Again, he consolidated his status in my heart as a master of folk songs, and again I was treated to the profound humanistic flavour and austere but poetic lyrics of his songs. These songs, full of the purity of humanity and happiness of labour, were born of the land and nurtured on it. There is no artificiality in such type of music. In this land, the singers sing about the process of weeds sprouting, about family harmony in making the fire and meals, about the simple and plain love between men and women, about life, aging, illness and death and about the historical legends of heroes and beauties. Northern Shaanxi folk songs contain the testimony of life and history.
Great singers come from the land.
They grow, work, sing and disappear silently, leaving only their works blinking like stars in the night sky. In the darkness, they lighten the hearts of followers and help them to see the most essential and valuable things about life. I was lost in thought as Li sang, until he showed a little tiredness. It was already dark. He had sung too much and needed rest.