英文歌曲「Uptown Girl」這首「窮小子追上流女孩」的故事
歌曲靈感來自 Billy Joel 在紐約布朗克斯的成長背景
音樂MV 裡的女主角,後來真的成了他的妻子
「Uptown girl」為什麼不用the呢?
歌曲裡的有哪些英文學習呢?
1/7(三)下午4:05~5:00 tea time時光《唱歌學英文》單元,高雄市鎮港園社區大學英文老師Mark,帶我們從歌詞學英文、從音樂看美國社會階級。
節目內容如下:👇👇
- Uptown girl上流女孩
She’s been living in her uptown world 她一直活在上流世界裡
I bet she’s never had a backstreet guy 我打賭她絕對沒有和後街男交往過 I bet her momma never told her why 我打賭她老媽從來沒告訴她原因
‧現在完成進行式 (have + been + V-ing) 強調「過去至今一段時間內反覆進行的動作」,或是指一件事「從過去一直持續至今,目前仍在進行的動作,而且可能會持續下去」,重點在於動作的持續。
例句:
I have struggled. (我已經掙扎過了,動作已結束)
I have been struggling. (我一直在掙扎著,強調持續狀態)
強調一直在做→
They have been learning Japanese since last year
他們從去年開始就一直在學日語
搭配時間→
We have been sitting here for two hours. 我們在這裡坐了兩小時了
‧bet vt. 以(錢,物等)打賭;敢斷定,確信
- 以(錢,物等)打賭;與(某人)打賭 [(+on)]
I’ll bet ten dollars on the black horse.
我要在這匹黑馬上下十元賭注。
- 敢斷定,確信 [+(that)]
I bet (that) you’ll win. 我肯定你會贏。
I bet (that) he won't come. 我敢肯定他不會來。
uptown/downtown相關例句
‧The nightlife in this city is concentrated in the downtown area.
這個城市的夜生活集中在市中心區塊。
She drove downtown to meet friends for dinner at a new restaurant.
她開車到市中心的新餐廳,與朋友共進晚餐
After a long week, they decided to spend a quiet weekend uptown at a spa.
經過漫長的一周,他們決定到上城區(非商業區)的SPA享受一個寧靜的周末。
Her family lives uptown, in a neighborhood with larger homes and more green space.
她的家庭住在上城區,鄰近擁有大片綠地及大間房屋。
認識各種街道的英文(由大到小)
- boulevard n. 大道 (如: 美麗島 Formosa boulevard、凱達格蘭大道Ketagalan Boulevard)
- avenue n. 大道 (如紐約第五大道 fifth avenue、法國香榭大道 Avenue des Champs-Élysées )
- road n. 道路 (旁邊有無建築物皆可用)
- John Denver的名歌Take Me Home, Country Roads中,路就是兩邊沒建築物的路
- street n. 街道(有建築物在兩側的公共小路)
- lane n. 巷弄、小巷
Brick Lane (紅磚巷,英國著名的藝術區)
- alley n. 巷弄、小港
Diagon Alley (斜角巷,哈利波特魔法世界的市場區)
- I'm gonna try for an uptown girl我要跟一位上流女孩交往
She's been living in her white bread world她一直活在她的白麵包/平凡無趣 世界裡
As long as anyone with hot blood can (try her)只要任何人有著滿腔熱血就可以
And now she’s looking for a downtown man 而她正尋找著一個市區男人
That’s what I am也就是我
‧gonna =going to
‧What is “white bread” world?
being, typical of, or having qualities (such as blandness) associated with the white middle class
在20世紀中葉,美國白麵包(white bread)被視為一種「平淡、普通、毫無特色的」象徵。這也意味著一成不變的中產階級生活。也用來影射白人在市郊住宅區有著主流文化與保守傳統的意思。
- And when she knows what she wants from her time而當她明白自己真正想要的
And when she wakes up 而當她清醒過來
And makes up her mind 而她會下定決心
‧make up one’s mind (to V)
與to V連用: 指決定做某事。
He made up his mind to study abroad. 他決定出國留學。
I’ve made up my mind to take the job. 我已經下定決心接受這份工作。
與wh-連用: 指決定某件事的選項。
I haven’t made up my mind where to go yet. 我還沒打定主意去哪裡。
We couldn’t make up our minds what to have for dinner. 我們無法決定晚餐吃什麼。
用於請求他人決定、強調對方需要趕快做出選擇。
Come on, make up your mind! 來吧,快點決定!
Can you just make up your mind? 你可以快點下定決心嗎?
- She’ll see I’m not so tough 她會明白我不是這麼粗魯
Just because I’m in love with an uptown girl只因為我愛上一位上流女孩
You know I’ve seen her in her uptown world你知道的,我已在她的上流社會看過她
She’s getting tired of her high class toys她已經對高級玩具感到厭煩
And all her presents from her uptown boys還有上流男孩送她的禮物
She’s got a choice她有得選了
‧be/get tired of + Noun/Doing sth (對...感到厭煩)
+N的例句:
I'm tired of the politics.
我厭倦了政治。
+Ving的例句:
This movie is too long, and I'm getting tired of watching it.
這部電影過於冗長,我已經看厭了。
- Uptown girl
富家女孩
You know I can’t afford to buy her pearls 你明白我負擔不起珍珠
But maybe someday when my ship comes in也許有一天 當我的船駛進來/當我發達了
She’ll understand what kind of guy I’ve been她會明瞭我是哪種男人
And then I’ll win 而我將會贏 (得她的心)
‧afford 買得起、負擔
例句:We can’t afford to pay such a price.
我們付不起這個價錢。
adj. affordable 可負擔的
‧when my ship comes in = 等我發達的那一天
例句:
I’ll buy a house when my ship comes in.
等我發達了,我將買棟房子。
When his ship comes in he will pay his debts.
等他發達了,他就會還清債務。
ship是財運與成功機會的隱喻。
- And when she’s walking而她走路時
She’s looking so fine看起來美麗大方
And when she’s talking而她說話時
She’ll say that she’s mine她會說她屬於我
- She’ll say I’m not so tough她會說我沒這麼難搞
Just because I’m in love with an uptown girl只因為我愛上一位上流女孩
She’s been living in her white bread world她一直活在生活優渥的世界裡
As long as anyone with hot blood can只要有人滿腔熱血就可以
And now she’s looking for a downtown man而她正在尋找一個市區男人
That's what I am也就是我
- Uptown girl上流女孩
She’s my uptown girl她是我的上流女孩
You know I’m in love with an uptown girl你知道的,我愛上了一位上流女孩