听歌学英语:我的一生 猫王 - My Way

埃维斯·普里斯利（美国著名摇滚明星）也就是猫王,他的经典歌曲可以说是数也数不清。今天要分享的是来自他的My Way《my way》。歌曲中，猫王说，他这一生，他以他自己的方式，过得可谓充实；欢笑过哭泣过希望过失望过遗憾过风光过也失落过，现在回头看，一幕幕地都是那么美妙。如果能在迟暮之年，发出这样一番感慨，也许我们这一生并没有过得太糟糕。

And now,the end is near
如今，结局将至
And so I face the final curtain
如此，我将面临人生的最后落幕
My friend,I'll say it clear
吾友，我将言无不尽
I'll state my case,of which I'm certain
我将述说我所铭记的经历
I've lived a life that's full
我度过了充实的一生
I've traveled each and ev'ry highway
我走过了每一条道路
And more,much more than this
但，远不止如此
I did it my way
我走完了自己的路

Regrets,I've had a few
我亦有些许遗憾
But then again,too few to mention
但说起来，都不值一提
I did what I had to do
我已完成了我的使命
And saw it through without exemption¹
每每回想，自觉无愧于心
I planned each charted course
我计划了每一段人生旅途
Each careful step along the byway
也曾谨慎的探寻偏僻小径
And more, much more than this
但，远不止如此
I did it my way
我走完了自己的路
Yes,there were times,I'm sure you knew
如你所知，是有那么几次
When I bit off more than I could chew
我也会自不量力
But through it all,when there was doubt
我也会自我怀疑否定
I ate it up and spit it out
但是从没有停止尝试
I faced it all and I stood tall
我昂首挺立，直面人生
And did it my way.
我走完了自己的路
I've loved,I've laughed and cried
我曾爱过，我曾欢笑过哭泣过，
I've had my fill,my share of losing
我曾充满希望，失望
And now,as tears subside²
而今，当泪痕渐干
I find it all so amusing³
一笑置之吧
To think I did all that
再次回想，我所做的一切
And may I say not in a shy way
我可以毫不羞愧地说：
"Oh no,oh no not me,
不 我不会羞愧，因为
I did it my way"
我走完了 我自己的路

For what is a man,what has he got?
对于一个人来说，他可以拥有什么
If not himself, then he has naught⁴
唯有其身，别无他物
To say the words he truly feels
这样直言不讳的畅所欲言
And not the words of one who kneels
抛弃那些谄媚虚伪的字眼
The record shows I took the blows
唱片证明，我曾留下印记
And did it my way. The record shows I took the blows
我走完了 唱片证明，我曾留下印记
And did it my way
唱片证明，我曾留下印记

歌词解析:

And so I face the final curtain 我将面临人生的最后落幕
curtain，窗帘；幕布
final curtain指的是猫王的最后一次演出。当然，这个也可以拿来比喻人生的落幕——死亡。
His admirers want to honor the singer before the final curtain falls on his career. 这位歌手的追随者们希望能在他的职业生涯落幕前向他表达敬意。
I found myself behind a curtain, necking with my best friend's wife.我意识到自己在帘子后面吻着至友的妻子。

I'll state my case,of which I'm certain 我将述说我所铭记的经历
state,v 讲述；陈述；case,案子，箱子，情况；实例；
state my case可以是‘陈述我的这个案子’或者这里的‘讲述我的经历’。后面的which指代的就是前面的这个case。which引导的是一个定语从句，修饰前面的case‘实例’。

I've lived a life that's full 我度过了充实的一生
a full life充实的一生。that's full是定语从句，修饰前面的life。

But then again,too few to mention 但说起来，都不值一提（少得不值一提）
then again，但话又说回来；
This is better, but then again it costs more. 这个好一点, 但也贵一些.
It's easier to take a taxi. But then again you can't always get one.打出租车要容易些，但也并不总是能打到的。
My husband spends hours in the bathroom, but then again so do I.我丈夫常占用浴室好几个小时，不过我也是这样。
Life would be simpler - but then again, it would be awfully⁵ dull. 生活可以过得很简单，可是那样的话就也会过得极其单调乏味的生活.

And saw it through without exemption 每每回想，自觉无愧于心
exemption,n 免除，豁免；免税
She was given exemption from the final examination.她已获准期末免试。
These goods are subject to exemption from tax. 这些货物可以免税.

I planned each charted course 我计划了每一段人生旅途
charted，动词过去分词做形容词，表示‘有记录的；绘制的’；course,课程；路线；人生轨迹

Each careful step along the byway 也曾谨慎地探寻偏僻小径
byway,n 偏僻小路；旁道；次要的领域
That byway is a small road and not used by many cars or people. 很少有车或者有人去走那条小路。
My research focuses on the byways of children's literature.我的研究专注于儿童文学中的生僻领域。


When I bit off more than I could chew，I ate it up and spit it out生活中，我是量力而行的（比喻，当生活中，有超过自己能力所能及的事情之时，我会懂得量力而行）
to bite off more than you can chew:好高骛远；不自量力
Do whatever you can, but don't bite off more than you can chew. 要量力而行而不要好高骛远。
Don't bite off more than you can chew. 不要做超过你能力所及的事情。

And now,as tears subside 而今，当泪痕渐干
subside平息；减弱；沉淀；沉静；平息
The laughter subsided⁶.笑声平息了下来

And not the words of one who kneels 而不是那些谄媚虚伪的字眼
结合歌词，猫王这里是在说，他会直言不讳说心中的话。而不是委曲求全，说些违背自己良心的话
who kneels是一个定语从句，修饰前面的one,人...下跪的人；没骨气的人；谄媚的人

If not himself, then he has naught 唯有其身，别无他物
这句话说的是，人这一辈子，最重要的是找到自我，其它都是浮云身外物。
naught，等于nothing,零；什么也没有。
So far their efforts have been for naught. 但迄今为止，他们所有努力又打水漂了。

1 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

2 subside   

vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降

参考例句：

• The emotional reaction which results from a serious accident takes time to subside.严重事故所引起的情绪化的反应需要时间来平息。
• The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon.围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。

3 amusing   

adj.有有趣的，好玩的

参考例句：

• The girl was amusing herself with a doll.那女孩在玩洋娃娃自娱。
• He related some amusing stories in his childhood to his children.他向孩子们述说了他少年时代的一些趣事。

4 naught   

n.无，零 [=nought]

参考例句：

• He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。
• I hope that all your efforts won't go for naught.我希望你的努力不会毫无结果。

5 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

6 subsided   

v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上

参考例句：

• After the heavy rains part of the road subsided. 大雨过后，部分公路塌陷了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• By evening the storm had subsided and all was quiet again. 傍晚， 暴风雨已经过去，四周开始沉寂下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》