刘以栋

我在中国时，很少接触美国影视作品。但是，一次偶然的机会，我在收音机里听了卡伦卡彭特（Karen Carpenter，木匠）的歌，心情为之震撼。许多年后，我来美国工作时，跟同事聊起来我喜欢的美国歌曲，他们就问我是哪一首歌曲。我当时不知道卡彭特是何人，但记得一句歌词，“唱，唱一首歌”（Sing， Sing A Song)。 我的同事立刻就知道这是卡伦 卡彭特的歌，可见这歌很有名，卡伦卡彭特也很有名。

卡伦卡彭特有唱歌天赋，所以有人打趣说，卡伦卡彭特就是照着电话簿唱，也会唱得很动听。我当时对她的两首歌印象特别深刻，它们分别是唱一首歌和世界之巅（Top Of The World）。二十几年后的今天，重听卡伦卡彭特的歌，我还是最喜欢这两首歌。

生活中的卡伦卡彭特并不幸福。她1950年出生，1983年去世，真是天妒英才。据说因为减肥的缘故，卡伦卡彭特得了厌食症，最后心脏衰竭而死。卡伦有一段短暂的婚姻。她1980年跟一个房地产商结婚，但婚姻并不幸福。她在去世前离婚。

卡伦的音乐天赋最先表现在打鼓上。她跟她的哥哥理查德卡彭特有个小乐队（木匠）。卡伦唱歌兼打鼓。1972年他们曾经被邀请到白宫演出。世界之巅是演出歌曲之一。

世界之巅是一首爱情歌曲。歌词大意是，因为你的爱，我感觉自己生活在世界之巅。

“唱，唱一首歌”应该是一首儿歌，因为卡伦的演唱而使这首歌流行。它让大家放声歌唱，忘却烦恼。

一代人一代歌，但卡伦的美妙歌声将在心中回荡，尤其是现在的中年一代。大家有空的时候，不妨去听听卡伦的歌曲，尤其是这两首歌。

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