Kentucky, February 27, 1971

There were signs beside
路邊有些標誌
the road like 'Jesus Saves'
寫著類似“耶穌救我”

以及“解手時要迅速且禮貌”
And 'Relieve yourself the fast and gentle way'
我在尋找一位老人

他就住在這群山背後
I was lookin' for an old man
或許我能說些關於他的故事
who lived way back in these hills
柏油路很快就到了盡頭

車子降到了更低的擋位
Who just might have a story I could tell
喝了點酒

只為驅逐寒意
Pretty soon the blacktop disappeared
在距離橄欖山27英里之處

看到我之前在邊上右轉的橋
I felt the car change to a lower gear
塵土覆蓋的道路引上山腰

我抵達了農舍
I took a drink of liquor
我想我曾看見過
just to chase away the chill
一位老人與他的狗倚在門旁

他們說這老人了解這片地方
I was 27 miles from Olive Hill
我告訴他：“先生，我就是不明白

怎麼這個州里的孩子們
Ahead I saw the bridge where I turned right
長大之後就搬出去了

離開了這片
A dirt road led straight up a mountainside
生他們養他們的地方？”

他說：“年輕人，你在這是沒法堅持下去的
I pulled up to a farmhouse
除非你很高興用自己的雙手努力干活
I thought I had seen before
現在哪裡還有那樣的孩子

願意留在這裡，自力更生
An old man and his dog were at the door
他們想親眼見見那些聽聞過的事物”

他說：“我獨自打理這個農場
They told me this old-timer knew this land
還能繼續，但歲月也逐漸讓我力不從心”

而後他躺在安樂椅裡凝視窗外
I told him, 'Sir, I just don't understand
把我真正想听的一一道來

“你知道嗎，孩子，人們總這麼告訴他們的子女
Why the kids in this state
'現在，我不想你必須
just grow up and move away
以我曾經努力的方式繼續勞作'

年輕人不再這麼做了，其中一些會說那是種恥辱
And leave the land where
但你得在批判它前想明白緣由
they were born and raised.'
我猜我們相談必有半天之久

直到我提出我最好啟程回家
He said, 'Son, you can't make it on this land
他握著我的手並且說道：

“很高興我遇到了你，Mr.Hall，
Unless you're happy workin' with your hands
而我想這裡再不會響起歌謠”

There ain't no kids today
that wanna stay and work it out

They wanna see the things they hear about.'

He said, 'I cleared this whole farm off myself

And I'd work it now but time has got my health.'

Then starin' out the window restin' in his easy chair

He told me what I'd really come to hear

'You know, son, people used to tell their kids

'Now, I don't want you to
have to work the way I did.'

They don't and some will tell you that it's a shame

But you have to think before you place the blame. '

I guess we must have talked for half a day

'Til I told him that I'd best be on my way

He shook my hand and said,
'I'm glad I met you, Mr. Hall

But I guess there ain't no song here after all.'