CYCLES (循環)

或許我真的已跟不上潮流, 總是懷緬舊日的歌曲; 或許我真的太古板, 總感覺現時流行曲的歌詞不知所云, 阿豬阿狗只要會寫字都可以是填詞人(甚至爭相出版書籍)｡至於歌者的唱腔更是不堪入耳: 雞仔聲､假音全是從喉間擠出, 全無中氣, 欠缺感情; 歌詞只是無厘頭的文字堆砌, 不知所寄何意｡音樂重點已不在感人的音韻旋律和歌詞, 而是譁眾取寵的服飾､千篇一律的舞姿､舞台炫目的雷射和力歇聲嘶的叫囂｡以前的歌手各有自己的獨特風格; 現在的所謂歌手唱來千聲一調, 分不出誰是誰｡

以前的舊歌樂韻悠揚, 旋律優美, 歌詞純樸真摰, 唱腔動人｡幾乎首首聽了幾次便能朗朗上口｡綽號｢瘦皮猴｣的Frank Sinatra(法蘭仙納杜拉)是我喜愛的歌手之一｡他的一首<My Way>早已是膾炙人口的經典歌曲｡但他的另一首歌曲<Cycles>未必太多人記得｡我愛此曲的勵志歌詞, 配合Sinatra那醇厚和有點懶洋洋的唱腔, 帶着我行我素的灑脫, 夫子自道地表述他對人生的看法｡

宋人方岳詩云：｢不如意事常八九，可與人言無二三。｣ 人生豈能事事如意? 所謂｢生活｣, 就是人生在世縱是苦多於樂也得活着, 活着便有希望｡人生的甘苦經歷如人飲水, 冷暖自知, 不足為外人道｡ 正如歌者說: So I'll keep on trying to sing, But please just don't ask me now.       

 

 

<"Cycles" sung by Frank Sinatra>

(附上我的中文拙譯)

So I'm down and so I'm out      我既失意又落寞,

But so are many others.             但多少其他人也一樣｡

So I feel like trying to hide my head      因此我遮起頭來,

'Neath these covers.                   藏在掩飾之下｡

Life is like the seasons,                生命如季節,

After Winter comes the Spring.          冬去春復來｡

So I'll keep this smile a while           且將笑容暫留

And see what tomorrow brings.         放眼明天會帶來什麼｡

I've been told and I believe             曾聽說, 而我也相信

That life is meant for living.            生就要活着｡

And even when my chips are low,       就算我的籌碼不多,

There's still some left for giving.        多少總還有點可以施予｡

I've been many places,                我曾到過不少地方,

Maybe not as far as you.               或許未及你去的遠｡

So I think I'll stay a while              因此我想逗留片刻

And see if some dreams come true.  試看某些夢想是否可以成真｡

There isn't much that I have learnt,       我學懂的不太多,

Through all my foolish years,           胡塗歲月之中,

Except that life keeps running in cycles:  只知生命不斷迴轉:

First there's laughter,                  初是歡笑

Then those tears.                     繼而淚水｡

But I'll keep my head up high,          但我仍要抬起頭來,

Although I'm kind of tired.             雖然多少我感覺疲累｡

My girl just up and left last week,       去週我的女友棄我而去,

Friday I got fired.                    週五我被解雇｡

You know it's almost funny,            那看來幾近滑稽,

But things can't get worse than now.    但情況不可能比現在更差｡

So I'll keep on trying to sing,           因此我會繼續歌唱,

But please just don't ask me now.       但請別問我如何｡