给家庭顶梁柱的歌---《Inutil》

这是一首令人感动的歌.情绪强烈,很震撼. 选自百老汇歌舞剧"In The Heights".
几天前刚介绍过此剧的创作者Lin Manuel Miranda
(http://blog.wenxuecity.com/blogview.php?date=201004&postID=27138)

剧中女主角Nina来自一个波多黎各新移民家庭.是家里第一个上大学的.
但因为家庭困难,不得不打几份工攒钱上斯坦福. 过度的工作量导致她成绩严重下降, 失去一个重要的奖学金,因此缀学回家.
她事前一直瞒着父母. 等父母了解真相后, 她父亲Kevin为此很自责.有感而唱此歌. Inutil的意思是没用,
不过在歌里有消极和积极的两层意思.

我看演出时,Kevin由Rick Negron扮演.尽管他已经演过几百场,他很投入唱完后可以清晰地看到他的泪花.
顺便地说,百老汇的演员真是出色和敬业.
一个月35场演出,光是演出时间就有100小时.工作量相当大.
没有最好的训练歌唱技巧,根本不能胜任.




KEVIN:
This isn't happening.
Inutil. Useless.
Just like my father was before me.
Inutil. Useless.
And every day
He cute the cane.
He came home late and prayed
For rain. Prayed for rain.

And on the days
When nothing came
My father's face was lined 
With shame.
He'd sit me down beside him
And he'd say,
"My father was a farmer.
His father was a farmer,
And you will be a farmer."
But I told him, "Papi, I'm
Sorry, I'm going farther.
I'm getting on a plane.
And I am gonna change the 
World someday."
And he slapped my face.
He stood there, staring at me,
Useless.
Today my daughter's home
And I am useless.

And as a baby she amazed me
With the things she learned
Each day.
She used to stay on the fire escape
While all the other kids
Would play.
And I would stand beside he
And I'd say:

"I'm proud to be your father,
Cuz you work so much harder
And you are so much smarter
Than I was at your age."
And I always knew that she 
Would fly away.
That she was gonna change
The world someday.

I will not be the reason
That my family can't succeed
I will do what it takes,
They'll have everything they need
Or all my work, all my life
Everything I've sacrificed will
Have been useless.