"Auld Lang Syne" 是蘇格蘭語 (Auld=Old, Lang=Long, Syne=Since)，也是一首蘇格蘭民謠，據說是中世紀人們對即將出海的漁夫或水手的道別用語。18世紀蘇格蘭詩人 Robert Burns 改編後並填上歌詞，將"Auld Lang Syne"一辭用於歌詞中而成為現在膾炙人口的歌曲。
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一個簡單故事：在雜貨店遇到舊情人... 沒想到當翻完歌詞，竟平白無故發現眼角泛著淚光...
Met my old lover in the grocery store 我在雜貨店遇到舊情人 The snow was falling Christmas Eve 就在大雪紛飛的聖誕節前夕 I stole behind her in the frozen foods 我躲在冷凍食物區後方偷偷跟著她 And I touched her on the sleeve 我碰碰她的袖子 She didn't recognize the face at first 她第一眼並沒有認出 But then her eyes flew open wide 隨後她張著大眼望著我 She went to hug me and she spilled her purse 她跑過來抱我 皮包散落一地 And we laughed until we cried. 我們都笑出了眼淚
We took her groceries to the checkout stand 我們一起將她買的東西拿去櫃檯 The food was totalled up and bagged 將食物結帳並裝入紙袋 We stood there lost in our embarrassment 我們失落站在櫃檯前 顯得有點尷尬 As the conversation dragged. 因為都不知道該說什麼 We went to have ourselves a drink or two 於是我們決定去喝兩杯 But couldn't find an open bar 但是附近並沒有小酒館 We bought a six-pack at the liquor store 我們買了半打啤酒 And we drank it in her car. 在她的車上喝
*We drank a toast to innocence 我們為過去的天真歲月乾一杯 We drank a toast to now 也為現在乾一杯 And tried to reach beyond the emptiness 我們試著找回並填補過去的空虛 But neither one knew how. 但我們都不知道該如何做
She said she'd married her an architect 她說她後來嫁給一位建築師 Who kept her warm and safe and dry 給她一個溫暖安全的窩 She would have liked to say she loved the man 她多麼希望能說出她愛這個男人 But she didn't like to lie. 但她並不願說謊 I said the years had been a friend to her 歲月並沒有在她的臉上留下痕跡 And that her eyes were still as blue 因為她的眼睛依舊如此湛藍
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw 但在這雙湛藍的雙眼背後 Doubt or gratitude. 我不敢確定我看到的是懷疑或感激
She said she saw me in the record stores 她說她在唱片行看到我的專輯 And that I must be doing well 我想大概我做得還不錯 I said the audience was heavenly 觀眾給我如天堂般的支持 But the traveling was hell. 但巡迴演唱卻如地獄般辛苦
We drank a toast to innocence 我們為過去的天真歲月又乾了一杯 We drank a toast to time 也為時間的流逝乾杯 Reliving in our eloquence 我們享受著過去的無話不談 Another 'auld lang syne'... 只是時光飛逝
The beer was empty and our tongues were tired 酒喝完了 我們也聊累了 And running out of things to say 到了不知道該說什麼的時候 She gave a kiss to me as I got out 我下車時 她吻了我一下 And I watched her drive away. 就這樣 我看著她開車離開 Just for a moment I was back at school 那一瞬間我彷彿回到學生時代 And felt that old familiar pain 感受到那種似曾相識的痛 And as I turned to make my way back home 當我折返回到家裡時 The snow turned into rain 大雪已慢慢溶化成雨滴
80 年代末期出現一種強調回歸心靈的音樂 "New Age"，它不像搖滾歌曲般眾生喧嘩，而是一種略帶"極簡"的風格... 這種音樂曲風式樣眾多，並沒有固定標準，有些強調"非旋律性"的空心樂器(acoustic)手感，有些則搭配不同民族音色或電子音效，它們共同的特色之一是"重複"，彷彿某種"修練"，給人幽遠寧靜的視野。
Eagles 的鄉村曲風表露無疑，主唱 Don Henley 是個脾氣暴躁的性情中人，他非常厭惡巧奪名目的統治壓迫，曾多次在演唱會中大罵政治(政客)... 這首歌來自 "Hotel California" 專輯，當時巧妙安排在唱片 B 面最後一首，意思是"最不重要的曲子"，當然不是主打，也不太有人提及，但我非常喜歡，可以感覺到一種寧靜的抗議，淡淡揭開一種在亮麗外衣下的真實世界...雖然原曲強調的是"宗教"議題，但其實這種統治迫害到處皆是... 這是一個流行音樂人的沉痛反思...
權力是會遺傳的，權力的暴力更會遺傳... 古往今來，事情總是這樣...
歌詞很長，如泣如訴... 每一句都是隱喻或典故... 這是一首仔細聽了會流淚的曲子。
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She came from Providence, 她來自 Providence
the one in Rhode Island 就是那個羅德島州的首府
Where the old world shadows hang 舊世界的陰影在那兒
heavy in the air 沉重地懸吊著
She packed her hopes and dreams 她背負著希望和夢想
like a refugee 像個難民一般
Just as her father came across the sea 只因她的祖先們都是這樣跨海而來
She heard about a place people were simlin' 她聽說那兒的人都會笑
They spoke about the red man's way, 他們訴說著印第安原住民的生活
and how they loved the land 以及他們如何愛這片土地
And they came from everywhere 所以 來自各地的人們
to the Great Divide 為了置之死地的生活
Seeking a place to stand 來到這裡尋找一個安身立命的立椎之地
or a place to hide 或一個藏身之處
Down in the crowded bars, 熱鬧的酒吧裡
out for a good time, 大夥兒都在這享受
Can't wait to tell you all, (我)等不及要告訴你
what it's like up there 這裡的一切情形
And they called it paradise 他們都說這裡是天堂
I don't know why 但我不懂
Somebody laid the mountains low 因為有些人漸漸選擇躲進山裡
while the town got high 當城市越來越發達的時候
Then the chilly winds blew down 冷風接著吹來
Across the desert 橫跨沙漠
through the canyons of the coast 穿過海岸的峽谷
to the Malibu 直達洛杉磯的豪華社區
Where the pretty people play, 有錢的白種人在那兒玩著有錢的遊戲
hungry for power 他們渴望用權力
to light their neon way 去照亮他們的螢光路
and give them things to do 順便給他們一點事做做
Some rich men came and raped the land, 有錢人來囉 他們掠奪這片土地
Nobody caught 'em 沒人能逮到他們
Put up a bunch of ugly boxes, and Jesus, 他們帶來一堆醜陋的盒子 也帶來"耶穌"
people bought them 人們爭相去買那些東西
And they called it paradise 並稱那些為"天堂"
The place to be 意味著"以後要去的地方"
They watched the hazy sun, sinking in the sea 他們看著朦朧的太陽 漸漸沉到海裡
We can leave it all behind 我們可以完全不管這些
and sail to Lahaina 只管著航向夏威夷去渡假
just like the missionaries did, so many years ago 如同那些傳教士曾做過的事
They even brought a neon sign:Jesus is coming 他們帶來霓虹招牌 上面寫：耶穌要來了
Brought the white man's burden down 帶來白種人的教條擔子
Brought the white man's reign 也帶來白種人的統治
Who will provide the grand design? 誰會帶來更好的制度
What is yours and what is mine? 什們叫做"你的" 什麼叫做"我的"
'Cause there is no more new frontier 前面已無路可去
We have got to make it here 我們只好在這裡打拼
We satifsy our endless needs and 但我們卻漸漸滿足於無休止的需求
justify our bloody deeds, 漸漸合理化我們的血腥暴行
in the name of destiny and the name of God 並以"命運"為藉口 以"上帝"為藉口
And you can see them there, 瞧 他們就在那兒
On Sunday morning 每個星期天的早晨
Stand up and sing about 在那兒站著唱歌
What it's like up there 唱著關於"上面"的那些事
They call it paradise 他們稱之為"天堂"
I don't know why 我不了解
You call someplace paradise, 你總是嘴裡說著天堂
kiss it goodbye 但卻又做著背離它的事
儘管我不是很喜歡音樂劇，但我卻很喜歡音樂劇中的音樂... By the way, 音樂會已經有人報名囉，要演奏的是這部歌劇中另一首好聽的曲子，好好加油，我非常期待。
今天推薦音樂劇歌劇魅影插曲：Music of the Night (1986)
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這部歌劇是 Andrew Webber 的曠世鉅作之一，描寫一個劇場"鬼魅"愛上女主角，用音樂征服世人的故事。整齣戲的音樂、場景及舞台製作龐大，堪稱經典，歌曲尤其動人...這首歌有許多版本，包括華語男歌手費翔的演唱，但我還是最喜歡這位演唱者 Michael Crawford，他嗓音沙啞厚度十足，配上這樣的歌詞，令人不陶醉也難。
Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation 夜晚時分 感覺特別敏銳
Darkness wakes and stirs imagination 黑暗覺醒 擾動著想像的思緒
Silently the senses abandon their defenses 悄悄地 感官逃出了邊界
Helpless to resist the notes I write 也無法阻擋我的音符
For I compose the music of the night 因為我寫了一首夜晚的音樂
Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendour 慢慢地 夜晚溫柔綻放光輝
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender 抓住它 感受這顫抖的溫柔
Hearing is believing 聽到才會相信
Music is deceiving 音樂正在蒙蔽
Hard as lightning, soft as candle light 堅實如電光 柔軟如火燭
Dare you trust the music of the night 妳敢信任這首夜晚的音樂嗎
Close your eyes for your eyes will only tell the truth 閉上眼 因為妳的眼神不會說謊
And the truth isn't what you want to see 而真相並非妳所樂見
In the dark it is easy to pretend.. 黑暗中我們可以偽裝
That the truth is what it ought to be... 但事實終將呈現
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you 音樂響起 慢慢且熟練地擁抱在妳週圍
Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you 鈴聽的感受將神祕吞噬妳的靈魂
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind 打開妳的束縛 放肆狂想
In this darkness which you know you cannot fight 在黑暗中妳將無力反抗
The darkness of the music of the night 這夜晚深邃的旋律
Close your eyes start a journey through a strange, new world 閉上眼展開一段新的旅程
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before 拋開一切舊有的思想
Close your eyes and let music set you free 閉上眼讓音樂將妳解放
Only then can you belong to me 如此妳才屬於我
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication 漂浮 沉淪 如此美妙的狂醉
Touch me, trust me, savour each sensation 撫摸我 相信我 品嚐每一種感受
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in 讓夢境展開 讓妳的黑暗臣服於
To the power of the music that I write 我所寫的音樂的魔力
The power of the music of the night 這夜晚旋律的魔力
You alone can make my song take flight 只有妳能讓我的音樂起飛
Help me make the music of the night 幫我完成這屬於夜晚的旋律
昨晚看了一部電影"燕麥餅乾店"，感觸良多... 許多人選擇輕鬆面對生命，他們不喜歡冒險，也許害怕失敗，更不願給自己找挑戰。他們相信多一事不如少一事，或隨便做做"現在"的事，為了"以後"要做更大的事... 聽起來好像有理，但我卻想到這句台詞：There is no "job" in the world. Everything you do is your "life." 在此，"job" 並不只是"工作"的意思，而是一種態度。
When I find myself in times of trouble 當我發現自己身陷麻煩
Mother Mary comes to me 聖母瑪利亞出現在我心中
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. 說著智慧之語 隨它去吧
And in my hour of darkness 當我眼前一片漆黑
She is standing right in front of me 她就站在我面前
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. 說著智慧名言 隨它去吧
Let it be, let it be.Let it be, let it be
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And when the broken hearted people 當心碎的人們 同住在世上
Living in the world agree, 他們共同體認
There will be an answer, let it be. 一個答案 隨它去吧
For though they may be parted there is 雖然天下散的宴席
Still a chance that they will see 但仍看到希望
There will be an answer, let it be. 隨它去吧
Let it be, let it be. let it be Yeah let it be
There will be an answer, let it be.
*Let it be, let it be.let it be.let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be*
And when the night is cloudy, 當夜晚烏雲密佈
There is still a light that shines on me, 一到光線照亮我
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be. 直到天明 隨它去吧
I wake up to the sound of music 音樂伴隨我的甦醒
Mother Mary comes to me 聖母瑪利亞前來
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. 告訴我智慧名言 隨它去吧
Let it be, let it be.let it be.let it be
There will be an answer, let it be.
Who is the girl with the crying face looking at millions of signs? She knows that life is a running race, Her face shouldn't show any line.
*Melody Fair won't you comb your hair? You can be beautiful too. Melody Fair , remember you're only a woman . Melody Fair, remember you're only a girl. Ah...
Who is the girl at the window pane, watching the rain falling down? Melody, life isn't like the rain ; its just like a merry go round.
Morning has broken, like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning,
Praise for the springing fresh from the world.
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning,
Born of the one light, Eden saw play.
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God's recreation of the new day.
在生命面前，Forever Young 是需要勇氣的，這種勇氣不是跟隨潮流"假裝"自己還年輕，也不是憤世忌俗大嘆時不我予，更無需為了討好別人急著把自己交換出去，或努力把自己變成一塵不染的"樣品"讓後人懷念，而是在享受孤獨中，誠實面對生命的極限與替換，在倒數日之前，如修行者般"攪和"在人間，直到"無路可出(No Exit)"的"出口"為我開啟...
也許這是一種有"智慧"的勇氣，如歌詞所言：Hoping for the best by expecting the worst (用最壞的狀況去期待一個最好的希望)... 祝福大家。
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Let's dance in style Let's dance for a while Heaven can wait We're only watching the skies Hoping for the best by expecting the worst Are you going to drop the bomb or not?
Let us die young or let us live forever We don't have the power But we never say never Sitting in a sandpit Life is a short trip The music's for the sad men
Can you imagine when this race is won? Turn our golden faces into the sun Praising our leaders We're getting in tune The music's played by the madmen
*Forever young, I want to be forever young Do you really want to live forever Forever -- and ever
Some are like water Some are like the heat Some are a melody and some are the beat Sooner or later, they all will be gone Why don't they stay young?
It's so hard to get old without a cause I don't want to perish like a fading horse Youth's like diamonds in the sun And diamonds are forever
So many adventures couldn't happen today So many songs we forgot to play So many dreams swinging out of the blue We'll let them come true
Some say love, it is a river 有人說愛是一條河流 that drowns the tender reed. 淹沒了溫柔的麥穗 Some say love, it is a razor 有人說愛是一把剃刀 that leaves your soul to bleed. 能讓你的靈魂滲血 Some say love, it is a hunger, 有人說愛是一種需要 an endless aching need. 一種無止境的渴求 I say love, it is a flower, 我說愛是一朵花 and you its only seed. 而你就是那唯一的種子
It's the heart afraid of breaking 總是那顆害怕破碎的心 that never learns to dance. (讓你)不敢學著跳舞 It's the dream afraid of waking 總是深怕夢想破滅 that never takes the chance. (讓你)不願抓住機會 It's the one who won't be taken, 總是那個你不敢珍惜的人 who cannot seem to give, (讓你)無法付出 and the soul afraid of dyin' 總是那個害怕死亡的靈魂 (好一句"存在主義") that never learns to live. (讓你)不敢好好學著去"活"
When the night has been too lonely 當夜晚依舊孤寂 and the road has been too long, 當漫漫長路遙遙無期 and you think that love is only 當你想到的愛只是一種 for the lucky and the strong, 僅存的宿命與力量 just remember in the winter 想想寒冬吧 far beneath the bitter snows 那些被大雪埋在深處的種子 lies the seed that with the sun's love 它們伴隨著陽光的愛 in the spring becomes the rose. 等著在春天開出玫瑰
