Is That All There Is?

中文歌有獨白的不少，而且好像都很容易大熱起來：「天各一方」、「留給最愛的說話」、「紅茶館」等，於是又有一些歌曲是後來加入獨白成為劇場版的，如「赤裸的秘密」、「女人的弱點」等。但我印象中，英文歌中有獨白的不多，大家比較熟悉的應該是Viktor Lazlo的「Stories」，甚至連齊豫和哥哥張國榮都有翻唱過。

但是這一首帶有獨白的英文歌，Peggy Lee的「Is That All There Is?」則留給我最深的印象。話說多年前收聽電台節目，歌手林一峰在一個訪問中提到并播出了這首歌，從那一霎開始已經深深愛上了這首歌，而這張唱片要到上一周才買到手。

「Is That All There Is?」其實創作於六十年代，爵士流行歌手Peggy Lee算是第一個把這首歌唱紅的歌手。Peggy Lee的版本收錄在她1969年的同名專輯當中，成為她旗下第二首美國十大作品，更加在成人抒情榜中問鼎冠軍。

與很多歌曲不同，這一首「Is That All There Is?」只有副歌部份是演唱的，其他部份都是以獨白形式講述一個小孩在小時童年時青年時的幾個難忘片段，包括小時候家裡起火，12歲去到馬戲團，還有年輕時第一次結識男友時候的經歷，每一段經歷中她都表現出有對生活的失望，從而唱出：「Is that all there is？」就如同生活，不如意之事十常八九，但是歌者從來沒有放棄。即使稍縱即逝的初戀，那個天下最可愛的男孩子「one day he went away and I thought I'd die」但「but I didn't」。

剛好買到這張唱片後參加了一場葬禮，這首歌又再次縈繞著我的腦海，我覺得人生中最重要的是我們有追求不輕易放棄，歌曲中最後一段獨白中有提到：你們可能奇怪，既然這個小女孩那麼失望於她的生活，為什麼不乾脆就放棄自己？不不不，那不是我，我才不急於那最後的徹底失望。而當我真的走到人生的最後一步，呼出最後一口氣時，我才會這樣對自己說。

• Is That All There Is
  Bette Midler
  

  
  

• "I remember when I was a very little girl,
  我记得当我还是一个很小的小姑娘

• our house caught on fire.
  我们的家失火了

• I'll never forget the look
  我永远也忘不了爸爸用双臂抱紧我时

• on my father's face as he gathered me up in his arms
  他的表情

• and raced through the burning building out onto the pavement.
  和从燃烧的房子里他飞奔而出来到人行道的时候

• I stood there shivering in my pajamas
  我穿着睡衣瑟瑟发抖

• and watched the whole world go up in flames.
  看着一切被慢慢燃烧殆尽

• And when it was all over I said to myself,
  然而当这一切结束了 我对自己说

• 'Is that all there is to a fire?'"
  不过是失火而已

  
  

• Is that all there is?
  不过如此而已

  
  

• Is that all there is?
  不过如此而已

• If that's all there is, my friends,
  朋友 不过如此而已

• Then let's keep dancing.
  让我们继续舞动

• Let's break out the booze
  让我们继续豪饮

• And have a ball
  尽情狂欢

• If that's all there is.
  如果不过如此而已

  
  

• "And when I was 12 years old,
  当我12岁时

• my father took me to the circus,
  我爸爸带我去看去看马戏

• the greatest show on earth.
  世界上最精彩的表演

• There were clowns and elephants and dancing bears
  这里有小丑，大象和跳舞的小熊

• and a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads.
  还有飞在我们头顶穿着粉色紧身衣的漂亮的女士

• And as I sat there watching the marvelous spectacle,
  我坐在这里看着这绝妙奇观

• I had the feeling that something was missing.
  我感觉好像缺了点什么

• I don't know what, but when it was all over
  我那时不知道什么，但当一切结束

• I said to myself, 'Is that all there is to a circus?'"
  我多自己说，不过是马戏而已

  
  

• Is that all there is?
  不过如此而已

• Is that all there is?
  不过如此而已

• If that's all there is, my friends,
  朋友 不过如此而已

• Then let's keep dancing.
  让我们继续舞动

• Let's break out the booze
  让我们继续豪饮

• And have a ball
  尽情狂欢

• If that's all there is.
  不过如此而已

  
  

• "Then I fell in love,
  再然后我恋爱了

• head over heels in love with the most wonderful boy in the world.
  完完全全坠入爱河跟这个世上最好的男孩

• We would take long walks by the river
  我们沿河边走了很长的路

• or just sit for hours gazing into each other's eyes.
  或者坐下几个小时只是深情对望

• We were so very much in love.
  我们很投入的去爱

• Then one day, he went away.
  但有一天 他离开了我

• And I thought I'd die, but I didn't.
  我以为我会去死 但我没有

• And when I didn't, I said to myself,
  当我没有去死 我对自己说

• 'Is that all there is to love?'"
  不过是爱情而已

  
  

• Is that all there is?
  不过如此而已

• Is that all there is?
  不过如此而已

• If that's all there is, my friends,
  朋友 不过如此而已

• Then let's keep dancing.
  让我们继续豪饮

  
  

• "I know what you must be saying to yourselves.
  我知道你必须对自己说

• 'If that's the way she feels about it
  如果她觉得就是这样

• why doesn't she just end it all?'
  为什么她不直接去了结一切

• Oh, no. Not me. I'm in no hurry for that final disappointment.
  哦不 不是我 我不急着彻底失望

• For I know just as well as I'm standing here talking to you,
  我所知道的不过是我正站在这里与你交谈

• when that final moment comes and I'm breathing my last breath,
  当这一刻终于来临 我呼吸着我最后一口气

• I'll be saying to myself..."
  我会对自己说

  
  

• Is that all there is?
  不过如此而已

• Is that all there is?
  不过如此而已

• If that's all there is, my friends,
  朋友 不过如此而已

• Then let's keep dancing.
  让我们继续豪饮

• Let's break out the booze
  让我们继续豪饮

• And have a ball
  尽情狂欢

• If that's all there is.
  不过如此而已

有套港產片集老是有一句對白：人生有幾多個十年啊？是的，聽懂這個後才發現不多了，所以歌詞最後幾句也是漂亮的：Let's break out the booze, and have a ball, if that's all there is。