【听歌练听力】Waterfalls – TLC

欲望禁区“瀑布”

人一出生就带着七情六欲而来，人的一生就是与欲望周旋斗争的历史。有的人在这场斗争中练成无欲则刚的英雄。有的人则一败涂地，最后放弃抵抗。更可悲的是，在欲望面前不是每个失败者有重新站起来的机会，很多人只能延着欲望的阶梯走向可以预见的毁灭。

1995年， 美国黑人组合 TLC (T-Boz, Left eye, Chilli) 推出了歌曲 “瀑布” (waterfalls) ， 讲述了两个因为欲望而让人绝望的故事。

故事选取了人类社会最普通，最原始也最让人难以抵制的两种欲望：钱和色。在第一个故事里，一个年轻人不原意用最诚实的劳动换取财富，选择了以最容易的方式获取最丰厚的回报。这条通往天堂的捷径也是通往地狱的快车道，虽然歌曲并未道明，但肯定是违背法律和良心的交易，年轻人很快死于非命，横尸街头。第二个故事里，一个年轻人沉湎于美色而不能自拔。在这场性爱与健康的拔河中，年轻人人日渐消瘦，最终被“三个字母”带到死神的身边。

副歌 (chorus) 部分，演唱者不断告诫人们最好待在自己熟悉的河流与湖边，不要追寻貌似美丽的瀑布，因为瀑布的魅惑下往往隐藏着暗流涌动的深潭，歌曲中的瀑布代表的是一切将人引向毁灭的诱惑，如钱，色，权，或者单纯的身心享乐，如毒品。歌中所唱的河流与湖水，意指生命中那些最朴实，最简单的幸福与快乐。虽然这些快乐不会让人纵情声色，甚至要靠艰苦的劳动获得，它却是人类身心愉悦的源泉。

“瀑布”一经推出就得到广大听众认可，曾在 Billboard 排行榜上蝉联七周冠军。遗憾的是，正当组合 TLC如日中天之时，演唱着之一 Lopes 却在 2002年的一场车祸中丧失，令人惋惜不已。(文_张仪)

请大家猜一猜歌词中的那三个字母指的是什么。

Waterfalls Lyrics

A () mother () out of her window

() at a son that she just can't ().

If at any time he's in a () she'll be by his (),

but he doesn't () he hurts her so much.

But all the () just ain't helping at all,

'cause he can't seem to keep his self out of ().

So, he goes out and he makes his () the best way he knows (),

another body laying () in the ().

() to me.

(Chorus)

Don't go () waterfalls.

Please () to the rivers and the lakes that you're () ().

I know that you're gonna have it your () or nothing () (),

but I think you're () too fast.

Little () has a nat'ral () for (),

but he just can't see.

She gives him () that his body can't (),

but () he can say is, "Baby, it's good to me."

One day he goes and takes a () in the (),

but he doesn't () his () face.

His () is () and he doesn't know why.

Three letters took him to his () () place.

Y'all don't hear me.

(Chorus)

 

对白 (没有空)

(I seen rainbow yesterday

But too many storms have come and gone

Leavin' a trace of not on God-given ray

Is it because my life is ten shades of gray

I pray all ten fade away

Seldom praise Him for the sunny days

And like His promise is true

Only my faith can undo

The many chances I blew

To bring my life to anew

Clear blue and unconditional skies

Have dried the tears from my eyes

No more lonely cries

My only bleedin' hope

Is for the folk who can't cope

Wit such an endurin' pain

That it keeps 'em in the pourin' rain

Who's to blame

For tootin' caine in your own vein

What a shame

You shoot and aim for someone else's brain

You claim the insane

And name this day in time

For fallin prey to crime

I say the system got you victim to your own mind

Dreams are hopeless aspirations

In hopes of comin' true

Believe in yourself

The rest is up to me and you)

(Chorus)

(Chorus)

(Chorus)