YSG 的部落格

　　奇怪，怎麼書桌又亂了起來？
　　只好整理一下。竟然又找著了數年前抄下的歌詞。一首小學學過的歌。
　　小學時有音樂課——雖然不記得那是否喜愛的科目，不過有許多歌已然深埋腦海。
　　其中一首就是〈紅河谷〉。

人們說你就要離開村莊
我們將懷念你的微笑
你的眼睛比太陽更明亮
照耀在我們心中

請走來坐在我們的身旁
不要離別得這樣匆忙
想一想你走後我的痛苦
還有那熱愛你的親朋

　　從教科書中得知這是一首加拿大的民歌。

　　多年後，又在電視上聽到：這一回卻是《大時代》中慳妹愛唱的歌。

　　於是，在某一年找著了英文版，我猜想是原裝吧：

From the valley they say you are going
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our path for a while

Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
But remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true

Won't you think of the valley you're leaving
Oh how lonely, how sad it will be
Oh think of the fond heart you're breaking
And the grief you are causing to me

As you go to your home by the ocean
May you never forget those sweet hours
That we spent in the Red River Valley
And the love we exchanged mid the flowers

James Kerrigen 1896, Red River Valley

　　許多時候人總因先入為主而比較喜歡最早接觸的版本——縱然那並不一定是最好的。不過，這首歌的英文版卻更觸動我的心弦： "But remember the Red River Valley / And the cowboy who loved you so true."

　　不知道這小伙子那一份是情愛還是友愛？
　　但直接。是這一份真摯的直接。

　　中文版的「痛苦」二字對小學生來說是重了一些，只是，自己愛的人將要別去，那心情又豈是「痛苦」二字所能概括？

(Another version)

From this valley they say you are going
I shall miss your sweet face and your smile
Just because you are weary and tired
You are changing your range for a while

I've been thinking a long time, my darling
Of the sweet words you never would say
Now alas, must my fond hopes all vanish
For they say you are going away

Then come sit here a while 'ere you leave us
Do not hasten to bid us adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true