Mike Oldfield 是一個人的名字，也是一個資深英國樂團的名字，在7,80年代與 Pink Floyd 同樣以魔幻的"實驗音樂"聞名。當然從現在的眼光看來，這些"實驗"都只是鍵盤音色的再處理，但在那個(電腦)合成音樂剛開始萌芽的時代，這已經是創意十足的事了，而有些"實驗"確實具有某種"魔幻"的效果。主導的 Mike 除了身兼詞曲之外，也是主吉他手，擅長許多種樂器。
這首是例外，一點也不實驗，也非"魔幻"，如果有的話，那大概是歌詞部分，許多深邃的"隱喻"至今還是個謎。歌詞中的人稱代名詞(我、她、他、你)交替使用，讓視野變得立體，但確實是紀念前 Beatles 的大將 John Lennon 而寫的... 歌詞描述一個人在星期六凌晨四點被殺了六槍...
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我還是忍不住去想像那個"爸爸告訴女兒這個故事"的畫面... 那會是個什麼樣的"情況"？
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二十多年下來，這首歌有許多版本，也換過不少主唱，也有一些人翻唱，我還看過日本動畫版本，今天這個是我最喜歡的一個，來自 2000 年柏林現場演唱會(The Art in Heaven)... 瞧他一付漫不經心的樣子東張西望，一下調整圍巾，一下又看看攝影機，慢吞吞用優雅的 fingerstyle 彈電吉他，又彈得這麼輕鬆穩健，與女主唱交錯進行，若即若離，精采又陶醉，只有一個"帥"字可以形容，而且他好像越老越帥，非常佩服，而這場演唱會的"氣勢"更令人羨慕...
這是一首哀悼的歌，但卻一點也不悲，相信 John Lennon 在天堂聽了也會開心。
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The last that ever she saw him 她最後一次看到他
Carried away by a moonlight shadow 被一道月光之影帶走
He passed on worried and warning 他略顯不安
Carried away by a moonlight shadow 被一道月光之影帶走
Lost in a riddle that saturday night 迷失在那個星期六的夜晚
Far away on the other side 遠遠地
He was caught in the middle of a desperate fight 他被困在一場打鬥中
And she couldn't find how to push through 而她不知該如何解圍
The trees that whisper in the evening 夜晚的路樹低吟著
Carried away by a moonlight shadow 被一道月光之影帶走
Sing a song of sorrow and grieving 唱著憂傷的歌
Carried away by a moonlight shadow 被一道月光之影帶走
All she saw was a silhouette of a gun 她只看到一把手槍的剪影
Far away on the other side 遠遠地
He was shot six times by a man on the run 他被那個人殺了六槍
And she couldn't find how to push through 而她不知該如何解圍
*I stay 我留下
I pray 我禱告
I see you in heaven far away 在遙遠的天堂再見囉
Four AM in the morning 凌晨四點
Carried away by a moonlight shadow 被一道月光之影帶走
I watched your vision forming 我看到你所見的東西
Carried away by a moonlight shadow 被一道月光之影帶走
Star swirls slowly in a silvery night 夜晚的星空慢慢迴旋
Far away on the other side 遠遠地
Will you come to talk to me this night 你今晚會對我說話嗎
But she couldn't find how to push through 但她不知如何渡過
Caught in the middle of a hundred and five 在第一百零五號的門牌旁邊(?)
The night was heavy but the air was alive 夜晚如此沉重但空氣卻如此活躍
She couldn't find how to push through 她不知該如何渡過
Eric Clapton 崛起於 70 年代的英國，是一位非常資深且活躍的搖滾音樂改革者，曲風橫跨鄉村民謠及藍調音樂(Blues)。他的生世非常坎坷複雜，從小開始玩音樂，自創曲風，自組樂團，年輕時曾多次遊走於酒精與毒品之間，至今出過三十幾張個人專輯，還有另外三十幾張現場演唱及樂團合輯等作品... 他是吉他高手，不論是電吉他或木吉他都很厲害，也是吉他收藏家(他主要是用 Gibson 吉他，我的最愛，可惜買不起)。他的作品曾獲葛萊美獎，也被英國滾石雜誌評選為二十世紀最偉大的音樂家與吉他手之一...
這首曲子看似簡單，卻是一個很"高段"的作品，簡單的尼龍弦吉他主奏，雖然好像有點大材小用，但卻手感十足，裡面藏著非常豐富的和弦變化。編曲介於傳統搖滾與藍調之間，拉丁鼓與手風琴的搭配聽起來如泣如訴，Bass 與不同音色的電吉他間奏讓整首曲子始終保持一定的張力，好像很平凡，卻越來越豐富，值得細細品味。尤其是主旋律(A調)與副歌(C調)之間的銜接非常巧妙自然，從原來的 A 往上過門 B 到 C 調(進入副歌)，再由 C 經過 D 到 G，最妙的是往下加入 E(就是副歌的最後一句 "Begging please") ，最後再往上回到主旋律 A 調。這兩組關係和弦原本是各自獨立的，但卻巧妙混在一起使用...
Would you know my name 你還知道我是誰嗎
If I saw you in heaven 如果我在天堂遇見你
Will it be the same 一切都還會依舊嗎
If I saw you in heaven 如果我在天堂遇見你
I must be strong, and carry on 我必須強壯，要撐著繼續
Cause I know I don't belong 因為我知道自己並不屬於
Here in heaven 這兒的天堂
Would you hold my hand 你還會抓著我的手嗎
If I saw you in heaven 如果我在天堂遇見你
Would you help me stand 你會幫助我站起來嗎
If I saw you in heaven 如果我在天堂遇見你
I'll find my way, through night and day 我會自己日夜尋找出路
Cause I know I just can't stay 因為我知道自己無法停留
Here in heaven 在這兒的天堂
Time can bring you down 時間會讓你甦醒認清
Time can bend your knee 時間會讓你謙卑屈膝
Time can break your heart 時間會讓你心碎
Have you begging please 你可曾誠心祈求
Begging please 誠心祈求
Beyond the door 就在這扇門後
There's peace I'm sure. 我確定有一個地方
And I know there'll be no more... 那兒將不再會有...
Tears in heaven 來自天堂的淚水
An only child alone and wild 一個獨生子孤單又放蕩
A cabinet maker's son 他是個木匠的小孩
His hands were meant for different work 他靈巧的手擅長許多事
And his heart was known to none 但他的心卻無人能知
He left his home and went his lone and solitary way 他從小獨自離家之後一路孤單
And he gave to me a gift I know I never can repay 他給了我一種天賦 讓我無以回報
A quiet man of music 一個安靜的音樂人
Denied a simpler fate 拒絕一個平凡的命運
He tried to be a soldier once 他曾一度企圖從軍
But his music wouldn't wait 但他的音樂卻始終不安的悸動著
He earned his love through discipline 他認真嚴肅去愛每一件事
A thundering, velvet hand 用他那雙強有力又柔軟的雙手
His gentle means of sculpting souls 他溫柔雕刻著生命
Took me years to understand. 讓我好久之後才能了解
*The leader of the band is tired 樂隊領班真的累了
And his eyes are growing old 他的眼睛慢慢衰老
But his blood runs through my instrument 但他的血液流過我的樂器
And his song is in my soul -- 他的歌聲在我靈魂深處
My life has been a poor attempt 我曾一度偷偷企圖
To imitate the man 想要去模仿這個人
I'm just a living legacy 但我始終只是一件活生生的遺物
To the leader of the band. 對這位樂隊領班而言
My brothers' lives were different 我的兄弟們都各奔東西
For they heard another call 也許他們各自有各自的想法
One went to chicago 有一個去了芝加哥
And the other to st. paul 有一個去了聖保羅
And I'm in colorado 我則留在科羅拉多的鄉下
When I'm not in some hotel 但並不是住在豪華旅館裡
Living out this life I've chose 我過著我所選擇的生活
And come to know so well. 一切都還算滿意
I thank you for the music 謝謝你所帶來的音樂
And your stories of the road 也謝謝你這一路相隨的故事
I thank you for the freedom 謝謝你所展現的自由
When it came my time to go -- 在當我必須有所選擇的時候
I thank you for the kindness 謝謝你的好心善意
And the times when you got tough 甚至在當你備受艱辛的時候... 然而老爸
And, papa, I don't think i said "i love you' near enough 任和一句"我愛你"都不足以說明一切
順道一提，這是一首老歌，卻經常會有新的"版本"。今天這個版本裡面都是當今搖滾音樂界的超級大咖，好像一場 Let it Be 的嘉年華，唱來格外豪放大氣。
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Hey Jude, don't make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.
Hey Jude, don't be afraid.
You were made to go out and get her.
The minute you let her under your skin,
Then you begin to make it better.
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain,
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders. (我最喜歡這句：不要把世界扛在肩膀上)
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder.
Hey Jude, don't let me down.
You have found her, now go and get her.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.
So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin,
You're waiting for someone to perform with.
Don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do,
The movement you need is on your shoulder.
Hey Jude, don't make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her under your skin,
Then you'll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh.
這首歌是有故事的，雖然，我想很多人也許還沒出生... 1985 年，我大三。那年中西流行音樂界都出現一股強調"公益"的大合唱風潮。先有美國以賑災衣索比亞為名所發起的 USA for Africa 大合唱，由 Michael Jackson 所寫的"We Are The World"轟動一時。半年後，台灣出現以反盜版為名的大合唱"明天會更好"，由羅大佑作詞作曲並集合六十多位當時知名歌手一起演出，非常壯觀...
第一次聽到這個名字是在我的大學時期，在眾多國語流行音樂中出現一個"華裔美籍"男歌手，的確令人好奇... 他個子不小卻很靈活，跳著"蚱蜢"般的舞步，當年以一首"迴"進入台灣歌壇，帶動一波快節奏舞步...這個人來頭也不小，曾有一段非常艱辛的"小留學生"的成長過程，輾轉學了電腦與音樂，曾是美國太空總署(NASA)的電腦工程師，後來放棄這份令人羨慕的工作獨自去了加州闖天下，曾出過一張唱片並進入排行榜，這張唱片由名製作人 Michael Steward 親自操刀 (他也是 Michael Jackson 與 Billy Joel 的製作人)，是第一個打入美國流行音樂市場的亞裔歌手，入選葛萊美獎。他還做過不少好萊塢電影配樂，獲選美國十大傑出青年... 後來他淡出歌壇開始在大學設計科系教書，好像還做過系主任，開過藝術經紀公司，現在聽說開了一家餐廳...
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有一句諺語說"滾石不生苔 (Rolling stone gets no moss)"，最初的意思是嘲笑那些經常轉換跑道的人，說他們無法固定在的專業領域，所以不會成功。但時代在改變，這句話應該有另外的意思 "Rolling stone gets no moss, but gets lots of polish (滾石不生苔，但卻能被磨得光亮亮)"。
I know just how to whisper 我知道如何輕聲細語
And I know just how to cry 我也知道如何哭泣
I know just where to find the answers 我知道如何尋找答案
And I know just how to lie 我也知道如何撒謊
I know just how to fake it 我知道如何偽裝
And I know just how to scheme 我也知道如何耍心機
I know just when to face the truth 我知道何時該面對真相
And then I know just when to dream 我也知道何時該做夢
And I know just where to touch you 我知道如何撫慰你
And I know just what to prove 我也知道該證明什麼
I know when to pull you closer 我知道何時該將你緊抱
And I know when to let you loose 我也知道何時該放手
And I know the night is fading 我知道夜晚即將結束
And I know the time's gonna fly 我也知道時光即將飛逝
And I'm never gonna tell you everything I've gotta tell you 我不知如何開口
But I know I've gotta give it a try 但我知道我應該要試試
And I know the roads to riches 我知道致富之路
And I know the ways to fame 我也知道成名之路
I know all the rules and then I know how to break 'em 我知道所有的遊戲規則以及如何打破
And I always know the name of the game 我總是知道這場遊戲的名字
But I don't know how to leave you 但我不知如何離開你
And I'll never let you fall 我不想讓你難過
And I don't know how you do it 如同我不知道你如何變成這樣...
Making love out of nothing at all 讓愛一切成空
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all
Making love out of nothing at all
Everytime I see you all the rays of the sun are 每當我看到你時, 所有的陽光...
Streaming through the waves in your hair 如波浪般灑過你的髮梢
And every star in the sky is taking aim at 天上的每一顆星...
Your eyes like a spotlight 如聚光燈般指向你的眼睛
The beating of my heart is a drum, and it's lost 我的心跳如同迷失節奏的鼓
And it's looking for a rhythm like you 到處尋找如你般的韻律
You can take the darkness at the pit of the night 你可以將黑夜的幽暗...
And turn into a beacon burning endlessly bright 轉變為無限的光明
I've gotta follow it 'cause everything I know 我必須追尋它, 因為我知道所有的事...
Well, it's nothing 'til I give it to you 如果不是為了獻給你, 都將是枉然
I can make the runner stumble 我可以讓追求者跌到
I can make the final block 我也可以設下最後障礙
I can make every tackle at the sound of the whistle 我可以在哨聲響起時阻礙別人
I can make all the stadiums rock 我也可以讓整個運動場沸騰
I can make tonight forever 我可以讓今晚成為永恆
Or I can make it disappear by the dawn 也可以讓它在黎明前消失
I can make you every promise that has ever been made 我可以給你前所未有的承諾
And I can make all your demons be gone 我可以為你驅趕惡魔
But I'm never gonna make it without you 但若沒有你, 這一切都將成空
Do you really wanna see me crawl 你真要看我匍匐在地上嗎？
And I'm never gonna make it like you do 我永遠不會像你這樣(對我)...
Making love out of nothing at all 讓愛一切成空
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all
看到這個簡單的動畫影片，我才想起原來科技對音樂的改變不只是黑膠唱片、卡帶、CD 或 MP3 的數位化問題，更改變了我們對一個具體的音樂"物件"的親切感... 我想起從前的黑膠唱片及卡帶是有 A B 兩面的，把一面聽完才翻過來聽另一面。為了讓聽眾可以很快找到，通常主打歌會放在 A 面第一首或第二首，及 B 面第一首或第二首，而且 A B 兩面的總長必須一樣才不會浪費磁帶(印象中好像各為 23 分鐘，通常一面可以放進六首歌)，這有時會讓唱片企劃人員在排曲目的時候傷透腦筋，但也正因為有兩面要處理，在製作上也會多一些趣味。
我想所謂"經典"大概意味著某種鄉愁吧！它掐住了生命中特定的時光，佔據了特定記憶，讓人無法繼續向前，更無法回頭，就這樣懸在中間。經典的曲子唱出一種我與自己的關係，也決定了自己現在的位置。當喜歡的歌漸漸被稱為經典的時候，我知道自己已經脫隊，好像回頭作了一個夢，在夢中夢到自己正在作夢... (上次的演唱會叫做 Dream a Little Dream of Me)
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This old guitar taught me to sing a love song
It showed me how to laugh and how to cry
It introduced me to some friends of mine
And brightened up my days
It helped me make it through some lonely nights
Oh, what a friend to have on a cold and lonely night
This old guitar gave me my lovely lady
It opened up her eyes and ears to me
It brought us close together
I guess it broke her heart
It opened up the space for us to be
What a lovely place and a lovely space to be
This old guitar gave me my life, my living
All the things you know I love to do
To serenade the stars that shine
From a sunny mountainside
Most of all to sing my songs to you
I love to sing these songs for you
Yes, I do, you know
I love to sing my songs for you
It is the evening of the day 傍晚時分
I sit and watch the children play 我坐下來，看著孩子們玩耍
Smiling faces I can see 我看到笑嘻嘻的臉龐
But not for me 但並不是為我而來
I sit and watch 我坐著，看著
As tears go by 直到淚水流逝
My riches can't buy everything 我的財富買不到一切
I want to hear the children sing 我只想聽聽孩子們歌唱
All I hear is the sound 但我所聽到的
Of rain falling on the ground 盡是雨點打在地上的聲音
I sit and watch 我坐著，看著
As tears go by 直到淚水流逝
It is the evening of the day 傍晚時分
I sit and watch the children play 我坐下來，看著孩子們玩耍
Doing things I used to do 他們玩著以前我所玩過的遊戲
They think are new 但對他們來說卻是新的
I sit and watch 我坐著，看著
As tears go by 直到淚水流逝
