老友號的遠行
致彼得
綠騎士
有一個永遠不長大的孩子﹐在你的眼神中跳躍。
你最愛吃草莓﹐潤紅明亮﹐在雪白的鮮忌廉上。像整個夏天聚在剎那的永恆間。都是生的喜悅。
杯杯紅酒﹐朗朗結他﹐多少個晚上﹐就這樣分享。詩人歌手巴森士(Brassens)的歌曲﹐幽默瀟灑﹐
又詩意盈悠﹐是你的最 愛。尤其是「老友為先」﹐可說是你生命中的主題曲﹗
對朋友慷慨熱情﹐是你最大的特色。難怪你有這許多數十年如一日的老朋友。
像候鳥﹐差不多每年夏天你都會在巴黎出現。這個你曾經度過一段年青歲月的地方﹐常常令你牽掛﹐像第二個家鄉﹐
是因為 你在這兒﹐留下了､也帶走了﹐回想中永遠的青春。
每經過拉丁區﹐就像見到你﹐在塞納河邊的咖啡座上﹐讀著世界報。抱著買了的一包包書､一疊疊唱片。朋友們都笑說﹕
「是巴黎夏天一景。」像是天長地久都會這樣。尤其是你身材粗壯､聲音洪亮﹐愛玩愛笑﹐洋溢著生命力。
怎會料到﹐興高彩裂到南方﹐向日葵的光與薰衣草的香﹐伴你最後一個夏天。
長途電話中﹐你的聲音愈來愈軟弱。有一次﹐掙扎著說話﹐竟是因記掛著我家的一件事﹐很擔心會給我們惹來麻煩﹔
重病中 千叮萬嚀､囑我們要小心。當你的生命滴滴消失的時候﹐我們這些憂慮又算得是什麼呢﹖
你就這樣﹐忽然提早離我們先行。
你的船駛離了這個海﹐遠去了一個無邊的巨洋。悲痛的同時﹐我感謝曾有這樣的福緣﹐在不斷流逝的一切中﹐
跟你同在一個 甲板上共賞過如此豐美的人海波光。
你離去後﹐我一次又一次聽你心愛的「老友為先」。旋調間跳躍著你眼中孩子般純真的神情就像這二十多三十年來那樣﹐帶 點兒頑皮﹐殷切地要說些什麼。是的﹐你在說﹕「珍惜啊珍惜﹐世事茫茫﹐老友為先。」

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Les Copains d'abord

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We are sailing on the same boat
Happy songs along waves float
Dancing with dreams so wild and free
Dreams so wild and free
Tasting bottles of good old wines
The sun brightly in our hearts shines
Drinking to: Friends above all
Cheers, Friends above all

They may not be prince or angels
Some have never read the Gospels
What matters be they rich or poor
Be rich or poor
We treasure our one litany
The most beautiful poetry
Are words you will always recall:
Sure, friends above all

It's great to have such friends on board
Though not always be in accord
Somtimes we even argue and fight
We argue and fight
Yet we love to be in company
Clinging so close and faithfully
To our one only golden law
Yes, friends above all

When heavy dark clouds dim the days
Or when troubles hinder the ways
Helping hands are sure to be there
Are sure to be there
Whenever someone in distress
And waving arms for S.O.S.
Their love and care wil never pall
With friends above all

What in life is everlasting?
Only love makes it worth living
It breaks my heart to say adieu
Oh to say adieu
In Ocean of Eternity
We'll meet with such dear memory
And still drink to: Friends above all
Cheers, Friends above all

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老友號的遠航
船上老友們齊齊聚﹐
濃情盛意共將杯舉﹐
欣喜暢快與你同舟﹐
到四海遠遊﹐
那用理富貴或寒微﹐
只要能人生得知己﹐
豈怕雨雪或路迢迢﹐
總會沿途笑。
人世暗浪無由預料
緣份聚散豈可知曉
只要共過好友情深
莫心灰意沉
你遠航去宇宙悠悠
雖此日人間悲分手
他朝再見往事細敘
為友誼共醉

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About <Les Copains d'abord>

Peter loved this song because he loved his friends. However, it is impossible to translate Brassens. So, this is not real translation. I just try to express the main idea of <first place for friendship> and the image of sailing on a boat. This is my song for Peter, and I'm sure that many of his friends share my feelings.
As for the score, I have been too much in a hurry to be able to find an official one. Peter's young friend Florence, 13 years old, has copied down the notes by listening to the melody. That's why it's in its simplest form and is not really complete. She says she wants to contribute as well.

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