Ethel Waters:
" 當我從 'Cotton Club' 的音樂台步下來, 發覺已經抒發了自己的悲傷和困惑.... 我所愛和信任的人, 對我做了錯誤和令我憤怒的事, 讓我從愛情深淵, 唱出 'Stormy Weather' 所壓垮至窒息的感受...."
"STORMY WEATHER" (Keeps Rainin' All The Time)
"Torch Song" 的經典作品之一, 撰詞人 Ted Koehler (1894-1973) 和作曲家 Harold Arlen (1905-1986) 當年同在美國紐約市, Harlem 哈林區的 "Cotton Club 棉花俱樂部" 負責歌手藝人的表演事務。 1933年, 兩人合作完成一篇歌曲, 準備交給爵士歌手 Cab Calloway, 待他在俱樂部作首演時的歌曲, 後來, Calloway 和他的樂隊放棄在俱樂部演出, 替代的樂隊 Duke Ellington 並沒有自己歌手可演繹此曲, 因此, 唯有把歌曲暫時擱置下來。同年二月, Harold Arlen 自己把歌曲作首次錄音, 而唱片面世之後, 發覺傷感的情歌, 還是由女歌手演繹較易令樂迷接受 ....
Stormy Weather - Harold Arlen - 1933 February
兩個月後, 女歌手 Ethel Waters (1896-1977) 自感情發生問題之後, 重拾心情, 返回紐約市, Ted Koehler 找到她, 把歌詞略為修改, 交由她去演繹; 完成錄音工作, 1933年四月唱片面世之後, Ethel Waters 又把歌曲帶進 Cotton Club 的表演台上而大受歡迎, 更成為她的招牌歌曲。
STORMY WEATHER - Ethel Waters - 1933 April
Music: Ted Koheler
Lyric: Harold Arien
Don't know why there's no sun up in the sky, stormy weather
Since my man and I ain't together
Keeps rainin' all the time
Life is bare, gloom and misery everywhere, stormy weather
Just can't get my poor self together
I'm weary all the time
The time
So weary all the time.
When he went away the blues walked in and met me
If he stays away a rockin' chair will get me
All I do is pray the Lord above will let me
Walk in the sun once more
Can't go on, all I have in life is gone, stormy weather
Since my man and I ain't together
Keeps rainin' all the time
Keeps rainin' all the time
I walk around heavy hearted and sad
Night comes around and I'm still feelin' bad
Rain pourin' down blindin every hope I have
Um pitterin' patterin' beatin' 'n' splatterin' drives me mad
Love , love , love, love
This misery is just too much for me
Can't go on, all I have in life is gone, stormy weather
Since my man and I ain't together
Keeps rainin' all the time
Keeps rainin' all the time
NEXT .... STORMY WEATHER - 3/2 : Cotton Club