這首歌是根據葉芝的同名詩歌Down By the Salley Garden譜曲而成,最初翻譯為《柳園裡》,是葉芝早年的詩作。他的早年詩歌韻律優美,感情細膩,辭藻華麗,象徵意味濃郁,明顯受到英國浪漫主義和法國象徵主義詩歌的影響。
這首歌有很多的版本,純音樂也有很多的版本。第一首悠悠為你介紹的是愛爾蘭風笛演奏的神秘園改編的曲子。
Down by the Salley Gardens
演唱:林亨柱
作詞: Yeats(葉慈,1865-1939,愛爾蘭劇作家、詩人,獲1923年諾貝爾文學獎)
Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet;
在莎莉花園深處,吾愛與我曾經相遇。
She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet.
她穿越莎莉花園,以雪白的小腳。
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;
她囑咐我要愛得輕鬆,當新葉在枝椏萌芽。
But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.
但我當年年幼無知,不予輕率苟同。
In a field by the river my love and I did stand,
在河邊的田野,吾愛與我曾經駐足。
And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand.
她依靠在我的肩膀,以雪白的小手。
She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs;
她囑咐我要活得輕鬆,當青草在堤岸滋長。
But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.
但我當年年幼無知,而今熱淚盈眶。