Don McLean - Donald "Don" McLean (Born October 2, 1945) Age 17 AMERICAN PIE
1971年作品, 至今40年多仍不停被翻唱, 能夠啷啷上口唱一, 两段者大有人在,
能夠諗唱全六段就較難, 好多人識唱或能閲讀其歌詞, 但要明白其内容就考起,
如不明其歌詞所言, 相對諗唱就困難好多, 對我哋而言係可理解, 但好多美國人
亦不明其所言, 美國音樂業界人士曾多番請求 Don McLean 解釋歌詞或透露多少,
但都不得要領或被拒, 唯有各自於字裡行間推理, 試找出此曲詞之概念。
AMERICAN PIE - Lyric Interpretation 歌詞解讀 Verse 6:1
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
難忘嘅50年代搖滾音樂, 被視為受歡迎及最佳跳舞歌曲。
Don McLean 特别鍾情於50年代樂壇, 回憶年青時代,
希望自己從事音樂創作, 能继續給人們由音樂带來的歡愉。
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
Don McLean 時年14, 當派報童, 早上第一時間從報上標題,
知悉自已嘅偶像 Buddy Holly 於1959年2月3日一場暴風雪中,
死於飛機失事意外墜毁於愛荷華州 IOWA, Clear Lake 附近, 终年23歲。
Buddy Holly 罹難時，其女友已經懷有身孕，因聽聞噩耗而導致流產。
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died
此墜機意外中，Buddy Holly 與同行歌手有 Richie Valens (La Bamba)、
The Big Bopper - Jiles Perry Richardson,Jr.(Chantilly Lace)
三位樂壇的重量級人物同日罹難, 當天被喻為: "音樂死亡的日子"。
Buddy Holly 1936 - 1959
Ritchie Valens 1941 - 1959
So... Bye, bye Miss American Pie
當日意外, Buddy Holly 所乘坐名為 "American Pie" 嘅小型飛機殘骸,
亦有傳此意係 Don 告别一位曾参加美國小姐候選佳麗嘅女友。
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
比喻所喜愛嘅歌手均離世, 從事音樂心願成為泡影。
Buddy Holly 有一首暢銷歌曲 "That'll be the Day"
歌詞中就有一句是 :" THAT'LL BE THE DAY THAT I DIE"
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
取自一首兒童主日學歌曲，"Jesus Loves Me, This I Know"
歌詞中有一句 "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so "。
Now do you believe in rock and roll?
The Loving Spoonful 樂隊與 John Sebastian 於 1965 年合作歌曲 "Do You Believe in Magic ?"
歌詞有兩句是 "Do you believe in magic" 與 " It's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock and roll."
Can music save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
在那個年代，與伴共舞是種表達愛意, 也象徵接受對方, 尤其是共舞於慢節奏嘅歌曲中。
Well, I know that you're in love with him
'cause I saw you dancing in the gym
發覺女友移情别戀, 有被騙之感
You both kicked off your shoes
作為舞會埸地嘅體育館多用木質地板, 因此必須脫掉皮底鞋方可進場, 而至"Sock Hop"當時甚為流行 。
" Sock Hop "
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues
" Rhythm & Blues 節奏與藍調 "早期是屬於黑人音樂一種, 被視為 "Race Music 族類音樂",
白人很少接觸這類音樂, 後經電台的播放, 才漸普及。 "MAN !" 為黑人打招呯用語。
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
"A White Sport Coat ( And a Pink Carnation )"是 Marty Robbins 1957年歌曲。
當年在德州 Texas 駕驶 Pickup truck 為紈绔子弟或年輕人 cool 嘅象徵。
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died
事與願違, Buddy Holly 離世, 往日嘅音樂已不覆再。
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
Verse 6:3
Now, for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rolling stone
懐念60年代嘅樂壇逸事, 十年時光消逝, "譲石不留苔"
" Like A Rolling Stone" Bob Dylan 1965 年作品,
第一首暢銷單曲, 並一改以往民歌風格。
之後 1966至74年，他亦放棄巡迴演唱，專心在家寫歌，
宏揚自己的理念, 對 Bob Dylan 來說是個很大的轉變。
But that's not how it used to be
Don McLean 仍鍾爱 Bob Dylan 以前 Folk Singer 格調多過當年改為 Folk-rock 風格
When the jester sang for the king and queen
隱喻 Bob Dylan 放棄民歌而走向 Rock n' Roll,
因 Bob Dylan 曾在專輯 "Self-Portrait" 封面中扮成小丑弄臣,
自喻為衣衫襤褸的小丑。
在歌曲 "Mr.Tambourine Man"
國王指的是60年代的 Peter Seeger，王后指的是 Joan Baez。
Peter Seeger
Joan Baez
1963年Newport Folk Festival
Bob Dylan 稱倍感自豪與 Peter Seeger, Joan Baez 同台合唱 "Blowing In The Wind"
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
電影 "阿飛正傳 Rebel Without a Cause " ,
男主角 James Dean 一襲紅色風衣，是全片的精神象徵。
在 “The Freewheeling Bob Dylan” 專輯封面中
Bob Dylan 亦穿了一件類似的風衣，
並擺出姿勢模仿該片 James Dean 造型著名的一幕。
And a voice that came from you and me
隐喻 Bob Dylan 的音樂根源來自美國民歌大師 Pete Seeger 和 Woody Guthrie, 作品靈感均來自民間矣。
Woody Guthrie 1912 - 1967
Oh and while the king was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
Bob Dylan 在歌壇地位日趨重要，貓王 Elvis Presley 卻正直服兵役的日子。
貓王曾是 Bob Dylan 的偶像之一，Bob Dylan 說過希望自己能像貓王一樣出名甚至超越其地位。
Elvis Presley 1935 - 1977
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
美國第35任總統 John Kennedy 被行刺
John Kennedy 1917 - 1963
兇手 Lee Harvey Oswald 因被謀殺, 至從未被審判
Lee Harvey Oswald
And while Lenin read a book on Marx
Lenin 是 John Lennon 的暱稱
Lennon 迷上馬克思主義之後，披頭四的歌曲開始染上激進的政治色彩
Karl Marz 1818 - 1883
The quartet practiced in the park
"The Beatles 披頭四" 最後一場演唱會 1966 年8月29日於 Candlestick Park, San Francisco
The Beatles
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died
音樂已死, 献給 John Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. 嘅輓歌在黑喑中漸慚淡出
Martin Luther King Jr. 1929 - 1968
We were singing . . . Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
音樂人及作家 Charles Manson 宣稱他受到 The Beatles 披頭四 "White Album” 中的歌曲啟示，
而引至佢1968年犯下一宗, 哄動一時將懐有身孕嘅女影星
導演 Roman Polanski 波蘭斯基嘅妻子 "莎朗蒂 Sharon Tate", 殘殺兇案嘅主謀。
Charles Manson
Sharon Tate 1943 - 1969
電影 " Valley of the Dolls 風月泣殘紅 "
電影 " The Fearless Vampire Killers 天師捉妖 "
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
The Byrds 樂隊
1966年的專輯其中有一首歌 " Eight Miles High " 因為歌詞中有暗示吸毒而遭禁。
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?
回顧往事, 人面依舊, 音樂尚存 ?
We started singing . . . Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die
AMERICAN PIE - Lyric Interpretation 歌詞解讀 Verse 6:5 And there we were all in one place
1968年8月15日在 Woodstock 舉行的音樂節
Bob Dylan 却不参予, 寕赴参演 "Isle of Wright Concert"
A generation lost in space
指 "嬉皮 Hippies" 被認為是失落的一代
因為他們與父母的分離和沉溺於迷幻藥或大麻毒品, 又正直 David Bowie
1969年推出 "Space Oddity" 一曲所描述迷失的人,
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
樂隊 Rolling Stones 1969年在 Altamont Speedway
舉辦的演唱會中，僱用"地獄天使 The Hell's Angels 作為保安
演唱會中散佈在舞台前方的暗處，以制止過度熱情的歌迷
在一場充滿酒精與毒品嘅演唱會中
年僅十八歲的黑人歌迷 Meredith Hunter
被 " The Hell's Angels 地獄天使” 的成員在舞台前活活打死
事後輿論大聲譴責該歌曲 "同情魔鬼 Sympathy for the Devil"
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
事發後 Rolling Stones 成員全由直升機接走, 抽身而去
撒旦是指 Rolling Stones 主唱 Mick Jagger 該暴行因佢而起
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
魔鬼撒旦的勝利, 正是音樂逝去的日子
He was humming . . . Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
AMERICAN PIE - Lyric Interpretation 歌詞解讀
Verse 6:6 I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
該女子係指
Queen of Soul 騷靈歌后 Janis Joplin
1970年10月4日因過量服用海洛英而暴斃, 佢嘅一曲 Me and Bobby McGee 令 Don McLean 極為賞識
American Pie 開始時歌詞之第3句 "Maybe they'd be happy for a while"
與笫6句 "That music used to make me smile" 音韻極為相似, 但此 SMILE 係解作 REGRET 失去 Janis Joplin 之意,
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
"Sacred Store" 指由 Bill Graham 開設在 Fillmore West 唱片店
是搖滾樂迷著名的集會場所, 聲稱: " 再也沒有人對 50年代嘅音樂感興趣矣 "
And in the streets the children screamed
“孩子” 指 "Hippies嬉皮士"
又稱 "Flower Children"
Hippies 曾因 69和 70年在Barclay Park的暴動，遭到警方和國家警衛隊的驅離。
關於"Flower Children" 歌曲
一曲之歌詞: " I met one man he was wounded in love,
I met another man he was wounded in hatred " 被爱情所傷比恨還要深
另一句 " I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken " 他們再也無法創作出動人的音樂,
比喻人們沉默無言, 教堂鐘聲不聞, 人們遠離信, 爱與和平。 A HARD RAIN'S A-GONNA FALL
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
And where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains,
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways,
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests,
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans,
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it,
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it,
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin',
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin',
I saw a white ladder all covered with water,
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken,
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder that roared out a warnin',
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world,
I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin',
I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin',
I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin',
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter,
I heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
And who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony,
I met a white man who walked a black dog,
I met a young woman whose body was burning,
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow,
I met one man who was wounded in love,
I met another man who was woundedin hatred,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
And what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin',
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest dark forest,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
And the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where hunger is ugly, where the souls are forgotten,
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
And I'll tell it and speak itand think it and breathe it,
And reflect from the mountain so all souls can see it,
And I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Simon & Garfunkel
"The Sound of Silence"
And the three men I admire most
the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
聖父、聖子、聖靈分別指 Buddy Holly、The Big Bopper 和 Richie Valens
另一種說法是指 John Kennedy, Martin Luther King 與 Robert Kennedy, 甚至以示 Don McLean 為虔誠教徒。
They caught the last train for the coast The day the music died
And they were singing
音樂逝去的今天, 逺離塵世, 仍然歌聲不絶
在線雷達
發表於 2012-8-25 11:51:25
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發表於 2012-8-25 13:39:12
Don Mclean呢首經典名曲...
禾始終刀係佢唱既版本
圖文詳盡...
5講真係5知...正
