陳維崧自幼多才多藝，會賞畫、彈箜篌、懂音律，熱愛戲曲。自從國亡父喪後，便寄居如皋冒襄家的水繪園。冒襄家中的戲班是聞名的，因此認識許多傑出的江湖藝人。這些藝人因為亡國後，失去表演的舞台，生活無著落。自己也七次科考不第，淪落天涯，際遇相似，越生同情。在這類江湖藝人詞中，除了頌讚藝人們的特殊才藝，包括畫畫、唱南曲、說平話、彈琵琶、篆刻等等。最主要的是一抒懷才不遇，亡國悲痛，有家歸不得的失意潦倒。他對這些藝人，投射欣賞與敬重，對他們失去舞台，流離失所，更感悲痛。詞中借他人酒杯澆自己塊壘，堪稱詞史。

Chen Wei-Sung was versatile. He could appreciate the beauty of the drawings, play the musical instrument, Kung Hou, understand the music rhythm, and adore the traditional operas as well. After the nation was conquered and his father perished, he left home and lived in Mao Hsing's garden in Riu Kao. The Chinese opera performers belonging to Mao Hsing's family were well-known, so Chen had the opportunity to get acquainted with many outstanding itinerant entertainers. Since the nation was conquered, these entertainers were obliged to get out of the performing stage, and kept nothing for a living. Since Chen himself had failed seven times in his official examination, wandering to the remote place, both of them were in the similarly awkward situation. As a result, in the words of his classical poetry, besides paying a compliment to the performers' special talents, including painting, singing Nan Chyu, speaking stories, playing the pipa ( a plucked string instrument with a fretted fingerboard), seal cutting, etc, Chen mainly expressed his frustrated mind, the sorrow of the perishing nation, and the loss and frustration of being homeless. He projected his appreciation and respect onto those entertainers, and felt sorrowful for their bad fortune and aimless roaming. In the poetry, it seemed he wrote about others' destiny, but actually, he just reflected his situation. Metaphorically, he got rid of his worries and frustration through drinking others' wine. What Chen wrote deserved to be called the history of the lyrics.