After the "beacon", there are "anchor number", "tent number" and "Yangman number" (the boatman is forbidden to use the sound of "turn", and "Yangman number" means "navigation number"), and the most commonly used one is "pull fiber feed number". The drawstring number of the Yellow River can be divided into early drawstring number and late drawstring number. Although the tune is the same, the lyrics are different. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, boatmen often cross the Yellow River. In labor practice, boatmen found a labor method of anchoring the ship forward and then pushing it through with water. In this way, a fast and powerful "anchor number" and "big anchor number" are produced to adapt to this kind of labor. In addition, there is a "hurry sign" when the ship turns around, a "foot drop sign" when it is propped up, a "big poke sign" when it is near the dock, and a "stop sign" when it passes between two ships. Until the ship stops, every labor process is accompanied by a song.
With the change of river course, boatmen have also created various forms of labor songs to adapt to the change of labor rhythm. The middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River are the Loess Plateau and the mountainous areas in western Henan, with deep valleys and fast-flowing water. The boatmen of the Yellow River struggled against the current step by step; Down the river, there is a saying among the people that "sailing in Sanmenxia is like crossing the gate of hell". Sanmenxia is one of the most dangerous sections of the Yellow River, with open reefs, dark rocks and fierce water potential. Many ships are buried under the river here. Therefore, boatmen sailing in these river sections must have the heart to help each other in the same boat and the courage to turn the tide. The songs used at this time hardly need lyrics, and they are all composed by "Hi, Hi". The Yellow River flows out of the mountainous area in western Henan and enters the North China Plain, losing its unrestrained momentum and slowly spilling into the Bohai Sea. The boatmen are sailing in these rivers, singing slowly and melodiously, which is quite interesting. The Yellow River chant is a form of leading many people. From lyrics to tunes, it is simple, vigorous and open.
The lyrics of The Yellow River Boatman Song are rich in content. In old China, many lyrics reflected the miserable life of boatmen in dark days. If there is a "tent" sings like this:
The ferryman's horn rumbled,
The boatman pulled the fiber and sank step by step.
With thousands of pieces of cloth,
A boatman was dressed in rags and didn't cover himself.
Carrying thousands of tons of grain,
The boatman can only chew bran buns.
The warlord boss made a fortune,
Yellow River boatmen have been poor for generations.
Yellow River boatmen have been sailing on the Qianli River for many years and are very familiar with the mountains, rocks, grass and trees on both sides of the Yellow River. The boatmen use songs to adjust monotonous and heavy physical labor, and also use songs to describe the scenery of mountains and rivers and express their love for nature. If there is such a song:
A flying dragon comes out of Kunlun,
Put your head and tail through three doors.
The roar shattered the mountain head,
Sail a boat in the storm.
When sailing on a gentle river or working for a long time, boatmen often sing some historical legends and stories to relieve fatigue and enliven the atmosphere. The yellow river boatman's song is based on the story of the three kingdoms. For example:
Third, in Jiangdong,
Zhuge Liang will sacrifice to the east wind.
Three sacrifices to the east wind,
Millions of soldiers who burned Cao Cao.
There are also some singers who sing historical legends and stories, such as Yang Jiajiang, Meng Jiangnu and Erlang Daishan.
After liberation, the boatmen became the masters of the Yellow River transportation line, and the labor chant also showed their optimism. For example, in the drawing fiber feed number, it sings like this:
Even at noon, due south,
Mother Guanyin made a flower boat.
Sandalwood is at the bottom of the boat,
Jade agate ship railing.
Mother Guanyin held the rudder firmly,
Eighteen arhats hold the board.
In a word, the Yellow River boatman's horn not only has practical value to guide labor and inspire labor mood, but also makes people realize the unique customs and people's feelings of sailing on the Yellow River.