在車站看見 Eric Clapton 來港開演唱會的廣告板,回家找出這張久違了的CD - Clapton Chronicles。
其中最為人熟悉的應該是 Tears in Heaven 一曲。歌中的父親遙想將來與夭折的兒子在天堂重逢的情景,低迥悱惻,哀而不傷。沒有呼天搶地,不怨天尤人,既遭厄運,只得坦然接受和愛兒生死相隔的現實,感情昇華至另一層次,好比蘇軾悼亡妻的「十年生死兩茫茫,不思量,自難忘」。
不幸悲劇的主角,正是 Clapton 本人。
Eric Clapton - Tears In Heaven
Would you know my name If I saw you in heaven Will you be the same If I saw you in heaven I must be strong, and carry on Cause I know I don't belong Here in heaven
Would you hold my hand If I saw you in heaven Would you help me stand If I saw you in heaven I'll find my way, through night and day Cause I know I just can't stay Here in heaven
Time can bring you down Time can bend your knee Time can break your heart Have you begging please Begging please
Beyond the door There's peace I'm sure. And I know there'll be no more... Tears in heaven
And in your eyes I see ribbons of colour I see us inside of each other I feel my unconscious merge with yours And I hear a voice say what's his is hers
I'm falling into you This dream could come true And it feels so good falling into you
I was afraid to let you in here Now I have learned love can't be made in fear The walls begin to tumble down And I can't even see the ground
I'm falling into you This dream could come true And it feels so good falling into you
Falling like a leaf, falling like a star Finding a belief, falling where you are
Catch me, don't let me drop Love me, don't ever stop
So close your eyes and let me kiss you And while you sleep I will miss you
I'm falling into you This dream could come true And it feels so good falling into you
Falling like a leaf, falling like a star Finding a belief, falling where you are
Falling into you Falling into you Falling into you
She was entranced. A midnight phone call. A piece of string. A carton box. A cassette tape. She solved the puzzles, one by one. The clues led her to him. She sat down in the cafe, his table empty. He returned. She thought all he did was out of love. Turned out it was only a little experiment of his. Why me? she asked. He hesitated and pondered the question. I don't know. She was hurt. It was only her imagination. A mistake not uncommon among girls. She ran away. Suddenly it dawned on him – why she came, why she willingly took the bait, more importantly, why he chose her to be the object of his little experiment. They were drawn to each other. He went after her. But she was nowhere to be seen. He climbed atop a car and looked around. She hid herself behind a gate and watched him panic. A smile crept up her face. …the questions that are central to the film: is there such a thing as free will, or is it up to a creator of some kind, or is it just a matter of chance that one acts and thinks as one does?
The moment our eyes met at the bookstore, it was as if a bolt of lightning struck me - instantly I knew it was you.
No dashing appearance, your charm is subtle. Quietly and composedly you sat there, eyeing passers-by ever so coolly. True, when one has real substance, there is no need to grab for attention. Intrigued and fascinated, I got home and dug out facts about you. The more I learn about you, the more convinced I am that you are the one. You have all the qualities I desire, in fact you have more to offer than I would ever dreamt of.
The timing you came into my life could not have been better. My ex just deserted me. In desperation I got a substitute, an old weary common one. That is definitely not my cup of tea. From the very first moment I knew the relationship would not last. It is only a matter of time.
I am aware of the price I have to pay. But for you, I shall surrender it willingly and gladly. It is nothing, nothing at all, if it would bring you to me.
I would love to take you home at once, so that I could take a good look at you when there are just the two of us. I shall stroke you, ever so tenderly, and hear you serenade me to sleep every night.
Soon you will be mine. We are destined for each other. Be patient, my dear, and wait for me. There is no need to rush. The waiting will only make our reunion even sweeter.