小勝是在國小六年級正式開始接觸西洋音樂
那時候因為很喜歡台灣的南方二重唱
而她們有一張全部都是西洋歌曲的專輯
從此開始愛上的60~70年代的西洋歌曲
一聽就是20年.........
American Pie
Don Mclean
A long long time ago
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died
*So bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing: This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die*
Did you write the book of love
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so
Do you believe in rock 'n' roll
Can music save your mortal soul
And can you teach me how to dance real slow
Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancing in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues
I was a lonely teenage broncing buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died
I started singing:
Bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing: This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
Now for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rolling stone
But that's not how it used to be
When the jester sang for the king and queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
And a voice that came from you and me
Oh, and while the king was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
And while Lennon read a book of Marx
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died
We were singing:**
Helter-skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast
Now the half time air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance
Oh, but we never got the chance
'Cause the players tried to take the field
The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died
We started singing:
Bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing: This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
'Cause fire is the devil's only friend
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in hell
Could break that Satan's spell
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
He was singing:**
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
And in the streets the children screamed
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire most
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died
And they were singing:**
They were singing:
Bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing: This'll be the day that I die
(娜姊版本的歌詞部分我用紅字)
這首歌我是從瑪丹娜翻唱時才接觸到
不過後來得知娜姊唱的是簡短版本的
跟原版的長度差了一半
原版的歌曲長度將近9分鐘
之所以會簡短歌詞
是因為要配合適合在電台播放
由於當時音樂傳播主要是電台
為了要讓歌曲有更高曝光度而刪減
有人會認為是不是前奏很長以致於拉長時間
就像"加州旅館"一樣超長前奏
但是American Pie不一樣
這首歌的8分多鐘是滿滿的歌詞
所以想要了解真正含意的建議聽完整版
兩個版本整體感覺差距很大很大
娜姊的縮小版表達出比較正面的含意
但是別誤會
簡短版本並沒有重新填詞
而是把原版一些比較悲傷的片段去除掉
而原版的歌詞只能說相當慘ORZ.....
作者是被喻為"詩人"的Don Mclean
他曾經在2008年來台灣演出
他是個Buddy Holly樂迷
但是1959年2月3號(我生日也是2/3 orz)
有個讓全世界樂迷心碎的事情發生了
音樂界傳奇人物Buddy Holly
以及其他兩位經典歌手共三人
因為客機墜機事件過世
恰巧他也是Don Mclean的偶像
歌詞裡甚至用:
The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
所謂基督教裡的三位一體
來隱喻他崇拜的三位偶像
這件事情當時激起許多漣漪
甚至被樂迷視為"音樂死亡"之日
歌詞裡許多部分都是在敘述這件事
整個世界似乎都持續低迷
許多店家都不播放音樂了
感覺撒旦贏得了勝利毀滅了音樂
總之當時對他而言是一團糟
那個用音樂讓大家開心的世界不復見了
另外歌詞裡還有一些當時美國社會隱喻
當時美國經歷冷戰,民權運動,學生運動
古巴飛彈危機等等國際事件
讓大家灰頭土臉疲於奔命
所以副歌裡有一段隱喻:
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
這段被解讀成一件學生運動
當時有三名黑人學生被謀殺當成了防波堤了
(levee意為海邊的堤岸)
所以Don Mclean以American Pie來敘述
這裡的Pie當然不是指食物
可以當成是一種美國精神,音樂精神
除了American Pie外
Don Mclean還有一首經典歌曲:
"Vincent"文森
這首也有收錄在南方二重唱的專輯裡
所以也是我最早接觸到的10首歌曲之一
有興趣的朋友可以去聽聽看
以下針對每段歌詞部分來分享
Don Mclean厲害的地方在於
歌詞中用了許多的隱喻
這些隱喻老實說他本人也沒有證實
畢竟這些隱喻很多都很酸XD
若要說酸民界的始祖
Don Mclean一定是榜上有名
歌詞中對於披頭四,滾石,貓王等
一直都有批評在其中
不過當然他本人完全沒有承認
畢竟上述這些歌手都有大量粉絲
正大光明的批評總是傷感情
歌詞從一開始的50年代開始
時間線一直到70年代歌曲發表
20年裡西洋音樂的變遷很大
從一開始簡單純樸的鄉村民謠風
一直演變成搖滾,重樂器等的轉變
讓生活在美好的50年代的人相當不習慣
但是由於時代變遷
這些鄉村歌手也只能望著新時代崛起
到目前為止
大家會不會認為Don Mclean根本就是個老屁孩
不想隨著時代的進步而改變
但是各位想一想自己家裡的長輩
是不是也是常常在懷念以前的時光呢?
所以呀,會有這種心態是相當正常的呢
好了,該來研究歌詞了
首先
第一段:
A long long time ago
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
這段就是Don Mclean所謂美好的年代
音樂讓大家開心
當時的Don Mclean還是個送報生
賺賺外快聽聽喜歡的音樂快樂的過日子
但是也希望有一天他也可以帶給大家歡樂
第二段:
But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died
就在美好的日子過後
在1959/2/3發生了前面提過的墜機事件
在這場事件裡音樂界損失了三位人才
分別是Buddy Holly,The Big Bopper以及Ritchie Valens
其中Buddy Holly就是Don Mclean的超級偶像
更讓人難過的是他才剛剛新婚
留下來的是懷孕了的妻子
第三段:
So bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing: This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
這段就是經典的副歌啦
其中Miss American Pie
為何會叫這個名子?
因為剛好失事的飛機就叫American Pie
也可隱喻成一種美國精神的消失
可見Don Mclean把Buddy Holly視為重要人物
而Drove my Chevy to the levee這句
除了之前提到的黑人學生運動事件以外
也有一說是Levee是Don Mclean家鄉的酒吧
總之他都沒有對歌詞有所太多解釋
這兩種方法都有人說
第四段:
Did you write the book of love
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so
Do you believe in rock 'n' roll
Can music save your mortal soul
And can you teach me how to dance real slow
Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancing in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues
I was a lonely teenage broncing buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died
這段開始描述音樂的轉變
由於50年代是他認為美好的年代
所以這段是Don Mclean對於當時的回想
相當有意思的一個段落
可以看出當時的習慣與人文風俗
其中the book of love 是於1958年發表的歌
是由The Monotones團員所寫
也是50年代Don Mclean喜歡的歌曲
而And can you teach me how to dance real slow
這句的典故很有意思
因為以前的鄉村風音樂比較慢且時間短
大約都是3-4分鐘左右甚至更短
相當適合跳舞用
不過在音樂風格改朝換代的情況之下
要挑首適合跳舞的音樂還真難
所以這是Don Mclean的小小抱怨
而這句You both kicked off your shoes
是因為當時常常在體育館辦舞會
而當時的體育館都是木質地板居多
所以辦舞會是要請來賓拖鞋子的XD
而50年代的Don Mclean就是個小屁孩而已
喜歡的東西就跟一般人一樣
喜歡聽音樂,開著小卡車去參加舞會
總之,是他對當時年代的回憶與憧憬
第五段:
Now for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rolling stone
But that's not how it used to be
When the jester sang for the king and queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
And a voice that came from you and me
Oh, and while the king was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
And while Lennon read a book of Marx
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died
We were singing:
這段在描述Buddy Holly過世後的10年
也就是來到了60年代
沒想到更糟的事情發生了
奇奇怪怪的音樂陸續出現
讓原本的音樂生態更加複雜與讓人不滿
應該說讓老人們不滿XD
這裡的And moss grows fat on a rolling stone
若照字面上來看
有很大的機率是在講滾石合唱團
也有此一說是在酸Bob Dylan
因為Bob Dylan在1965年發表Like a rolling stone
而
When the jester sang for the king and queen
一般是公認就是在講Bob Dylan
這個Bob Dylan在Don Mclean眼中是個反骨仔
因為他背棄了原本的鄉村音樂
而投向現代音樂的懷抱
這讓Don Mclean相當不齒
甚至歌詞有很多地方都是在影射Bob Dylan
而且居然是用 "jester"這字來形容Bob Dylan
jester意指弄臣或是小丑
其實Bob Dylan是美國樂壇的一個重要歌手
他早期致力於民權運動
包含馬丁路德的註明演說:我有一個夢
都有Bob Dylan的積極參與
而這句In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
典故是這樣的
Bob Dylan在某張專輯發表裡的打扮
跟James Dean在電影中的穿著很相似
所以整串
When the jester sang for the king and queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
根本就是衝著Bob Dylan而來的無誤XD
再來
Oh, and while the king was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
意指就在貓王沒落之後
Bob Dylan趁機而入
成為當時比貓王更享名聲的歌手
是說,Bob Dylan也是真的要有兩把刷子
才有辦法幹掉貓王奪取皇冠
著名歌曲Blowing in the wind
就是Bob Dylan常被用在民權運動的超好聽歌曲
內容反戰,愛好和平且感人
建議大家可以找來聽,超讚DER
而
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
應該就是指甘迺迪總統與馬丁路德被刺殺的事件
雖然跟音樂無關
不過一開始我們有提到
American Pie就像一部50-70年代的大字典
內容融合了音樂與時事
根本就是當時美國的活歷史課本....
接下來這兩句我覺得超酸超酸的XD
應該可以列為本歌最酸的一句
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
這裡的quartet practiced很明顯是在講披頭四
因為當時會紅到被拿來說嘴的大概就是披頭四了
畢竟當時紅的四人團體不多
而Don Mclean居然把披頭四的歌說成是dirges
dirges是指輓歌XD
只能說Don Mclean真的是戰力滿點
酸到不能再酸了
第六段:
Helter-skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast
Now the half time air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance
Oh, but we never got the chance
Cause the players tried to take the field
The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died
這段一樣再繼續酸披頭四以及其他樂團
Helter-skelter是暗指劈頭四的歌曲
而
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
It landed foul on the grass
是指一個樂團團員的吸毒事件
The Byrds樂團在經過爆紅之後
因為某團員吸毒被逮而一落千丈
看在Don Mclean眼中
需要靠毒品的創作是不及格的
接下來一句
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast
沒錯!!!!(灑花)
jester又出場惹~~
這次被Don Mclean隱喻為jester的Bob Dylan
因為一次車禍只能暫時離開樂壇在場邊休息
這時候一些新進的歌手們以為可以趁機揚眉吐氣惹
沒想到卻因為有披頭四擋在前面
讓這些年輕後輩一樣沒機會
這裡的players就是年輕歌手
雖然他們趁機想要把球往前傳
但是還是跨不過披頭四強大的影響力
While the sergeants played a marching tune
這句的典故是這樣的
由於披頭四當時的部分曲風很像唱軍樂
所以才用士官在演奏marching tune進行曲來隱喻
第七段:
Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
'Cause fire is the devil's only friend
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in hell
Could break that Satan's spell
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
He was singing:**
這段時間來到了60年代的尾聲
這句A generation lost in space
意指1969年7月21的全人類大事件
阿波羅11號登錄月球
亦等同Don Mclean年代的人已經慢慢老了
人類開始嚮往外太空發展
自己已經跟不上時代了
除了人類的大事件要唱以外
當然不能忘記酸民的本業
這邊開始酸滾石合唱團了
So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
'Cause fire is the devil's only friend
這裡的意指Jack Flash(閃電傑克)是滾石的一首歌:
Jumping Jack Flash
而candlestick則是意指滾石曾經開過演唱會的地方
這段後面用到了惡魔撒旦這個字眼了
可見Don Mclean真的很不喜歡這些歌手XD
第八段:
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
And in the streets the children screamed
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire most
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died
And they were singing:**
這段已經是長達八分多鐘的American Pie的收尾了
其中這幾句
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
是在意指一位藍調女歌手Janis Joplin
在歌唱事業高峰後
她因為吸食過量毒品在1970年死亡
最後歌詞中帶回來三個值得敬愛的辭世歌手
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
就是指
Buddy Holly,The Big Bopper以及Ritchie Valens
整個歌曲也在緬懷這三位經典人物中結束
基本上,真的是一首值得一聽再聽的歌曲
歌中有無奈,有氣憤,有失望也有難過
娜姊後來唱的是輕快板
建議沒聽過Don Mclean原唱的一定要聽過
8分多鐘可以了解50-70當時的美國
只能說Don Mclean功力深厚
而且每段都酸到恰到好處XD
就算你是這些受害者的歌迷
也很建議來聽聽看!!!
強力推薦!!!
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