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鄉愁
作者 席慕蓉
故鄉的歌
是一支清遠的笛
總在有月亮的晚上
響起故鄉的麵貌
卻是一種模糊的悵惘
仿佛霧裏的揮手別離
離別後
鄉愁是一棵沒有年輪的樹
永不老去
今天是美國的國慶節，可我有一種很奇怪的感覺，從來沒有把美國的節日當作自己的節日。美國的節日對我來說，無非是平常的一天。可孩子們就不一樣，他們興奮地等著過節，看煙火，BBQ and have fun, 畢竟他們是在美國出生的，這是他們成長的土地，他們生活的樂園。成長的歲月，將給他們留下美好的記憶。
雖然我來美國有14年了，和先生結婚有12年了，為人妻做人母，潛移默化地接受了西方的思想和文化，加入了美國籍，可是我骨子裏畢竟是中國人，美國對我來說永遠是異鄉，而故鄉對我來說也是一個模糊的悵惘，也許邊緣人就是這種感覺吧。
如果要我再回到中國去生活，也許我也不習慣了。然而在美國，我也不過中國的節日了，一切隻是在記憶裏。我們這個小城鎮，中國人少的可憐，每當中國節日來臨的時候，根本就沒有過節的氣氛。我也沒有和人說中文的機會，就一家中國人，他們是開中餐館的，每天忙的不行，很少有時間社交。還得感謝文學城，使我能有機會和網友用中文交流，感受中國文化。
那份鄉愁，是霧裏的別離，揮之不去。很遺憾，我教孩子們的中文也算是失敗了, 孩子們隻會拚音，認得幾個中文字，我教孩子們的中文也是“三天打魚，兩天曬網。”興致來了，就教他們讀唐詩，要他們背唐詩，給他們翻譯成英語，給他們講解，孩子們竟然能背下來，雖然半懂不懂的。不過，我要孩子們根據唐詩作畫，他們畫的還挺不錯的。我哥哥的孩子前年來美國時，給孩子們帶來了許多的學中文的書籍字典和CD等。古人雲：貴在堅持。我對孩子們的中文就是沒有好好地堅持下來，雖然不時地還是在教他們學中文，成效不大。
說起唐詩，我就免不了想起我的父親。我父親最喜歡唐詩宋詞了，他也不時地喜歡寫詩詞。隻可惜，父親的詩詞和給我的信件已經都遺失了。我想我死了以後，我會要我的孩子們，把我一半的骨灰，撒在我小時候常和父親一起去的雙清公園的小河邊，夢回故裏，葉落歸根。China is my root, yet America is my sky.
孩子們催我帶他們去看parade了，不能再寫了。Happy July 4th to you all。
攝影 文學城 erdong
U.S. National Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner
Composer: Francis Scott Key
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'T is the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause. it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
生活在兩種文化之間給了我們思考,觀察與體驗的機會.也時時讓我們感到那種飄浮與遊離的痛.帶孩子回去看看,讓他們認識了自己母親的故鄉,會使他們產生了解那個文化與語言的好奇心與動力.
你的博站做得太專業,太漂亮了. (幽幽鹿評論於2007-07-09 09:06:51)
喜歡你的留言，謝謝你的建議,我擅自搬進正文了。
祝
好，
Rebecca
你的博站做得太專業,太漂亮了.
謝謝你的留言和理解。
Have a nice week,
Rebecca
複雜的雙文化人的感受寫的細致深刻。
謝謝你的同感。
Have a nice Thursday,
Rebecca
讀你寫的東西老是有一種血從心上泊泊流過的感覺，剛才又是。。。
我寫東西和你的風格完全不同，可是對你話老是有那麽多的同感。我想，好多境況是相似的吧。謝謝你的文章和美圖。
Artist: The U.S. Army
http://space.wenxuecity.com/media/1183631898.mp3
Artist: The U.S. Army
http://www.plainscotton.org/The_Star_Spangled_Banner.mp3
來源: 美語世界 看貼思考 於 07-07-04 11:55:53
The Declaration of Independence
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4,
1776 THE UNANIMOUS
DECLARATION OF THE
THIRTEEN UNITED
STATES OF AMERAICA
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws Nature and Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that they are among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among them, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than t right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity, which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is usurpations, all having in direct object tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be ted to a candid world.
He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend them.
He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.]
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasion on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolution, to cause others to be elected ; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without and convulsion within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws of naturalizing of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the condition of new appropriations of lands.
He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent of laws for establishing judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their office, and the amount and payment of their salary.
He has erected a multitude of new officers, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out our substances.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to the civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation.
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us;
For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment for any murder which they should commit on the inhabitants of these States.
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world;
For imposing taxes on us without our consent;
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury;
For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses;
For abolishing the free systems of English laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule these Colonies;
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments;
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely parallel in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic insurrection amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions.
In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petition have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpation, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them., as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled , appealing to the supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United States Colonies and Independent States; that they are absolved by from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
在人類事務發展的過程中，當一個民族必須解除同另一個民族的聯係，並按照自然法則和上帝的旨意，以獨立平等的身份立於世界列國之林時，出於對人類輿論的尊重，必須把驅使他們獨立的原因予以宣布。
我們認為下述真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，造物主賦予他們若幹不可讓與的權利，其中包括生存權、自由權和追求幸福的權利。為了保障這些權利，人們才在他們中間建立政府，而政府的正當權利，則是經被統治者同意授予的。任何形式的政府一旦對這些目標的實現起破壞作用時，人民便有權予以更換或廢除，以建立一個新的政府。新政府所依據的原則和組織其權利的方式，務使人民認為唯有這樣才最有可能使他們獲得安全和幸福。若真要審慎的來說，成立多年的政府是不應當由於無關緊要的和一時的原因而予以更換的。過去的一切經驗都說明，任何苦難，隻要尚能忍受，人類還是情願忍受，也不想為申冤而廢除他們久已習慣了的政府形式。然而，當始終追求同一目標的一係列濫用職權和強取豪奪的行為表明政府企圖把人民至於專製暴政之下時，人民就有權也有義務去推翻這樣的政府，並為其未來的安全提供新的保障。這就是這些殖民地過去忍受苦難的經過，也是他們現在不得不改變政府製度的原因。當今大不列顛王國的曆史，就是屢屢傷害和掠奪這些殖民地的曆史，其直接目標就是要在各州之上建立一個獨裁暴政。為了證明上述句句屬實，現將事實公諸於世，讓公正的世人作出評判。
他拒絕批準對公眾利益最有益、最必需的法律。
他禁止他的殖民總督批準刻不容緩、極端重要的法律，要不就先行擱置這些法律直至征得他的同意，而這些法律被擱置以後，他又完全置之不理。
他拒絕批準便利大地區人民的其他的法律，除非這些地區的人民情願放棄自己在自己在立法機構中的代表權；而代表權對人民是無比珍貴的，隻有暴君才畏懼它。
他把各州的立法委員召集到一個異乎尋常、極不舒適而有遠離他們的檔案庫的地方去開會，其目的無非是使他們疲憊不堪，被迫就範。
他一再解散各州的眾議院，因為後者堅決反對他侵犯人民的權利。
他在解散眾議院之後，又長期拒絕另選他人，於是這項不可剝奪的立法權便歸由普通人民來行使，致使在這其間各州仍處於外敵入侵和內部騷亂的種種危險之中。
他力圖阻止各州增加人口，為此目的，他阻撓外國人入籍法的通過，拒絕批準其他鼓勵移民的法律，並提高分配新土地的條件。
他拒絕批準建立司法權利的法律，以阻撓司法的執行。
他迫使法官為了保住任期、薪金的數額和支付而置於他個人意誌的支配之下。
他濫設新官署，委派大批官員到這裏騷擾我們的人民，吞噬他們的財物。
他在和平時期，未經我們立法機構同意，就在我們中間維持其常備軍。
他施加影響，使軍隊獨立於文官政權之外，並淩駕於文官政權之上。
他同他人勾結，把我們置於一種既不符合我們的法規也未經我們法律承認的管轄之下，而且還批準他們炮製的各種偽法案，以便任其在我們中間駐紮大批武裝部隊；不論這些人對我們各州居民犯下何等嚴重的謀殺罪，他可用加審判來庇護他們，讓他們逍遙法外；他可以切斷我們同世界各地的貿易；未經我們同意便向我們強行征稅；在許多案件中剝奪我們享有陪審製的權益；以莫須有的罪名把我們押送海外受審；他在一個鄰省廢除了英國法律的自由製度，在那裏建立專製政府，擴大其疆域，使其立即成為一個樣板和合適的工具，以便向這裏各殖民地推行同樣的專製統治；他取消我們的許多特許狀，廢除我們最珍貴的法律並從根本上改變我們各州政府的形式；他終止我們立法機構行使權力，宣稱他們自己擁有在任何情況下為我們製定法律的權力。
他們放棄設在這裏的政府，宣稱我們已不屬他們保護之列，並向我們發動戰爭。
他在我們的海域裏大肆掠奪，蹂躪我們的沿海地區，燒毀我們的城鎮，殘害我們人民的生命。
他此時正在運送大批外國雇傭兵，來從事其製造死亡、荒涼和暴政的勾當，其殘忍與卑劣從一開始就連最野蠻的時代也難以相比，他已完全不配當一個文明國家的元首。
他強迫我們在公海被他們俘虜的同胞拿起武器反對自己的國家，使他們成為殘殺自己親友的劊子手，或使他們死於自己親友的手下。
他在我們中間煽動內亂，並竭力挑唆殘酷無情的印地安蠻子來對付我們邊疆的居民，而眾所周知，印地安人作戰的準則是不分男女老幼、是非曲直，格殺勿論。
在遭受這些壓迫的每一階段，我們都曾以最謙卑的言辭籲請予以糾正。而我們一次又一次的情願，卻隻是被報以一次又一次的傷害。
一個君主，其品格被他的每一個隻有暴君才幹的出的行為所暴露時，就不配君臨自由的人民。
我們並不是沒有想到我們英國的弟兄。他們的立法機關想把無理的管轄權擴展到我們這裏來，我們時常把這個企圖通知他們。我們也曾把我們移民來這裏和在這裏定居的情況告訴他們。我們曾懇求他們天生的正義感和雅量，念在同種同宗的分上，棄絕這些掠奪行為，因為這些掠奪行為難免會使我們之間的關係和來往中斷。可他們對這種正義和同宗的呼聲也同樣充耳不聞。因此，我們不得不宣布脫離他們，以對待世界上其他民族的態度對待他們：同我交戰者，就是敵人；同我和好者，即為朋友。
因此我們這些在大陸會議上集會的美利堅合眾國的代表們，以各殖民地善良人民的名義，並經他們授權，向世界最高裁判者申訴，說明我們的嚴重意向，同時鄭重宣布：
我們這些聯合起來的殖民地現在是，而且按公理也應該是，獨立自由的國家；我們對英國王室效忠的全部義務，我們與大不列顛王國之間大不列顛一切政治聯係全部斷絕，而且必須斷絕。
作為一個獨立自由的國家，我們完全有權宣戰、締和、結盟、通商和采取獨立國家有權采取的一切行動。
我們堅定地信賴神明上帝的保佑，同時以我們的生命、財產和神聖的名譽彼此宣誓來支持這一宣言。
〔說明〕
傑斐遜起草了《獨立宣言》的第一稿，富蘭克林等人又進行了潤色。大陸會議對此稿又進行了長時間的、激烈的辯論，最終作出了重大的修改。特別是在佐治亞和卡羅來納代表們的堅持下，刪去了傑斐遜對英王喬治三世允許在殖民地保持奴隸製和奴隸買賣的有力譴責。這一部分的原文是這樣的：
他的人性本身發動了殘酷的戰爭，侵犯了一個從未冒犯過他的遠方民族的最神聖的生存權和自由權；他誘騙他們，並把他們運往另一半球充當奴隸，或使他們慘死在運送途中。
托馬斯.傑斐遜(1743-1826)，生於弗吉尼亞的一個富裕家庭。曾就讀於威廉-瑪麗學院。1767年成為律師，1769年當選為弗吉尼亞下院議院。他積極投身於獨立運動之中，並代表弗吉尼亞出席大陸會議。他曾兩次當選弗吉尼亞州長。1800年當選美國總統。
傑斐遜在為自己的墓碑而作的墓誌銘中這樣寫到：
這裏埋葬著托馬斯.傑斐遜，美國《獨立宣言》的作者，弗吉尼亞宗教自由法規的製定者和弗吉尼亞大學之父。
http://web.wenxuecity.com/BBSView.php?SubID=mysj&MsgID=7837
Thank you.
Happy July 4th to you,
Rebecca
來源: 美語世界 imagine45 於 07-07-04 11:19:55
星條旗---(有聲帖)美國國歌中唱版1
Star Spangled Banner
英雄所見略同----同樣是最後關頭, 血肉長城--比較一下中國---美國國歌, 見過幾
種前人的翻譯, 大都華麗而深奧, 還沒見過可唱版
美國不是我們華僑的親生父母, 但可以說是我們的養父母, 如果養父母也不是, 但
至少可以算是衣食父母- - -
要入籍的時候,決定了解美國國歌, 一年後才背的下來, 據說大部分本土美國人也記
不全歌詞, 因此名人領唱國歌也常出錯- - -非正式場合就會唱"美國美麗"代替
中美兩國的國歌很有一些類似的地方, 此歌作於190多年前, 英軍攻占了華盛頓, 放
火燒掉了白宮, (不知道英女王道歉了沒有)美國到了最危險的時候, 作者是律師,
作為知名人士, 被英國指揮官軟禁在兵艦上, 要讓這些美國的精英屈服,見識見識英
軍有多牛鼻, 在大戰之夜卻看到 '我們萬眾一心, 冒著敵人的炮火, 前進- "
- - - -第二天早上, 星條旗仍然迎風飛舞 - - - -
Oh, say can you see,
by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed
at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare,
The bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night
that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled
banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free
and the home of the brave?
噢, 你可在等待,
旭日將升起來,
我們驕傲歡呼--
昨天決戰的黃昏,
誰的星條紋旗,
烽火中奮勇向前,
在我們的堡壘,
在祖國大好河山,
看火光閃閃,
聽炮聲衝天,
讓我們的旗幟,
接受今夜的考驗,
看星星在旗幟上,
仍然迎風飛舞,
噢 , 這自由的土地,
有多少勇士的碑
http://space.wenxuecity.com/media/1183320312.wma
http://web.wenxuecity.com/BBSView.php?SubID=mysj&MsgID=7836
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/../midi/anthem.mid
Star Spangled Banner
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(composed by Francis Scott Key, "In Defense of Fort McHenry" in September 1814. Congress proclaimed it the U.S. National Anthem in 1931 -- history follows.)
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'T is the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause. it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
History: In 1814, about a week after the city of Washington had been badly burned, British troops moved up to the primary port at Baltimore Harbor in Maryland. Frances Scott Key visited the British fleet in the Harbor on September 13th to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes who had been captured during the Washington raid. The two were detained on the ship so as not to warn the Americans while the Royal Navy attempted to bombard Fort McHenry. At dawn on the 14th, Key noted that the huge American flag, which now hangs in the Smithsonian's American History Museum, was still waving and had not been removed in defeat. The sight inspired him to write a poem entitled Defense of Fort McHenry; later the poem was set to music that had been previously composed for another song by a Mr. Smith. The end result was the inspiring song now considered the national anthem of the United States of America. It was accepted as such by public demand for the next century or so, but became even more accepted as the national anthem during the World Series of Baseball in 1917 when it was sung in honor of the brave armed forces fighting in the Great War. The World Series performance moved everyone in attendance, and after that it was repeated for every game. Finally, on March 3, 1931, the American Congress proclaimed it as the national anthem, 116 years after it was first written.
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/spangle.htm
來源: 音樂快遞 Sweetlife 於 07-07-03 16:03:46
美國國歌《星條旗永不落》
美國國歌《星條旗永不落》（"the star-spangled banner"曾譯《星條旗》歌）誕生在巴爾底摩。據傳說，巴爾的摩市東南的麥克亨利堡，曾在第二次英美戰爭期間作為前哨陣地抗擊英軍。它建在一個小半島上，是個平麵成五角星狀的要塞，扼進港要道。１８１４年，英國艦隊直撲麥克亨利堡，晝夜連續猛轟此堡。當時，有一位名叫弗朗西斯·斯科特·基的美國律師乘船到英艦交涉釋放被扣留的美國平民。他目擊了英軍炮轟麥克亨利堡的經過，憂心如焚。次日早晨，當他透過戰場上的硝煙看到星條旗仍在要塞上空獵獵飄揚時感慨萬分，於是激情滿懷地寫下了《星條旗永不落》這首詩。詩歌很快不脛而走，後被配上曲譜後流傳全國。１９３１年，美國國會正式將《星條旗永不落》定為國歌 。如今，巴爾的摩市的麥克亨利堡已被辟為國家紀念地和曆史聖地。１９８５年１１月７日，巴爾的摩市與中國福建省廈門市結為友好城市。
《星條旗永不落》曲作者約翰·菲力浦·蘇薩（John Philip Sousa,１８５４－１９３２），美國作曲家、軍樂指揮家。１０歲起學習小提琴與和聲學，１６歲即指揮樂隊在劇場和影院中演出，曾任美國海軍陸戰隊軍樂隊領隊、美國海軍樂隊總指揮，四次率自己組織的樂隊赴歐洲巡回演出。一生作有大量的軍樂曲和輕歌劇、歌曲等，對美國銅管樂的發展起到了重大的推進作用，被譽為“進行曲之王”。他所作的軍樂曲中，最著名的有：《星條旗永不落》、《棉花王》、《華盛頓郵報》、《越過海洋的握手》等。美國國歌《星條旗永不落》是蘇薩的代表作，創作於１８９７年（另一說１８９６年），管樂合奏曲。這首進行曲充分發揮銅管樂隊的表現功能，以磅礴的氣勢和熱烈的情緒歌頌自己的國家和軍隊，頗有鼓動力。
《星條旗永不落》的曲子是“進行曲之王”蘇薩著名的代表作，創作於１８９７年（另一說１８９６年），管樂合奏曲。這首進行曲充分發揮銅管樂隊的表現功能，以磅礴的氣勢和熱烈的情緒歌頌自己的國家和軍隊，頗有鼓動力。
《星條旗永不落》歌詞中文大意是：
啊！在晨曦初現時，你可看見
是什麽讓我們如此驕傲？
在黎明的最後一道曙光中歡呼，
是誰的旗幟在激戰中始終高揚！
烈火熊熊，炮聲隆隆，
我們看到要塞上那麵英勇的旗幟
在黑暗過後依然聳立！
啊！你說那星條旗是否會靜止，
在自由的土地上飄舞，
在勇者的家園上飛揚？
英文原文如下：
oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
what so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
o'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
and the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
o say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
on the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
what is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
as it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
in full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
't is the star spangled banner: o, long may it wave
o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
and where is that band who so vauntingly swore
that the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
a home and a country should leave us no more?
their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
no refuge could save the hireling and slave
from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
and the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
o, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
praise the pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
and this be our motto: "in god is our trust"
and the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
http://www.jorian.com/banner.mp3
(簡介來自網絡)
Mariah Carey - The Star Spangled Banner @ 2002 Superbowl
Whitney Houston Star Spangled Banner
Celine Dion - Star Spangled Banner Live
http://web.wenxuecity.com/BBSView.php?SubID=music&MsgID=313793
來源: 美語世界 於 07-07-04 05:32:37
US Independence Day
July 4th (US)
Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
At the time of the signing the US consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England's King George III. There was growing unrest in the colonies concerning the taxes that had to be paid to England. This was commonly referred to as "Taxation without Representation" as the colonists did not have any representation in the English Parliament and had no say in what went on. As the unrest grew in the colonies, King George sent extra troops to help control any rebellion. In 1774 the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress. The delegates were unhappy with England, but were not yet ready to declare war.
In April 1775 as the King's troops advanced on Concord Massachusetts Paul Revere would sound the alarm that "The British are coming, the British are coming" as he rode his horse through the late night streets. The battle of Concord and its "shot heard round the world" would mark the unofficial beginning of the colonies war for Independence.
The following May the colonies again sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. For almost a year the congress tried to work out its differences with England, again without formally declaring war.
By June 1776 their efforts had become hopeless and a committee was formed to compose a formal declaration of independence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft which was presented to the congress on June 28. After various changes a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration, 2 - Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No, Delaware undecided and New York abstained.
And although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence. The first Independence Day celebration took place the following year - July 4 1777. By the early 1800s the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were established as the way to celebrate America's birthday. And although fireworks have been banned in most places because of their danger, most towns and cities usually have big firework displays for all to see and enjoy. (Source: China Daily)
http://web.wenxuecity.com/BBSView.php?SubID=mysj&MsgID=7828
大提琴曲?纏綿往事?
http://space.wenxuecity.com/media/1182750821.wma