Blind Willie McTell

Seen the arrow on the doorpost
看著門柱上的箭頭
Saying, “This land is condemned
說“ 這塊土地一直都是有罪的
All the way from New Orleans
從紐澳良
To Jerusalem”
到耶路撒冷 “
I traveled through East Texas
我旅行穿越過東德州
Where many martyrs fell
許多殉道者在這裡倒下
And I know no one can sing the blues
我知道沒有人唱的藍調
Like Blind Willie McTell
可以像盲人威利麥克泰爾一樣

Well, I heard that hoot owl singing
唉，我聽到貓頭鷹在唱歌
As they were taking down the tents
當他們正拆下帳篷
The stars above the barren trees
貧瘠樹林上的星星
Were his only audience
是他唯一的觀眾
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
他們，深灰色的吉普賽少女們
Can strut their feathers well
可以炫耀她們美麗的羽毛
But nobody can sing the blues
但沒有人唱的藍調
Like Blind Willie McTell
可以像盲人威利麥克泰爾一樣

See them big plantations burning
看見大殖民地在燃燒
Hear the cracking of the whips
聽見鞭子的鞭打聲
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
聞見芳香的木蘭樹花蕊綻放
See the ghosts of slavery ships
看見奴隸船隊的鬼魂
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
我可以聽見他們部落正在悲鳴
Hear that undertaker’s bell
聽見殯葬館的鐘聲
Nobody can sing the blues
沒有人唱的藍調
Like Blind Willie McTell
可以像盲人威利麥克泰爾一樣

There’s a woman by the river
河流旁有一個女人
With some fine young handsome man
身旁有個不錯的英俊少年
He’s dressed up like a squire
他打扮的像是個隨從
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
靴子裡的威士忌在他手中
There’s a chain gang on the highway
公路上有一群被鐵鏈鎖住的苦工
I can hear them rebels yell
我可以聽見叛亂份子大叫
And I know no one can sing the blues
而我知道沒有人唱的藍調
Like Blind Willie McTell
可以像盲人威利麥克泰爾一樣

Well, God is in His heaven
唉，上帝在他的天堂裡
And we all want what’s His
而我們都想要祂的東西
But power and greed and corruptible seed
但力量和貪婪以及易墮落的種子
Seem to be all that there is
似乎到處都是
I’m gazing out the window
我注視著窗外
Of the St. James Hotel
在聖詹姆斯旅館
And I know no one can sing the blues
而我知道沒有人唱的藍調
Like Blind Willie McTell
可以像盲人威利麥克泰爾一樣