老歌亂談（二十七）Sundown
gordon-lightfoot
當年我們聽西洋歌曲，我認為大概可以分為幾種層次：最基本的是只熟悉旋律而根本不知歌名和歌者。再來則是僅知歌名而已。而也只有對自己真正喜歡的歌曲，才會想去認識歌者或去找歌詞來學唱。之所以會如此，其實和當時的音樂環境有些關係，因為就算是再有心，也未必能找得到歌曲的相關資料，除非有管道買到國外出版的音樂書刊，或是認真翻字典啃唱片封套上的一些英文資訊。否則大概就是和我一樣，真的只是隨便聽聽而已。
前幾天在車上聽ICRT，碰巧有聽到播這首《Sundown》，也才想起這首只記得歌名但覺得還不錯聽的歌來。看到影音後更讓我訝異的是，竟然可以靠著這麼簡單的樂器（連個套鼓也沒有），就能在熱門音樂界闖出一片江山來。
記得有次看熱門音樂演唱會，之中有一個三人團體（學Peter Paul & mary的組合），也是唱《Blowing in the wind》那類的民謠歌曲，由於吉他的音量太小(只以一支小麥克風對著)，相對於其他重音量的合唱團，真的很難引起大家的注意及興趣，而紛紛利用他們唱歌時起身上廁所或是去走廊抽支煙。所以，顯見樂器的伴奏音效，也關乎著歌曲的成敗。而或許，這個唱鄉村民謠的團體，根本就跑錯了演唱的場合了。
還好這首歌使用的是電貝司，否則音樂效果也不會感覺比較有襯底的厚重感，而覺得比較好聽。好，就請一起來聽聽看這首高登萊福(Gordon Lightfoot)在1974的《Sundown》。
I can see her lyin' back in her SATIN dress
In a room where ya do what ya don't confess
Sundown ya better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sundown ya better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
She's been lookin' like a queen in a sailor's dream
And she don't always say what she really means
Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
I can picture every move that a man could make
Getting lost in her lovin' is your first mistake
Sundown ya better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sometimes I think it's a sin
When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin again
I can see her lookin' fast in her faded jeans
She's a hard lovin' woman, got me feelin' mean
Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
Sundown ya better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sundown ya better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sometimes I think it's a sin
When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin' again