"GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME"
六十年代美國鄉謠, 曲與詞是來自 Tennessee 田納西州, Nashville 納殊維爾的曲詞作家 Curly Putman (1930-2016), 他個人的作品有四十多首, 與不同作曲家合撰的歌曲接近三百多首, 最為樂迷認識的歌曲有 "D-I-V-O-R-C-E", "My Elusive Dream", "He Stopped Loving Her Today" 和 "Wino The Clown" 等。
"Green, Green Grass of Home" 首唱由 Johnny Darrell 演繹, United Artists Records 聯藝唱片公司印製, 1965年五月發行面世之後, 有記錄的翻唱版本達一百三十多個, 純音樂演繹版本有四十個, 撰上不同語言演繹版本近二十個。1976年, 歌曲創作人 Curly Putman 被頒封登入 "Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame 納殊維爾歌曲創作名人殿堂"; 2009年, 他的歌詞詩作亦榮登 "Country Music Hall of Fame 鄉謠音樂名人堂"。
"Green, Green Grass Of Home" - Johnny Darrell (1965)
It's so good to touch the green green grass of home
The old hometown looks the same
As I step down from the train
And there to meet me is my mama and papa
And down the road I look and there runs Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It's good to touch the green green grass of home
Yes they'll all come down to meet me arms a-reachin', smiling sweetly
It's good to touch the green green grass of home
The old house is still standing
Though the paint is cracked and dry
And there's an old oak tree
That I used to play on
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It's good to touch the green green grass of home
Then I awake and look around me
At the gray walls that surround me
And I realize that I was only dreaming
For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre
Arm in arm we'll walk at daybreak
Again I'll touch the green green grass of home
Yes they'll all come to see me in the shade of that old oak tree
As they lay me 'neath the green green grass of home
"GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME" 歌曲內容是描繪在獄囚犯, 渴望重拾自由, 能夠返回綠色田園的家, 與父母和愛人相見, 但原來衹是一場夢而已。後來, 經不同歌手演繹, 加上把歌詞略為修改, 亦被認為是代入了在戰場上的軍人, 希望戰事結速, 回到家鄉, 而視為一首反戰的歌曲。由於歌者的節奏、感情和腔調各異, 聽來亦有不同的迴響, 而最令樂迷認識和喜愛就是 Tom Jones 的版本; 他聲稱是由於聽過 Jerry Lee Lewis 的演繹之後, 啟發了他要演繹這歌曲, 把原來鄉謠的節奏和旋律, 以一新耳目的演繹, 1966年十月唱片面世後, 即登上歐美不同歌曲榜的前列位置, 亦是 Decca Records 唱片公司, 首位歌手的個人單曲細唱片, 在英國本土銷量達百萬張的紀錄。
"In the shade of that old oak tree
As they lay me 'neath the green, green grass of home"
歌曲的前兩節, 聽起來像似描繪歌者的思鄉情懷, 而最後一節, Tom Jones 以旁白, 是曲中的人物在做夢, 一個被關在牢房等待死刑的人, 其遺願盡在歌曲的最後兩句 "在那棵老橡樹蔭下, 他們把我躺在綠草如茵的家園裡" .... 一首頗傷感的作品。
GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME - Tom Jones
SPOKEN
Then I awake and look around me
At four grey walls that surround me
And I realize, yes, I was only dreaming
For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre
Arm in arm, we'll walk at daybreak
Again I touch the green, green grass of home
在 那 棵 老 橡 樹 蔭 下
As they lay me 'neath the green, green grass of home
他 們 把 我 躺 放 在 綠 草 如 茵 的 家 園 裡