今日の「聴き比べ」はジャクソン・ブラウン(Jackson Browne)の『ソング・フォー・アダム(Song For Adam)』です。
この曲はジャクソン・ブラウンが１９７２年に発表したファースト・アルバム『Jackson Browne)』に収められた曲です。
この曲は２０１７年に亡くなったグレッグ・オールマン(Gregg Allman)の遺作となったアルバム、しかも最終曲として納められました。二人の間柄とグレッグの兄への思いを想像すると、悲しくなってしまいます。
グレッグが病を押して録音に臨んだアルバム『サザン・ブラッド(Southern Blood)』は不完全な形でリリースされました。この曲を録音している時に、彼は兄デュアンのことを思い浮かべ、４番目の歌詞の途中で歌えなくなってしまったようです。アルバムはそのまま発表されました。
思い起こせばグレッグのファースト・ソロ・アルバム『レイド・バック』でもジャクソン・ブラウンの曲「These Days」を取り上げていました。二人には長年の親交があったのです。
Song for Adam
Though Adam was a friend of mine
I did not know him well
He was along into his distance
He was deep into his well
I could guess what he was laughing at
But I couldn't really tell
Now the story's told that Adam jumped
But I'm thinking that he fell
Together, we went traveling
As we received the call
His destination India
And I had none at all
Well, I still remember laughing
With our backs against the wall
So free of fear, we never thought
That one of us might fall
I sit before my only candle
But it's so little light to find my way
Now this story unfolds before my candle
Which is shorter every hour as it reaches for the day
But I feel just like a candle in a way
I guess I'll get there
But I wouldn't say for sure
When we parted, we were laughing still
As our goodbyes were said
And I never heard from him again
As each our lives we led
Except for once in someone else's
Letter that I read
Until I heard the sudden word
That a friend of mine was dead
I sit before my only candle
Like a pilgrim sits beside the wave
Now this journey appears before my candle
As a song that's growing fainter the harder I play
That I fear before I end, I'll fade away
But I guess I'll get there
Though I wouldn't say for sure
Though Adam was a friend of mine
I did not know him long
And when I stood myself beside him
I never thought I was as strong
Still, it seems he stopped his singing
In the middle of his song
Well, I'm not the one to say I know
But I'm hoping he was wrong
I'm holding out my only candle
Though it's so little light to find my way
Now this story's been laid beneath my candle
And it's shorter every hour as it reaches for the day
Yes, I feel just like a candle in a way
I hope I get there
But I'll never pray
それでは今日はこの辺で。
