劉以棟

我在中國時，很少接觸美國影視作品。但是，一次偶然的機會，我在收音機里聽了卡倫卡彭特（Karen Carpenter，木匠）的歌，心情為之震撼。許多年後，我來美國工作時，跟同事聊起來我喜歡的美國歌曲，他們就問我是哪一首歌曲。我當時不知道卡彭特是何人，但記得一句歌詞，“唱，唱一首歌”（Sing， Sing A Song)。 我的同事立刻就知道這是卡倫 卡彭特的歌，可見這歌很有名，卡倫卡彭特也很有名。

卡倫卡彭特有唱歌天賦，所以有人打趣說，卡倫卡彭特就是照着電話簿唱，也會唱得很動聽。我當時對她的兩首歌印象特別深刻，它們分別是唱一首歌和世界之巔（Top Of The World）。二十幾年後的今天，重聽卡倫卡彭特的歌，我還是最喜歡這兩首歌。

生活中的卡倫卡彭特並不幸福。她1950年出生，1983年去世，真是天妒英才。據說因為減肥的緣故，卡倫卡彭特得了厭食症，最後心臟衰竭而死。卡倫有一段短暫的婚姻。她1980年跟一個房地產商結婚，但婚姻並不幸福。她在去世前離婚。

卡倫的音樂天賦最先表現在打鼓上。她跟她的哥哥理查德卡彭特有個小樂隊（木匠）。卡倫唱歌兼打鼓。1972年他們曾經被邀請到白宮演出。世界之巔是演出歌曲之一。

世界之巔是一首愛情歌曲。歌詞大意是，因為你的愛，我感覺自己生活在世界之巔。

“唱，唱一首歌”應該是一首兒歌，因為卡倫的演唱而使這首歌流行。它讓大家放聲歌唱，忘卻煩惱。

一代人一代歌，但卡倫的美妙歌聲將在心中迴蕩，尤其是現在的中年一代。大家有空的時候，不妨去聽聽卡倫的歌曲，尤其是這兩首歌。

The Top of the World

Such a feeling is coming over me

There is wonder in 'most everything I see

Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes

And I won't be surprised if it's a dream

Everything I want the world to be

Is now coming true especially for me

And the reason is clear, it's because you are here

You're the nearest thing to heaven that I've seen

I'm on the top of the world looking down on creation

And the only explanation I can find

Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around

Your love's put me at the top of the world

Something in the wind has learned my name

And it's telling me that things are not the same

In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze

There's a pleasing sense of happiness for me

There is only one wish on my mind

When this day is through I hope that I will find

That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me

All I need will be mine if you are here

I'm on the top of the world looking down on creation

And the only explanation I can find

Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around

Your love's put me at the top of the world

I'm on the top of the world looking down on creation

And the only explanation I can find

Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around

Your love's put me at the top of the world

Sing， Sing a Song

Sing, sing a song

Sing out loud

Sing out strong

Sing of good things not bad

Sing of happy not sad

Sing, sing a song

Make it simple to last

Your whole life long

Dont worry that its not

Good enough for anyone

Else to hear

Just sing, sing a song

La la la la la

La la la la la la...

Sing, sing a song

Let the world sing along

Sing of love there could be

Sing for you and for me