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Empty Chairs, Words & Music by Don McLean



I feel the trembling tingle of a sleepless night
Creep through my fingers and the moon is bright
Beams of blue come flickering through my window pane
Like gypsy moths that dance around a candle flame

And I wonder if you know
That I never understood
That although you said you'd go
Until you did I never thought you would

Moonlight used to bathe the contours of your face
While chestnut hair fell all around the pillow case
And the fragrance of your flowers rest beneath my head
A sympathy bouquet left with the love that's dead

And I wonder if you know
That I never understood
That although you said you'd go
Until you did I never thought you would

Never thought the words you said were true
Never thought you said just what you meant
Never knew how much I needed you
Never thought you'd leave, until you went

Morning comes and morning goes with no regret
And evening brings the memories I can't forget
Empty rooms that echo as I climb the stairs
And empty clothes that drape and fall on empty chairs

And I wonder if you know
That I never understood
That although you said you'd go
Until you did I never thought you would

今天下午在 Lectorium 忙完了正事，望著牆上仇英的《松亭試泉圖》泉水自山巔陡落，書僮在松亭旁舀水準備燒茶，不禁憶起了今年三月初江西廬山的三疊泉。

那時我在渾沌詭譎的黃霧瀰漫中形單影隻忐忑前進，時而用凍得紅腫麻痺的手指給朋友發簡訊，以求與外界有一絲心情的連結。我心一橫堅持到底，最終抵達目的地清楚目睹了飛瀑三疊，喜出望外。但當初「只要方向正確，堅持當能成功」的「人生智慧」似乎過於樂觀單純。

我今天聽膩了最愛的巴哈，想換換口味，意外地讓我發現了 Don McLean 的 American Pie 專輯錄音帶。那是我 10 幾 20 年前買的吧！裡面非主打的 Empty Chairs 一直是我最鍾情的一首，許多屏商、東吳的學生都曾經聽我在課堂上播放過。動人的吉他，真摯的歌聲，把歌詞裡那種藉物託情的淡淡哀愁表達地淋漓盡致。

這首歌以前只覺得美，如今聽來，心中有了更深刻的體會，不免多添了幾許惆悵。