2006年9月2日星期六

挪威沒有森林



很多人也知道村上春樹的小說《挪威的森林》是來自 Beatles 的歌曲「Norwegian Wood」。

可是,這是誤譯。原曲中「Norwegian Wood」是指「挪威的木材」,實際上是一種很便宜的松木。John Lennon 說:「作為歌曲的名字,我總不能用『Cheap Pine』吧?『Norwegian Wood』好聽多了。」

我們看看歌詞吧:

I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me.
我曾有過一個女孩,呃,還是該說,她曾有過我。
She showed me her room, isn't it good, Norwegian wood?
她帶我去她的房間……真好呢,是挪威木。

She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere,
她叫我留下:「請隨便坐吧。」
So I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair.
我四處一看,卻找不到可以坐的椅子。

I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine.
我坐在地毯上,耗著時間,喝著她的酒,
We talked until two and then she said, "It's time for bed".
我們聊到半夜二時,她便說:「唔,要睡了。」

She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh.
她告訴我她要上早班,之後便笑了出來。
I told her I didn't and crawled off to sleep in the bath.
我答她我不用,轉頭爬進浴室睡在浴缸裡。

And when I awoke I was alone, this bird had flown.
當我醒來時,我已經孤單一人,這妞兒離開了。
So I lit a fire, isn't it good, Norwegian wood.
所以我點了一個火……真好呢,是挪威木。


很多人也知道「Norwegian Wood」描寫的是個挑逗性的故事,可是,環境卻不是浪漫的森林小屋而是英國舊式公寓啊。