高曉松在他的《曉說》中介紹美國流行音樂時,非常推崇Don Mclean的《Vincent》。他說這可能是最美的英文歌歌詞了。在這位仁兄看來,對於流行歌曲,西方人注重的是音樂本身,而中國人注重的是歌詞。中國人講究文以載道,文章千古事。所以,我們有流傳千古的詩詞和文章,而沒有一首像樣的曲子被有效地記載和傳頌下來;所以,我們有大詩人,大文豪,卻沒有一個與之相配的大作曲家;無論是點絳唇,還是菩薩蠻;無論是蝶戀花,還是水調歌頭,當初一定都有著非常優美的曲調的,不然,人們不會爭先恐後,不厭其煩地往裡面填詞。可我們的先人卻沒有一種有效的載體(比如簡譜)把他們保存下來,真的很可惜。
高曉松可能是中國當今最有文化的音樂人了。在他那猥瑣的外表下面,有著一顆並不猥瑣的心。因此,我寧可聽《曉說》的MP3,而不去看《曉說》的優酷視頻。
《Vincent》是Don Mclean為紀念梵高而創作的。歌詞真的太美了!我相信歌詞中的畫面已經超越了梵高畫布上的畫面。從這個意義上,我有些理解了為什麼我們的先人對文字的迷戀,也理解了為什麼人們通常把文學作為世界七大藝術之首。
還有,這種大師級的歌詞竟然可以被網上隨便的一個無名小卒翻譯的如此之好,看來,在今天的自媒體時代,高手在民間啊!
當我努力地調整我那並不均勻的呼吸,當我一臉痛苦地跟著原唱歌頌梵高時,我彷彿也感受到了一種悲涼:
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they』re not listening still
Perhaps, they never will
Starry, starry night 那夜繁星點點
Paint your palette blue and gray 你在 畫板上塗抹著灰與藍
Look out on a summer's day 夏日裡輕瞥的那一眼
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul 便將我靈魂的陰霾洞穿
Shadows on the hills 暗影鋪滿群山
Sketch the trees and the daffodils 樹木與水仙花點綴其間
Catch the breeze and the winter chills 用雪原斑駁的色彩
In colors on the snowy linen land 捕捉著微風與料峭冬寒
Now I understand 終於,我讀懂了
What you tried to say to me 你當時的肺腑之言
How you suffered for your sanity 獨醒於眾人間的你是那麼痛苦
How you tried to set them free 你多想解開被禁錮者的羈絆
They would not listen 可他們卻充耳不聞
They did not know how 他們一臉茫然
Perhaps they'll listen now 也許,現在聽還為時不晚……
Starry, starry night 那夜繁星點點
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze 鮮花盛放,火般絢爛
Swirling clouds in violet haze 紫幕輕垂,雲舒雲卷
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue 這一切,都逃不過文森特湛藍的雙眼
Colors changing hue 色彩變化萬千
Morning fields of amber grain 清晨琥珀色的谷田
Weathered faces lined in pain 張張飽經風霜與苦痛的臉
Are smoothed beneath the artist's Loving hand 在畫家筆下漸漸舒展
Now I understand 終於,我讀懂了
What you tried to say to me 你當時的肺腑之言
How you suffered for your sanity 獨醒於眾人間的你是那麼痛苦
How you tried to set them free 你多想解開被禁錮者的羈絆
They would not listen 可他們卻充耳不聞
They did not know how 他們一臉茫然
Perhaps they'll listen now 也許,現在聽還為時不晚……
For they could not love you 他們根本不會在乎你
But still your love was true 可你對他們的愛卻未曾改變
And when no hope was left inside 當最後一點希望都一去不返
On that starry, starry night 在那繁星點點的夜晚
You took your life 你結束自己的生命
As lovers often do 如熱戀中的情人兒一般
But I could have told you, Vincent 其實,我本該告訴你,文森特
This world was never meant for one 像你這樣美好的靈魂
As beautiful as you本就不該來這骯髒的世間
Starry, starry night 那夜繁星點點
Portraits hung in empty hall空曠的大廳里畫作高懸
Frameless heads on nameless walls 無名的牆上無框的肖像
With eyes that watch the world 用注視整個世界的雙眼
And can't forget 把一切刻在心田。
Like the strangers that you've met 就像你曾遇見的匆匆過客
The ragged men in ragged clothes 那襤褸的人著著破爛的衫
The silver thorn of bloody rose 血紅玫瑰總有銀白的刺
Lie crushed and broken 零落成泥、摧折寸斷
On the virgin snow 靜靜地散落於皚皚雪間
Now I think I know 我想,我現在懂了
What you tried to say to me 你當時的肺腑之言
How you suffered for your sanity 獨醒於眾人間的你是那麼痛苦
How you tried to set them free 你多想解開被禁錮者的羈絆。
They would not listen 而他們根本不會去聽
They're not listening still 此刻,仍無人在聽
Perhaps, they never will 也許,永遠