Cogito & Microcosmos

這是我最近突然想起來的歌曲，可以說是美國流行音樂的代表，不過歌詞稍嫌困難，剛好趁這個機會介紹一下。American Pie是歌手Don McLean最著名的敘事曲，歌詞說盡50年代末期到七零年代的美國流行音樂史以及社會大事，製作的起因在於1959年於愛荷華的一場飛機失事。
話說，50年代末期最著名的三個美國流行音樂歌手就是Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly以及Chuck Berry. 原名Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley的Buddy Holly生於1936年，他是Crikets合唱團中的主唱兼吉他手，集歌手、作曲作詞者和製作人於一身；貓王將音樂中對「性愛」的隱喻明顯化，成為偶像，而Chuck Berry可說是藍調搖滾始祖，那麼Buddy Holly就是奠定搖滾音樂基礎的人。1959年二月三號，一架輕型飛機墜毀在愛荷華，Buddy Holly就是其中一名死者(另二名是Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper)。
從Buddy Holly組成第一個團"Buddy & Bod"開始算，他的歌唱生涯只有短短三年，1955年他曾經以"Buddy & Bod"名義為貓王的歌友會暖身，1956年組成"The Crikets"合唱團，自此直到1959年二月三號。在這短短兩年，Buddy Holly錄製了多首經典名曲，成為當代最有名的兩位吉他手(另一個是Chuck Berry)和搖滾樂的開路先鋒。
1971年，Don McLean以這個事件寫成American Pie，對於聽美國流行音樂的人有很深的感觸。
這首歌的歌詞很長，而且涵義很深，所以我分成幾次談論，這次先把歌詞翻譯了，大家先聽聽音樂。

American Pie
lyrics & music by Don McLean

long long time ago 很久很久以前
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile 我還記得音樂是如何讓我微笑的
And I knew if I had my chance 而且我知道我也有這個機會
That I could make those people dance 能讓他人起舞
And maybe they'd be happy for a while 或許他們能高興一陣子吧
But February made me shiver 但令我顫抖的二月
With every paper I'd deliver 因為我所送的每一份報紙
Bad news on the doorstep 丟在門口的惡耗
I couldn't take one more step 使我無法走向前
I can't remember if I cried 我不記得我有沒有哭
When I read about his widowed bride 當我讀到他的寡婦新娘
But something touched me deep inside 但是有些事深深觸動我心
The day the music died 在音樂死掉的那天

{Refrain}

So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie 所以，再見了，美國派小姐
Drove my chevy to the levee 開著雪佛蘭到河堤上
But the levee was dry 但河堤已經乾涸
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye 老朋友們喝著威士忌和麥酒
Singin' this'll be the day that I die 高唱這就是我死掉的一天
This'll be the day that I die 我死掉的那天


Verse 2
Did you write the Book of Love 你寫過愛之書嗎？
And do you have faith in God above 你相信有上帝嗎？
If the Bible tells you so 還是聖經這麼告訴你的？
Do you believe in rock n' roll 你相信搖滾樂嗎？
Can music save your mortal soul 音樂可以拯救你的靈魂嗎？
And can you teach me how to dance real slow 你能教我怎麼跳慢舞嗎？
Well, I know that you're in love with him 嗯，我知道你愛上他
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym 因為我看見你倆在體育館跳舞
You both kicked off your shoes 你們脫了鞋
Man, I dig those rhythm & blues 老天，我深深感受到那節奏與藍調
I was a lonely, teenage broncin' buck 我是個孤獨、血氣方剛的年輕人
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck 帶了粉紅色的康乃馨，開著小貨車
But I knew I was out of luck 但我知道我不並不走運
The day the music died 在音樂死掉的那天
I started singin' 我唱著

{Refrain}

Verse 3
Now for ten years we've been on our own 如今已十年，我們靠著自己走了過來
And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone 而青苔長在滾動的石頭上
But that's not how it used to be 但原來不是這樣子的
When the Jester sang for the King and Queen 當弄臣爲國王和王后唱歌
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean 穿著那件跟詹姆士狄恩借來的外套
In a voice that came from you and me 用來自你和我的聲音
Oh, and while the King was looking down 啊，當國王向下看時
The Jester stole his thorny crown 弄臣偷走了他的荊棘皇冠
The courtroom was adjourned 法庭休會
No verdict was returned 沒有做出任何判決
And while Lenon read a book on Marx 當藍儂讀著馬克思主義的書
The quartet practiced in the park 四重奏在公圓練習
And we sang dirges in the dark 而我們在黑暗中唱著輓歌
The day the music died 在音樂死掉的那天
We were singin'我們唱著

{Refrain}


Verse 4
Helter Skelter in a summer swelter 在酷暑中手忙腳亂
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter 鳥飛過輻射防塵罩
Eight miles high and falling fast 八英哩高，垂直掉落
It landed foul on the grass 降在一個錯誤的草坪上
The players tried for a forward pass 球員嘗試著把球往前傳
With the Jester on the sidelines in a cast 靠著在邊上的弄臣幫忙
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume 現在，中場休息時空氣中散佈著甜甜的味道
While the Sergeants played a marching tune 當士官們唱著進行曲
We all got up to dance 我們站起來想跳舞
Oh but we never got the chance 卻沒有機會
'Cause the players tried to take the field 因為球員佔據球場
The marching band refused to yield 而士官不肯讓步
Do you recall what was revealed 你記得當時透露了什麼訊息嗎？
The day the music died 當音樂死掉的那天
We started singing 我們開始唱


{Refrain}

Verse 5
Oh, and there we were, all in one place 喔，我們聚集在同依個地方
A generation lost in space 在太空中迷失的一代
With no time left to start again 沒有時間再來一次
So come on, Jack, be nimble, Jack be quick 所以，傑克，手腳俐落、動作快點！
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick 閃電傑克坐在燭臺上
'Cause fire is the devils only friend 因為火是魔鬼唯一的朋友
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage 啊，當我看他站在舞台上
My hands were clenched in fists of rage 我憤怒地緊握雙拳
No angel born in Hell 誕生在地獄的天使
Could break that Satan's spell 也無法打破撒旦的魔咒
And as flames climbed high into the night 而火燄升高到夜空
To light the sacrificial rite 照亮了整個牲祭
I saw Satan laughing with delight 我看到撒旦高興地大笑
The day the music died 在音樂死掉的那天
He was singing 他唱著


{Refrain}

Verse 6
I met a girl who sang the blues 我遇到一個唱著藍調的女孩
And I asked her for some happy news 我向她打聽些愉快的消息
But she just smiled and turned away 但她只是笑笑轉過身去
I went down to the sacred store 我到一家宗教用品店
Where I'd heard the music years before 在那兒我聽到好幾年前的音樂
But the man there said the music wouldn't play 但店裡的人說這音樂不可以播放

And in the streets the children screamed 街頭上的孩子尖叫著
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed 戀人在哭泣、詩人做著大夢
But not a word was spoken 卻不發一語
The church bells all were broken 教堂的鐘全壞了
And the three men I admire most 那三個我最景仰的人
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost 聖父、聖子和聖靈
They caught the last train for the coast 他們搭上末班車到海邊去了
The day the music died 就在音樂死掉的那天
And they were singin'他們唱著


{Refrain}x2