先日、何気なく日本映画"River's Edge"を観ていたところ、河口付近で夜釣りをする二人連れが懐かしの昭和メロディーを口づさむシーンが何回か挿入されていて、その中に聴いたことのある歌詞がでてきた。"東京、京都、大阪、ウ～ウ～"というくだりでこれはTin Pan Alley? と思ったのだが、調べてみると実は元唄があったのだ。
King Crimsonの初期メンバーで、小生の好きなMcDonald & Giles でも名をはせた人です。知らなかったのですが、のちにForeigerというよりコマーシャルなBandにも参加していたとのこと。この曲だけは７８年アメリカ出張時にCar FMでよく聴いた記憶があります。他愛もない歌詞の中で I got a fever of a hundred and three という部分があって、華氏(Fahrenheit)103度(＝摂氏39.4度)というのが欧米ではヤバイ体温なんだと記憶していました。R.I.P.
Well, I'm hot blooded, check it and see
I got a fever of a hundred and three
Come on baby, do you do more than dance?
I'm hot blooded, I'm hot blooded
You don't have to read my mind,
To know what I have in mind
Honey you oughta know
Now you move so fine,
Let me lay it on the line
I wanna know what you're doin' after the show?
Now it's up to you,
We can make a secret rendezvous
Just me and you,
I'll show you lovin' like you never knew
That's why, I'm hot blooded, check it and see
I got a fever of a hundred and three
Come on baby, do you do more than dance?
I'm hot blooded, hot blooded
If it feels alright,
Maybe you can stay all night?
Shall I leave you my key?
But you've got to give me a sign,
Come on girl, some kind of sign
Tell me, are you hot mama?
You sure look that way to me
Are you old enough?
Will you be ready when I call you bluff?
Is my timing right?
Did you save your love for me tonight?
Yeah I'm hot blooded, check it and see
Feel the fever burning inside of me
Come on baby, do you do more than dance?
I'm hot blooded, I'm hot blooded, I'm hot
Now it's up to you,
Can we make a secret rendezvous?
Oh, before we do,
You'll have to get away from you know who
Well, I'm hot blooded, check it and see
I got a fever of a hundred and three
Come on baby, do you do more than dance?
I'm hot blooded, I'm hot blooded
Hot blooded, every night
Hot blooded, you're looking so tight
Hot blooded, now you're driving me wild
Hot blooded, I'm so hot for you, child
Hot blooded, I'm a little bit high
Hot blooded, you're a little bit shy
Hot blooded, you're making me sing
Hot blooded, for your sweet sweet thing
Baby we can talk a-all night, but that ain't getting us nowhere
I told you everything I possibly can, there's nothin' left inside of here
And maybe you can cry a-all night, but that'll never cha-ange the way that I feel
The snow is really piling up outside, I wish you wouldn't make me lea-eave here
I poured it on and I poured it ou-out, I tried to show you just how much I care
I'm tired of words and I'm too hoarse to shout
But you've been cold to me so long, I'm cryin' icicles instead of tears
And all I can do, is keep on tellin' you
I want you (I want you), I need you (I need you)
But there ain't no way-ay I'm ever gonna lo-ove you
Now don't be sad (don't be sad 'cause)
'Cause two out of three ai-ain't bad
Now don't - be-ee sad, ('cause) 'cause two out of three ain't bad
毎日New York TimesのHeadlineだけは読んでいるのですが、Meatloafが７４歳でなくなったという記事が出ていました。詳細は明らかにされていませんが、一説ではコロナワクチン未接種でコロナに感染した結果だそうです。まぁ年齢もさることながらあの体形ですから条件は厳しかったのかもしれませんね。 R.I.P.
なおこの歌の表題になっている"Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad" について面白い解釈を見つけました。曰く、Elvis Plesleyのヒット曲" I want you, I need you, I love you"をもじって"I want you, I need you"だけでも３つのうち２つはあるわけだから悪くなくない？ということらしいです。 I love you とは言えない事情をお察ししましょう。。
(T)Are you optimistic about the way things are going?
(P)No, I never ever think of it at all
(T)Don't you ever worry when you see what's going down?
(P)No, I try to mind my business, that is, no business at all
(T)When it's time to function as a feeling human being
Will your Bachelor of Arts help you get by?
(P)I hope to study further, a few more years or so
I also hope to keep a steady high
(T)Will you try to change things
Use the power that you have, the power of a million new ideas?
(P)What is this power you speak of and this need for things to change?
I always thought that everything was fine
(T)Don't you feel repression just closing in around?
(P)No, the campus here is very, very free
(T)Don't it make you angry the way war is dragging on?
(P)Well, I hope the President knows what he's into, I don't know
(T)Don't you ever see the starvation in the city where you live
All the needless hunger all the needless pain?
(P)I haven't been there lately, the country is so fine
But my neighbors don't seem hungry 'cause they haven't got the time
(T)Thank you for the talk, you know you really eased my mind
I was troubled by the shapes of things to come
(P)Well, if you had my outlook your feelings would be numb
You'd always think that everything was fine
<Part ii>
We can make it happen(* = repeat two times)
We can change the world now(*)
We can save the children(*)
We can make it better(*)
We can make it happen(*)
We can save the children(*)
We can make it happen(*)
You are you are on a plane now
And on you way up north
Canada is so far from where you want to be
Be in California, with sunshine in your heart
But you know ther are people
That you have to be
Have to be
Have to be what they say you are
What you always wanted to be
Wanted to be
Wanted to be just a man fulfilled
But a little more free
A little more free
You are you are in a hotel
And in your room alone
Lying there, but not knowing where you're supposed to be
Be thinking of B3s and Leslies going round
And you know there are people
That are going to be
Goin' to be
Goin' to see what they say you are
What you've always wanted to be
Wanted to be
I only wanted to be just a man fulfilled
But a little more free
A little more free
A little more free
B3s and Leslies = これはRobert Lammが当時愛用していたHammond Organのことですね。ELPなんかで有名ですが。
Friday night, it was late, I was walking you home
We got down to the gate and I was dreaming of the night
Would it turn out right
How to tell you girl
I wanna build my world around you
Tell you that it's true
I wanna make you understand I'm talkin' about a lifetime plan
That's the way it began, we were hand in hand
Glenn Miller's Band was better than before
We yelled and screamed for more
And the Porter tunes (Night and Day)
Made us dance across the room
It ended all too soon
And on the way back home I promised you'd never be alone
Hurry, don't be late, I can hardly wait
I said to myself when we're old
We'll go dancing in the dark
Walking through the park and reminiscing
Friday night, it was late, I was walking you home
We got down to the gate and I was dreaming of the night
Would it turn out right
Now as the years roll on
Each time we hear our favorite song
The memories come along
Older times we're missing
Spending the hours reminiscing
Hurry, don't be late, I can hardly wait
I said to myself when we're old
We'll go dancing in the dark
Walking through the park and reminiscing
Would it turn out right : 進展するよね
reminiscing : 想い出に浸る
the Porter : Cole Porter
アルバムタイトルのSleeper Catcherはオーストラリア独特のコインを使った賭けTwo up の用語でアルバムジャケットにもなっています。歌詞からすると主人公は第二次大戦直後の古き良きアメリカで青春を過ごし、７８年当時には６０歳前後の世代のようだ。歌は世につれ、世は歌につれ。。。
You walked into the party
Like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror
As you watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
You had me several years ago
When I was still quite naive
Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved
And one of them was me
I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
Well, I hear you went up to Saratoga
And your horse naturally won
Then you flew your Lear jet up to Nova Scotia
To see the total eclipse of the sun
Well, you're where you should be all the time
And when you're not, you're with
Some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend
Wife of a close friend, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
vain = 自惚れの強い
Saratoga / jet = どうやらかなりのお金持ちのようです。
clouds in my coffee = 溶けてなくなるミルクのことか
ふと想い出してしまったオールディーズ。ベトナム戦争当時にはやったアイドルの一曲です。"Easy Come Easy Go" とは簡単に手に入ったものは直ぐに出ていく、といった意味で、男と女、あるいはお金のことを指すようです。
I'm taking the shade out of the sun
Whatever made me think that I was number one
I ought to know easy come easy go
Sittin' it out I'm spinnin' the dial
Thinkin' about the chump I've been I have to smile
Didn't I know easy come easy go
She wasn't kind I wasn't smart
I lost my mind and fell apart
I had to find myself in time
Now I can start all over again
Just Hangin' around takin' it slow
So happy I found I still can smile and dig the show
Lettin' me know easy come easy go
I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth
And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventing lovers on the phone
Who called to say, "come dance with me"
And murmur vague obscenities
It isn't all it seems at seventeen
A brown eyed girl in hand-me-downs
Whose name I never could pronounce said
Pity, please, the ones who serve
They only get what they deserve
The rich-relationed home-town queen
Marries into what she needs
With a guarantee of company and haven for the elderly
Remember those who win the game
Lose the love they sought to gain
In debentures of quality
And dubious integrity
Their small town eyes will gape at you in
Dull surprise when payment due
Exceeds accounts received at seventeen
To those of us who knew the pain
Of valentines that never came
And those whose names were never called
When choosing sides for basketball
It was long ago and far away
The world was younger than today
And dreams were all they gave for free
To ugly duckling girls like me
We all play the game and when we dare
To cheat ourselves at solitaire
Inventing lovers on the phone
Repenting other lives unknown
That call and say, "come dance with me"
And murmur vague obscenities
At ugly girls like me, at seventeen
In debentures of quality and dubious integrity = 呪いの妄想の世界
hand-me-downs = お下がりの服
murmur vague obscenities = 妄想の世界
Sometimes you win sometimes you lose
And sometimes the blues just get a hold of you
Just when you thought you had made it
All around the block people will talk
But I want to give it all that I've got
I just don't want, I don't want to waste it
Talkin' about sweet seasons on my mind
Sure does appeal to me
You know you we can get there easily
Just like a sailboat sailin' on the sea
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose
And most times you choose between the two
Wonderin', wonderin' if you have made it
But I'll have some kids and make my plans
And I'll watch the seasons runnin' away
And I'll build me a life in the open
A life in the country
I'm Talkin' about sweet seasons on my mind
Sure does appeal to me
You know you we can get there easily
Just like a sailboat sailin' on the sea
Talkin' about sweet seasons
Talkin' about sweet, sweet, sweet seasons
Talkin' about sweet seasons
簡単なコードだけで自分の世界を作ってしまう不思議ちゃん、Rickie Lee Jonesの佳曲です。もう３０年以上前か。すぐに情景が目に浮かぶような曲ですね。このデビューアルバムですでに完成の域ですね。
A long stretch of headlights bends into I-9
Tiptoe into truck stops and sleepy diesel eyes
Volcanoes rumble in the taxi and glow in the dark
Camels in the driver's seat a slow, easy mark
But you ran out of gas down the road a piece
Then the battery went dead and now the cable won't reach...
It's your last chance to check under the hood
Last chance she ain't soundin' too good,
Your last chance to trust the man with the star
You've found the last chance Texaco
Well, he tried to be Standard
He tries to be Mobil
He tried living in a world and in a Shell
There was this block-busted blonde
He loved her - free parts and labor
But she broke down and died
And threw all the rods he gave her
But this one ain't fuel-injected
Her plug's disconnected
She gets scared and she stalls
She just needs a man, that's all
It's her last chance
Her timing's all wrong
Her last chance
She can't idle this long
Her last chance
Turn her over and go
Pullin' out of the last chance Texaco
The last chance
I-9 = 舞台は南カルフォルニア
truck stop = 一度広大な場所に行ってジャンクたべてみたいです
the man with the star = 警官だな
I need your lovin'
I said I want your lovin'
I need you every minute of the day now
Girl listen what I say
Get it on in the morning now
I want you when the moon shines bright
I said I want you when the time is right now
I need you all through the night now
There are feelings out of sight
Get it on in the morning now
(*)
I'm gonna tell you just what I'm gonna do
I'm gonna make love to you
That’s the kinda feeling that just won't quit
I said come on girl now this is it
Get it on in the morning now
Ah that feeling's gonna be
That feeling's gonna be
It's gonna be just you and me
In ecstasy
I got to get it on
I got to get it on
I got to get it on, I got to get it on
I got to get it on, I got to get it on, I got to get it on
You get a shiver in the dark
It's raining in the park but meantime
South of the river you stop and you hold everything
A band is blowing Dixie double four time
You feel alright when you hear that music ring
You step inside but you don't see too many faces
Coming in out of the rain to hear the jazz go down
Too much competition too many other places
But not too many horns can make that sound
Way on downsouth way on downsouth London town
You check out Guitar George he knows all the chords
Mind he's strictly rhythm he doesn't want to make it cry or sing
And an old guitar is all he can afford
When he gets up under the lights to play his thing
And Harry doesn't mind if he doesn't make the scene
He's got a daytime job he's doing alright
He can play honky tonk just like anything
Saving it up for Friday night
With the Sultans with the Sultans of Swing
And a crowd of young boys they're fooling around in the corner
Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles
The don't give a damn about any trumpet playing band
It ain't what they call rock and roll
And the Sultans played Creole
And then the man he steps right up to the microphone
And says at last just as the time bell rings
'Thank you goodnight now it's time to go home'
and he makes it fast with one more thing
'We are the Sultans of Swing’
