樂隊指揮

樂隊指揮

大家好！我係二少爺，今次分享一首1981年的英文舊歌：Dan Fogelberg的《Leader of the band》。

這歌是Dan Fogelberg寫給他的父親Lawrence Peter Fogelberg。父親任職美國兩間中學的樂隊指揮，《Leader of the band》可以說是為父親度身訂做。

歌曲內容大致講：

祖父是個木櫃工匠，父親是個獨子，但他不想承繼父業，決定離家，孤身上路。喜歡音樂的父親，不甘平凡命運。曾經想當兵，最後選擇了音樂，當上了樂團指揮。生了三個孩子，一個在Chicago、一個在St. Paul、一個在Colorado做歌手。他多謝父親的仁慈、給予的自由和音樂天份。如今父親雖已屆老年，但父親的音樂養分仍在自己的血液中流動，他選擇了音樂作事業，並向父親作出崇高的致敬。

我喜歡有故事內容的歌曲。呢首歌我在中學時聽到，睇埋歌詞，更加喜歡。歌中有情有意境，但唔肉麻。

我的父親在他十二歲的時候，由大陸偷渡到香港，聽他說在那時候，原本應承帶他偷渡的鄉里，在肇慶甩底失散了。幸而父親遇上另一位鄉里，由他帶我爸偷渡到港，並收留了我爸。如今這位鄉里已九十歲，我上年有探望過他，他住在老人院裡，仍很健壯，耳清目明。

多謝我阿爸選擇來港生活，我才可以在殖民地自由地生活，接受英國教育。我12歲回鄉，才知道鄉下生活條件差。同齡的親戚在鄉間斬柴餵豬，原來自己咁幸運，真的要多得父親那年的勇氣，冒險越境入英界。他當年的一個決定，影響了我、阿哥和媽媽日後的命運。

我向父親作出致敬。

完

二少爺說：我覺得大家值得花四分鐘去聽吓/重溫吓呢首舊歌。

Leader of the band - Dan Fogelberg

An only child, alone and wild

a cabinet maker's son

His hands were meant for different work

and his heart was known to none

He left his home and went his lone and solitary way

And he gave to me a gift I know

I never can repay

A quiet man of music

denied a simpler fate

He tried to be a soldier once

but his music wouldn't wait

He earned his love through discipline

a thundering, velvet hand

His gentle means of sculpting souls

took me years to understand

The leader of the band is tired

and his eyes are growing old

But his blood runs through my instrument

and his song is in my soul

My life has been a poor attempt

to imitate the man

I'm just a living legacy

to the leader of the band

My brothers' lives were different

for they heard another call

One went to Chicago

and the other to St. Paul

And I'm in Colorado

when I'm not in some hotel

Living out this life I've chosen

and come to know so well

I thank you for the music

and your stories of the road

I thank you for the freedom

when it came my time to go

I thank you for the kindness

and the time when you got tough

And papa I don't think I said

'I love you' near enough