夏礼章西洋歌曲选粹／Conway Twitty获故乡褒扬
文／夏礼章
◄图／翻摄自网路已故乡村歌星Conway Twitty最近获得美国密西西比州一项殊荣，该州为表彰出生于密西西比于乡村歌唱界有成就的乡亲们，特别规划了Mississippi Country Music Trail「密西西比乡村音乐路径」，他们在特定的公路定点竖立歌星立牌，在牌上描述该歌星对乡村歌唱界的贡献，密西西比州以乡村歌曲的发源地为荣，它也是Jimmie Rodgers，Tammy Wynette，Conway Twitty 与猫王 Elvis Presley这些名歌星的故乡。Conway Twitty的立牌 5月31日于他的出生地Friars Point揭幕。Conway Twitty出生于1933年，本名Harold Lloyd Jenkins，1993年因血管疾病过世（59岁），Conway 10岁时就组了自己的合唱团the Phillips Country Ramblers，高中毕业时他曾经被费城人队相中，差点当了职棒球员，但因被征召去当兵而没去成。Conway Twitty一生从摇滚乐偶像歌星转型成为乡村歌曲巨星，自1968-1986年在乡村歌曲排行榜一共唱出了40首排行榜冠军曲，这个记录直到2006年才被George Strait打破，1971-1976年Conway Twitty与「矿工的女儿」Loretta Lynn的搭挡二重唱曾经替他们赢得许多奖。Conway Twitty佳作极多，在历年畅销歌星排行榜中获得第325名，他1975年与女儿Joni Lee合唱的Don’t Cry Joni是一首很可爱的情歌。
DON'T CRY JONI
Woman- Jimmy please say you'll wait for meI'll grow up someday you'll see Saving all my kisses just for you Signed with love forever true.
Man - Joni was the girl who lived next doorI've known her I guess ten years or more.Joni wrote me a note one day.And this is what she had to say.
Woman-Jimmy please say you'll wait for meI'll grow up someday you'll seeSaving all my kisses just for youSigned with love forever true.
Man- Slowly I read her note once moreThen I went over to the house next doorHer tear-drops fell like rain that dayWhen I told Joni what I had to say.
Man- Joni, Joni please don't cryYou'll forget me by and byYou're just fifteen and I'm twenty two,and Joni I just can’t wait for you.
Man - Soon I left our little home town,Got me a job and tried to settle downBut these words kept haunting my memory,the words that Joni said to me.
Woman- Jimmy please say you'll wait for meI'll grow up some day you'll seeSaving all my kisses just for you Signed with love forever true.
Man - I packed my clothes and I caught a planeand I had to see Joni. I had to explain,how my heart was filled with her memoryand ask my Joni if she'd marry me
I ran all the way to the house next doorbut things weren't like they were beforeMy tear-drops fell like rain that dayWhen I heard what Joni had to say.
Woman- Jimmy, Jimmy please don't cryYou'll forget me by and by.It's been five years since you've been goneJimmy, I - (married) - your best friend John.