Watch China's Creepy Musical Tribute to Online Censorship

February 12, 2015 10:15 PM EST

Is this a good song about the glory of online censorship? Or is this the greatest song ever about the glory of online censorship?

The ode, written by Wang Pingjiu, is a rousing choral tribute to the Chinese system of online surveillance and censorship known as the Great Firewall — and the government department behind it. In recent weeks, the wall has been rising as the ruling party cracks down on virtual private networks (VPNs) and online speech.

As well it should, the song suggests. Here is a translation courtesy of China Economic Review:

在这片天空日月忠诚的守望

The moon and stars guard us loyally

为日出东方使命担当

Undertaking the duty of the sun rising from the East

创新每个日子拥抱着清朗

Creativity, every day clean and fresh

像一束廉洁阳光感动在心上

Like a bundle of honest sunshine that moves the heart

团结万物生长的力量

The power of all things growing in unity

奉献地球村成为最美的风光

Dedication to the global village becomes the most beautiful scene

在这个世界百川忠诚寻归海洋

Every river in this world loyally seeks the sea

担当中华文明的丈量

Undertaking the measurement of Chinese civilization

五千年沉淀点亮创新思想

Five thousand years build up, illuminating creative thought

廉洁就是一个民族清澈荡漾

Honesty is the lifeblood of a people

我们团结在天地中央

We unite at the center of Heaven and Earth

信仰奉献流淌万里黄河长江

Faith and devotion flow immeasurable distance alongside the Yellow and Yangzi rivers

网络强国网在哪中国界碑在哪

The Internet strengthens the country, wherever it goes there too stretch China’s borders

网络强国从遥远的宇宙到思念的家

The Internet strengthens the country, from the distant universe to one’s longed-for home

网络强国告诉世界中国梦在崛起大中华

The Internet strengthens the country, telling the world the Chinese dream is rising in Greater China

网络强国一个我在世界代表着国家

The Internet strengthens the country, every one of us is representing our country for the world.

There are signs, however that the censors are perhaps a little embarrassed by the attention. As the video began circulating, links to it started going dead — because in China, even the songs about censorship are censored.

— With reporting from Gu Yongqiang / Beijing

Watch China’s Creepy Musical Tribute to Its Online Censors

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