Poppy Pub

　　
　　或許是愛爾蘭歷史和地理環境使然，出身愛爾蘭的歌手們都沒有忘記以音樂唱出他們對家園的愛，也用音符撫平歷史和戰爭帶來的傷痛。最近聽到Cara Dillon的專輯，如果忽略掉她字裡行間的故事，或許她只是另一位歌聲甜美、長相討喜的女歌手，不過出身愛爾蘭的她，除了在音樂中融入居爾特的樂器和特色之外，也用她甜美的聲音告訴這個世界，關於她的家鄉的美麗和哀愁。

　　至今已經發行過三張專輯的Cara Dillon在愛爾蘭和歐洲地區可能還被視為小眾的獨立發行歌手，我第一次聽到她的歌曲，是第二張專輯Sweet Liberty裡的Bonny Bonny。自從居爾特被視為諸如Enya等新世紀音樂而足以撫平人心的曲風之後，這類型的音樂似乎可以滿足大家對於異國文化的想像，空靈、清澈的歌聲和風笛形構出新世紀美好的遠景。
　　不過Cara Dillon所帶來的可能不只她與生俱來的甜美、清澈的嗓音，和音樂中的居爾特風格，還有她面對愛爾蘭的歷史所油然而生的哀傷和美好。Bonny Bonny是一首很catchy的歌曲，但是在歌詞當中卻是對戰爭分離的殘酷描寫和對家園的眷戀。Cara Dillon用她甜美的歌聲釋放了愛爾蘭的歷史傷痛，在歌曲當中的愛情或許都可以視為是她對於家園愛戀的象徵吧！


Sweet Liberty推薦曲：There Were Roses(我很喜歡這一首，不過bonny bonny比較catchy一點),Bonny Bonny,The Winding River Roe,Broken Bridges




Bonny Bonny

Bonny, bonny was my seat in the red rosy yard
And bonny was my ship in the town of Ballynagard
Shade and shelter was for me till I began to fail
You all may guess now my distress lies near the Nightingale

Grief and woe that I must go to fight for England's King
I neither know his friend or foe, and war's a cruel thing
The nightingale is near at hand, my time at home is brief
And Carey's steams and mountain land I part with bitter grief

No more I'll walk the golden hills with Nancy by my side
Or dream along the sun bright rills, or view my land with pride
We sail away at dawn of day, the sails are ready set
When old Benmore I see no more, I'll sigh with deep regret

Now all must change and I must range across the ocean wide
Our ship she may in Biscay's Bay lie low beneath the tide
If I should fall by cannon ball, or sink beneath the sea
Good people all, a tear let fall and mourn for mine and me

If God should spare me my greying hair and bring me back again
I'd love far more my Antrim shore, its dark blue hills and rain
Around the fires, my heart's desires, heaven grant till life shall fail
And keep me far from the cruel war and from the Nightingale