21st Century Schizoid Man

Bittersweet Symphony (苦中帶樂交響曲)

The Verve於1997發表的Urban Hymns是張叫好又叫座的後Brit-pop專輯. 其中第一首曲子Bittersweet Symphony作曲作詞的credit為Ashcroft/ Jagger/ Richards,其實音樂旋律大部分都是Ashcroft的原創作品.

會有這樣的安排原因是Richard Ashcroft從Rolling Stones的製作人兼經理Andrew Loog Oldham率領的The Andrew Oldham Orchestra所發行改編專輯Rolling Stones Songbook(1966)片尾單曲"The Last Time"其中一小段旋律獲得靈感泉源. 其實也就單單那段hook而已,但握有Rolling Stones早期專輯版權的ABKCO公司由於利益因素不願意The Verve採用. 最後團員不得不與Jagger/Richards等人及ABKCO等妥協,把歌曲將來衍生的所有版權利益無條件100%過度給擁有著作權的相關人士.

雖然如此,還是要佩服團員編曲時所敖費的苦心,使它聽來絲毫不會悶. 前奏美妙如天外飛來一筆的弦樂鋪陳,由整齊壯麗的弦樂導入鼓貝斯吉他所營造出大塊大塊的迷幻音牆,令人印象深刻,聽來煞是過癮. 無論如何,這還是獨一無二屬於The Verve的傳世單曲;就憑它,整張專輯及樂團本身早已能擠進經典之林.

Composed By
Richard Ashcroft/Mick Jagger/Keith Richards

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Trying to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the veins meet yeah

No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
But I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mind
No, no, no, no, no, no, no,no,no,no,no,no(fading away)

Well I never pray
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now

No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mind
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
I can't change
I can't change it

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Trying to make ends meet
Trying to find some money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the veins meet yeah

You know I can't change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mind
No, no, no, no, no

I can't change my mind
no, no, no, no, no,
I can't change
Can't change my body,
no, no, no

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
Been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
That you've ever been down
That you've ever been down