In the antique light of a desert dawn, a Vickers Vimy biplane circles the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. In 1919 another Vimy buzzed above the sands here, attempting the longest, riskiest flight in history. 3he中国英语学习网

在沙漠黎明的古香古色的阳光下，一架由维克斯公司（Vickers） 生产的“维梅（Vimy）”双翼飞机正盘旋在埃及的吉萨金字塔区上空。在1919年，也是一架维梅飞机在这片沙地上空轰鸣，尝试进行有史以来最长、最危险的飞行（指1919年英国飞行员成功飞越大西洋的创举）。3he中国英语学习网

The Dance of the Animal Court[动物法庭的跳舞]3he中国英语学习网

Once upon a time there was a monkey who had a magical fiddle and bow and arrow. He could hit anything with his arrow, and with his fiddle, he could make anyone dance. 3he中国英语学习网

One day Monkey met Cheetah. "I've been stalking Springbok all day," Cheetah complained, "and I'm exhausted, and still I am starving." 3he中国英语学习网

"Let me try," Monkey suggested, and he pulled out his bow and arrow, aimed, and shot Springbok through the heart. 3he中国英语学习网

Cheetah was amazed. He wanted the bow and arrow for himself, so he growled, and jumped on Monkey. As the two fought, Jackal passed by. Jackal suggested that they go to animal court to decide the matter. 3he中国英语学习网

When they arrived at court, Monkey began to shake. He was so young, and these were the elders of the jungle. When Elephant asked him what was wrong, Monkey replied, his voice quavering, "My uncle gave me this bow and arrow." 3he中国英语学习网

"Can't you see he's lying?" growled Cheetah. "Listen to his voice. Look at him shake. I spent all day stalking Springbok, and when Monkey came along, he tried to steal my bow and arrow." 3he中国英语学习网

Within moments the court announced their verdict. "Monkey, we find you guilty," announced Zebra. "For your crime, you will hang." 3he中国英语学习网

Monkey began to weep, but suddenly he remembered his fiddle. "Before I die, may I please play one last tune?" Monkey begged. 3he中国英语学习网

Giraffe said yes, and so Monkey picked up his fiddle and began to play. Within a few moments, all of the animals started to dance. Monkey played faster, and the dancers began to dance more quickly. They couldn't stop. 3he中国英语学习网

Before long, Elephant was wheezing, Cheetah and Jackal were gasping for breath, and even Lion was weeping with exhaustion. Giraffe's long, wobbly legs collapsed, and he fainted, but Monkey kept playing. 3he中国英语学习网

"Monkey, please," Lion cried at last, "if you stop, we will give you the kingdom." 3he中国英语学习网

"I don't want the kingdom," Monkey laughed. "I only want Cheetah to tell the truth." 3he中国英语学习网

"The bow and arrow are not mine!" Cheetah cried. 3he中国英语学习网

Monkey stopped playing, and the animals stopped dancing. Monkey laughed as the others slunk away.3he中国英语学习网

You raise me up 3he中国英语学习网

3he中国英语学习网

常常这样想，爱神伟力的极限是什么？不止是良师，不止是益友，亦不止是父母的慈爱和情人的关怀，“爱”或许可以达到这样一种境界--无语的眼神、无言的陪伴，可以熨平对方心中的失落、忧伤甚或躁动不安的情结，构成其心灵深处最为坚实、最为可靠、最为平和的支撑力。在歌曲“You raise me up”中，我们似乎可以捕捉到这种神奇之爱的光芒所在--因为您的存在，您的鼓励，我才能立于群山之颠、才能踏过风雨海浪、才能不断超越自我、才能让心灵感受永恒和完美……

歌词本身的另一亮点在于感恩的心境，听完这首仿佛隔世的天籁声韵，心灵深处可以再次领悟由于感恩而自身言传的快乐和祥和。因为感恩，我才能感受到“您”的鼓励以及自身受之于鼓励后的意义，这或许就是生命个体追寻幸福的万能锁匙。

据说，这首歌本是献给母亲的歌，也有人解读为上帝之爱，尤其是歌词后半部分--所有的生命，都蕴藏着欲望和不安……但是，当您来到我身旁，心哦，自此感受到神奇，有时我想，我已捕捉到永恒之光，与泰戈尔那首歌咏心中神明的《吉檀迦利》具有异曲同工之处：“我的欲望很多，我的哭泣也很可怜，但你永远用坚决的拒绝来拯救我，……。你使我一天一天地更配领受你自动的简单伟大的赐予--这天空和光明，这躯体和生命与心灵--把我从极欲的危险中拯救了出来……”

歌词：

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... to more than I can be .

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... to more than I can be.

歌曲背景

每每提及神秘园，总能想起英国维多利亚诗人Arthur W.E. O'Shaughnessy（亚瑟·欧绍格尼西）那首著名的“Ode”（《颂歌》），“我们创造音乐，我们遐思无限，我们徘徊在寂寞的浪花边，我们坐傍在孤独的溪流旁……凭借不朽的优美歌谣，我们在世间，建造起一座座伟大的城镇，即使神灵也忘尘莫及……”

在诗人笔下，心灵净土的耕耘者可以缔造无限；而来自挪威、爱尔兰的双人组合Secret Garden（“神秘园”）乐如其名，一首首纯净得直抵心灵的乐章，可以拨动听者灵魂深处最最隐秘的心弦。在神秘园里，人们可以拥有牧歌式的田园，可以如孩童般率性去嬉戏，可以逃离烦忧而自由翱翔……神秘园在用音乐告诉园子里的人，他们可以自主把握生命的航舵。

神秘园，由擅长键盘乐器的挪威作曲家Rolf Lovland（罗夫·勒夫兰）和来自爱尔兰的女小提琴手Fionnuala Sherry（菲昂纽艾拉·雪莉）组成。二人共同承袭了Celt（凯尔特）音乐的传统，其演奏时而欢畅轻快如歌舞，时而哀怨清醇如少妇。如果说爱尔兰艺人恩雅用的是电子合成来营造梦幻华丽的音乐背景，神秘园则以钢琴和小提琴为主线，再辅以人声或其他乐器，徐徐铺垫出一条属于自然神韵的音乐之旅。

“You raise me up”（《你鼓舞了我》）是神秘园2002年第四张大碟“Once In A Red Moon”（《忆游红月》）的主打曲目，取自一首爱尔兰民歌。勒夫兰谱完曲子后，邀请著名作家Brondan Grahan（兰登·葛瑞翰）填词，之后，在雪莉小提琴独奏的引领下，有着“爱尔兰音乐大使”称号的创作歌手Brian Kennedy（布莱恩·甘乃迪）以其独具震撼力的嗓音给歌曲以淋漓尽致的诠释。

跟甘乃迪一起合作的，还有黑人女歌手Tracy Campbell-Nation（崔西·坎柏奈勋）以及一支阵容庞大的伦敦福音合唱团和在Riverdance（“大河之舞”）里面表演、并多次与神秘园合作的爱尔兰合唱团体Anuna（“阿纽纳”）。另外，风笛大师Liam O'Flynn（连欧·佛林）的风笛绝唱勾人心魂，带给听者一种属于纯朴和野性的长久感动。

音乐三大元素“风笛、小提琴和鼓”构成了凯尔特音乐的主导音色，后两者大家比较熟悉，这里简略介绍一下风笛。Bagpipe（风笛）属于木管乐器，利用一个气囊向打气筒那样向管内鼓风而发声，人只需控制音高和通风量即可。因此，风笛演奏最大的特色就是完全不需换气歇息，可以奏出此起彼伏、连绵不绝的绝妙音色，在风笛甜美的声音里，每一个尾音会非常随意地留下一个回旋的音符，散漫慵懒，倾诉着遗世独立的圣洁、沧桑和寂寞。

值得一提的是，时下备受关注的爱尔兰音乐组合Westlife（西城男孩）的最新专集“Face to face”（《面对面》），第一主打歌曲就是这首洞悉生命真谛的心灵之曲“You raise me up”，其发行以来，连续数周占据单曲榜首位置，成为西城男孩的第13首英国榜冠军单曲。在这之前，原唱“You raise me up”曾获第三十六届和平鸽音乐奖年度最佳歌曲提名；经著名歌手Josh Groban（左什·格鲁本）演唱后，又获2004年格莱美最佳男声独唱流行歌曲提名；福音合唱三人组Selah也曾演绎过这支曲子，以此支持非洲的福音事业。