听歌学英语:iPod广告曲《生命至上》 Viva La Vida

听歌学英语:iPod广告曲《生命至上》 Viva La Vida

"Viva La Vida"歌词里歌颂的生命万岁是指自由的意思，生命不是单纯活着，而是自由的有意义的活着。从歌词"Revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate"可以看出，这首歌写的人物是路易十六，背景是法国大革命前后。虽说路易十六和玛丽王后毫不在乎法国人民的生活，对政治的漠不关心很不负责任，但这就像是命运和他们玩了一个游戏，而且他们输了。

I used to rule the world 　 　
Seas would rise when I gave the word　Now in the morning I sleep alone 　
Sweep the streets I used to own 　 　
I used to roll the dice¹ 　
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes 　
Listen as the crowd would sing: 　
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!" 　
One minute I held the key 　
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry² choirs⁴ are singing 　
Be my mirror my sword and shield 　
My missionaries⁵ in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain 　
Once you go there was never, 　
never an honest word 　
That was when I ruled the world 　
It was the wicked and wild wind 　
Blew down the doors to let me in 　
Shattered windows and the sound of drums 　
People couldn't believe what I'd become 　
Revolutionaries wait 　
For my head on a silver plate 　
Just a puppet on a lonely string 　
Oh who would ever want to be king?


I used to roll the dice, feel the fear in my enemy's eyes. 　 　
凡人生死曾由我主宰，尽情品味惊恐在死敌瞳孔绽开。
dice n. 小方块；色子
Help me to cut potatoes into dice.帮我把马铃薯切成小片。
掷色子的表达可以参考歌词：roll the dice
She rolled the dice and got a five.
她掷出骰子得到五点。
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
“先王亡矣！新王万代！”
long live 万岁；长寿 Long livethe liberation of the Chinese people!
中国人民解放万岁！
Discovered that my castles stand upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand.
恍然发现我的城池，基底散如盐沙，乱似尘埃。
castle n. 城堡
记法：city+as+little-城市因为小才叫“城堡”。The prince lived in a large and beautiful castle.
王子住在一个美丽的大城堡里。
pillar 柱子；支柱；核心（人物）
记法：谐音是“劈了”-劈了柱子当材烧。
This pillar carries the whole roof.
这根柱子支撑着整个屋顶。
The textile industry is a traditional pillar industry in China. 纺织工业是中国传统的支柱产业。
He was the pillar of the church.
他是那个教会的中坚。
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing, roman Cavalry choirs are singing. 　
听那耶路撒冷钟声传来，罗马骑兵歌声震彻山海。
cavalry 骑兵队联想：cavalier n. 骑士，武士adj.傲慢的；满不在乎的（想象一下武士觉得自己很厉害，于是就变得傲慢）。I'm annoyed at your cavalier treatment of him.
你用这种傲慢的态度对待他，我感到气恼。
choir³ 唱诗班；合唱队；
联想：chord n. 弦；和弦。Choir和chord形近，都和音乐相关。
The church choir sing every Sunday morning.
每周星期天上午教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

1 dice   

n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险

参考例句：

• They were playing dice.他们在玩掷骰子游戏。
• A dice is a cube.骰子是立方体。

2 cavalry   

n.骑兵；轻装甲部队

参考例句：

• We were taken in flank by a troop of cavalry. 我们翼侧受到一队骑兵的袭击。
• The enemy cavalry rode our men down. 敌人的骑兵撞倒了我们的人。

3 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

4 choirs   

n.教堂的唱诗班( choir的名词复数 )；唱诗队；公开表演的合唱团；（教堂）唱经楼

参考例句：

• They ran the three churches to which they belonged, the clergy, the choirs and the parishioners. 她们管理着自己所属的那三家教堂、牧师、唱诗班和教区居民。 来自飘（部分）
• Since 1935, several village choirs skilled in this music have been created. 1935以来，数支熟练掌握这种音乐的乡村唱诗班相继建立起来。 来自互联网

5 missionaries   

n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some missionaries came from England in the Qing Dynasty. 清朝时，从英国来了一些传教士。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The missionaries rebuked the natives for worshipping images. 传教士指责当地人崇拜偶像。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》