle Ho, such as: "Sam Son bears the footprints of Uncle Ho" by the late composer Le Dang Khoa and composer Nguyen Hoai Nam; "Uncle Ho on the peak of Truong Le" by composer Le Dang Khoa; "The man who pulls the nets with the people" by composer Pham Khanh Hoang...

Songs dedicated to Uncle Ho serve as a bridge of emotion, connecting millions of hearts to beat in unison, their hearts filled with shared feelings. Whenever these melodies resound, we feel as if Uncle Ho is smiling, his bright eyes watching over every step of the nation's progress, every milestone in the development of Thanh Hoa province...

Text and photos: Hoang Linh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/loi-ca-dang-bac-287172.htm