The Ballad of El Goodo

The Ballad of El Goodo - Big Star

Years ago, my heart was set to live, oh
But i've been trying hard against unbelievable odds
It gets so hard at times like now to hold on
My guns they're waiting to be stuck by
At my side is God

And there ain't no one gonna turn me 'round
Ain't no one gonna turn me 'round

There's people around who tell you that they know
The places where they send you, and it's easy to go
They'll zip you up and dress you down
Stand you in a row
But you know you don't have to
You can just say no

And there ain't no one gonna turn me 'round
Ain't no one gonna turn me 'round
Ain't no one gonna turn me 'round
Ain't no one gonna turn me 'round

I've been built up and trusted
Broke down and busted
But they'll get theirs and we'll get ours
Just if we can
Just, ah, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on

Years ago my heart was set to live, oh
But i've been trying hard against strong odds
It gets so hard at times like now to hold on
Well, I'll fall if i don't fight
And at my side is god

Ain't no one gonna turn me 'round
Ain't no one gonna turn me 'round
Ain't no one gonna turn me 'round
Ain't no one gonna turn me 'round
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on

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雖然推出過三張專輯，可是其實也大概只有第一張專輯"#1 Record"的表現比較優異。 仿效偶像The Beatles，Big Star將他們的專輯在官方註記為Alex Chilton和Chris Bell聯名創作。實際上，這張專輯中比較知名的作品，也大概就是Chilton在真正加入樂團前，就已經創作出的"The Ballad of El Goodo"和"Thirteen"。其中，"Thirteen"更是以歌名和歌詞中一句"Rock 'n Roll is here to stay"，記錄下Chilton少年時期在The Beatles巡迴演出裡所受的啟發。歌曲中展現了純淨抒情的感性口吻，也難怪被"Rolling Stone"雜誌入選為史上最佳500首歌曲。

雖然，沒有 "Thirteen" 那麼受到肯定，但是，我卻也相當喜歡"The Ballad of El Goodo"所透出的70年代經典搖滾氣息，總是訴說著一種不願為現實妥協的堅持。有一陣子，很喜歡folk類型的音樂。架構簡單，抽象的歌詞和旋律，卻帶一點透明與超然，很容易感染到那種放鬆、輕飄飄、失重的感覺。The Wellspring的翻唱版，便是這樣的調性。伴隨著歌詞內容，雖然不是經典搖滾那樣的直線條，但卻也還是傳達出軟性的堅持。

給堅持在自己目標而努力著的人們。

Big Star的經典原版：
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhy76l7iOOs


由The Wellspring翻唱，出現在House第八季的版本：
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7tY8LF6W2k