“I have not left the hospital this evening

As it is the frontline where the fight is still going”

– the lyrics of the song “Nếu em chưa về” “If I have not returned home” express the feelings of the medical staff on duty at the frontline fighting against COVID-19.

Like other places around the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic was becoming ever more complicated in Vietnam. All must join hands in the fight against the pandemic, especially the frontline doctors and medical staff, which gave  an inspiration to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Lan Trung – ULIS former Vice President to compose the song “If I have not returned home.”

In a series of songs supporting the fight against COVID-19, “If I have not returned home” was a rare song that expressed the emotions of the medical staff who were fighting against the pandemic days and nights. Each line is filled with their hidden feelings. Because of the pandemic, they could not go home to their beloved.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Lan Trung said that this was also a song with specially deep emotion, a rare ‘bass note’ among his musical compositions. Talking about the context in which this song was composed, he said, ‘I heard a song and saw a father holding his child and waving to a doctor or nurse who was standing in the quarantine area. At that time, a friend coincidentally sent me a poem with the first line “If I have not returned home” and that inspired me to take the guitar to compose this song.’

Doctors and nurses calling home, or falling asleep on tables are all impressive images that resulted in this song of his.

‘The lyrics in this song are very concise yet encapsulate my feelings towards the “white-coat” soldiers. Some of my family’s members and friends are doctors, so I listen to their own stories. I want us to express our gratitude to these people. Let’s join hands in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic’, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Lan Trung added.