VOA标准英语2010年-Bryan Lee's 'My Lady Don't Love My Lad

When Bryan Lee moved to New Orleans to escape the harsh winters of his native Wisconsin, the city's French Quarter was home to a thriving blues¹ scene. One of his steadiest jobs was playing five nights a week at the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street. He performed there with his Jump Street Five Band for more than 14 years.

Life hasn't always been easy for Bryan. His eyes were damaged at birth, and by age eight, he was totally blind. He overcame his disability to become a top bluesman, winning praise from Muddy Waters and Buddy² Guy. But, as Bryan admits, years of late night shows and grinding tours took a toll³ on his family life, and he seriously contemplated⁴ leaving show business.??

"That was a hard time for me, giving that up [performing]," Lee admits. "And I just thought I would quit music; I'll just quit entertaining. I can tune⁵ pianos. I'll figure out a way somehow to make a living, to be close to my kids. Well, every time I tried to quit, something would happen where I couldn't quit."

With more and more blues clubs closing, Bryan spends much of the year touring and recording⁶. His latest album, My Lady Don't Love My Lady

1 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

2 buddy   

n.（美口）密友，伙伴

参考例句：

• Calm down,buddy.What's the trouble?压压气，老兄。有什么麻烦吗？
• Get out of my way,buddy!别挡道了，你这家伙！

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 contemplated   

adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。
• The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。

5 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

6 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。