早前筆者撰寫過關於Jarvis Cocker的文章,一眾讀友紛紛在本台的留言板大談音樂經和有關Jarvis的二三事,事後筆者找回Pulp一系列的歌曲品嚐,並翻閱\Jarvis所寫的歌詞,再加以深究。正如該文所述,Jarvis是個文字玩家,他筆下的字語荒誕有趣,修飾得出神入化。而今趟筆者帶來了當時Pulp的大熱單曲來逐一細味。
單從旋律和氣氛來看,很易被人誤解為一首節拍輕快、滿載歡樂的流行舞曲。可是打開歌詞一覽,便發覺這原來是首可歌可泣的愛情故事。
Well we were born within one hour of each other.
Our mothers said we could be sister and brother.
Your name is Deborah, Deborah.
It never suited ya.
Oh they thought that when we grew up,
We\’d get married, and never split up.
We never did it, although often I thought of it.
歌曲一開首便帶出故事主人與女主角Deborah的關係:他倆是青梅竹馬,男的對Deborah產生愛慕,女方卻一直不為所以。最終他們再也沒有進一步發展。
#Oh Deborah, do you recall?
Your house was very small,
With wood chip on the wall.
When I came around to call,
You didn\’t notice me at all.
這段Bridge無疑是男主角對Deborah的回憶印記,但這是純粹出自男主角單方面的思念,女方根本已全無印象。另外值得一提的是,Jarvis在整段Bridge的句子結尾皆用上「all」音作結,使句子段落聽起來押韻工整,Jarvis將同樣的押韻技巧運用於整篇歌詞裡。
* said let\’s all meet up in the year 2000.
Won\’t it be strange when we\’re all fully grown.
Be there at 2 o\’clock by the fountain down the road.
I never knew that you\’d get married.
I would be living down here on my own on
That damp and lonely thursday years ago.
副歌部份可說是男主角對未來再見Deborah的憧憬,並為愛人已另嫁他人的沉重打擊作好心理準備。
You were the first girl at school to get breasts.
Martyn said that yours were the best.
The boys all loved you but I was a mess.
I had to watch them trying to get you undressed.
We were friends but that was as far as it went.
I used to walk you home sometimes but it meant,
Oh it meant nothing to you,
Cos you were so popular.
突如其來的一連串賤格抵死的字眼,順手把男主角追溯到青春期的生理變化、男孩們均對性產生好奇的校園生活,並將Deborah的形象描繪得更加具體:她在學校是個風頭人物,深受男生愛戴,更引來狂蜂浪蝶的不軋企圖。這樣正好反映出Deborah與男主角的距離,強調出男主角的自卑感。
[Repeat] # **
Oh what are you doing sunday baby?
Would you like to come and meet me maybe?
You can even bring your baby.
Ah ah ah. ah ah aah......
What are you doing sunday baby.
Would you like to come and meet me baby?
You can even bring your baby.
Ah ah ah. ah ah aah......
重唱副歌過後,Jarvis用了以上邀請Deborah約會的幾句話作結,筆者有點懷疑這段話是男主角對著鏡子練習,並非直接對著Deborah講的。然而今次的約會性質僅限於舊朋友聚舊而已。Jarvis於男主角的慰問對話後用假聲哼出「ah aah......」,這句唉聲嘆氣基本上等於整個故事的句號,充份將男孩子的純真、唏噓、希冀、無奈一口氣吐了出來。
觀乎整篇歌詞,對於我這個戇居小伙子來說,可謂是打從心底的怦動。
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