2018-06-10 14:13:47流浪阿狗

老歌亂談(841)Rings


美國United Artists唱片公司在西岸辦公室的主管Eddie Reeves,為了送給好朋友Bob Hamilton一份特殊的結婚禮物 --- 在婚禮上唱自己創作的歌曲,找了公司的簽約歌手Alex Harvey一起來合作,這首《Rings》於焉產生。

歌詞藉由不同的「鈴聲」串接到最後的「婚戒」,內容也都是這對新人婚前一些相關的事情:像是倆人一度疏遠,之後又和解;歌詞中「Got James Taylor on the stereo」,其實是點出倆人最喜歡的歌是James Taylor的《Fire and Rain》( 此部份被其他的翻唱者改成不同的歌手名 ),另「Tony and Mario」,也是這對新人經常喜歡造訪的餐廳名稱。婚禮是在新郎濱海別墅前的沙灘舉行,場景在歌曲中也有所描述。
 

 
Reeves和Harvey在婚禮演唱此曲後,將之製成了Demo帶,再交由三人合唱團體Cymarron來錄唱。1971,Cymarron的版本倉促發行,卻獲得電台DJ的大力播放,原因之一是新郎Hamilton的工作,部份是擔任數個電台的顧問,而他自己也不避諱,主動表明此曲就是他的「婚禮歌曲」。這首《Rings》衝上了告示牌熱門榜的第17名,而卻也是Cymarron唯一入榜的歌曲。

同年翻唱的還有Tompall & The Glaser Brothers的三人合唱團體,成績也相當不錯,在告示牌鄉村單曲排行榜獲得第7名。如前所述,歌詞中的「Got James Taylor on the stereo」被改成了「Got Merle Haggard……」。1974,灰狼Lobo亦翻唱此曲,在告示牌拿下第43名,應是台灣歌友較熟悉的版本。Lobo也依個人的喜好,將James Taylor改成了Jim Croce。

延伸閱讀:
亂談(413)
I Got A Name / Jim Croce


Ring, ring, telephone rings
Somebody said, "Baby won't you do it?"
I been wondering where you been
Now and then, I think about you and me

No use in' 'bout things we can't recall
It don't matter now at allllll,
Just come on home: Baby we'll laugh and sing
We'll make love, we'll let the telephone ring

'Ring, ring, doorbell ring'
Baby come on in, got James Taylor on the stereo
I'm glad you've come around, I've been feelin' down
Just talkin' to Tony and Mario

You know they make good conversation,
Still it ain't no consolation
Cause I got love, baby I'll give you some
And if somebody comes, we'll let the doorbell ring

Said 'Ring, ring, golden ring
Around the sun, around your pretty finger'
'Ring, ring, voices ring
With a happy tune, anybody can be a singer'

The sun come up across the city
I swear you never looked so doggone pretty

Hand in hand,
We'll stand upon the sand
With the preacher man
Let the wedding bells ring

Oh-ohhh, hand in hand
We'll stand upon the sand
With the preacher man
Let the wedding bells ring...