VOA慢速英語:很受歡迎的圣誕歌：白色圣誕節(jié)

This is Steve Ember with a VOA Special English holiday program.

這里是美國之音慢速英語假日特別節(jié)目，我是Steve Ember。

Music fills the air. Colorful lights shine brightly in windows. Children and adults open gifts from loved ones and friends. These are all Christmas traditions.

音樂充滿了空氣，彩燈照亮了窗戶。大人小孩拆開親朋送的禮物。這些都是圣誕節(jié)的傳統(tǒng)。

Another tradition is snow. Christmas in the northern part of the world comes a few days after the start of winter. In many places, a blanket of clean white snow covers the ground on Christmas Day. This is what is meant by a "White Christmas."

另一個傳統(tǒng)是大雪。北半球的圣誕節(jié)在冬至后數(shù)日來臨。很多地方在圣誕節(jié)時，潔白的雪毯覆蓋著大地。這就是所謂的“白色圣誕節(jié)”。

Of course, many places do not get snow at Christmas. In fact, they may be very warm this time of year. People who like snow, but live where it is warm, can only dream of having a white Christmas.

當然，很多地方圣誕節(jié)不會下雪。事實上，它們在每年這個時候可能會很暖和。喜歡雪但住在暖和地方的人只能夢想擁有一個白色圣誕節(jié)。

American songwriter Irving Berlin captured these feelings in his song, "White Christmas." It is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time.

美國作詞家Irving Berlin在他的歌曲“White Christmas”捕捉到了這種感受。這首歌一直是最流行的圣誕歌之一。

The opening words explain why the singer is dreaming of a white Christmas. Most people never hear these words so they never really understand the true meaning of the song. Here’s how it starts:

音樂開始前的獨白解釋了作者為什么會夢想過一個白色圣誕節(jié)。許多人沒聽過這段獨白，所以他們從未真正了解這首歌的確切含義。它的獨白是這樣的：

The sun is shining.

陽光明媚

The grass is green.

綠草青青

The orange and palm trees sway.

柑橘樹和棕櫚樹隨風起舞

I’ve never seen such a day in Beverly Hills, L.A.

我在洛杉磯比佛利山莊就沒見過這么好的天氣

But it’s December the twenty-fourth

但今天是12月24日

And I’m longing to be up north.

我渴望到北方

Up north, where it is cold and snowy.

北方寒冷多雪

Not south, where it is warm and sunny.

不像南方溫暖又陽光充足

Over the years, hundreds of singers and musicians have recorded "White Christmas." But the version most people still know best was sung by Bing Crosby.

長年累月，數(shù)百位歌手和音樂家錄制了“白色圣誕節(jié)”這首歌。但多數(shù)人最熟悉的還是Bing Crosby演唱的版本。

Songwriter Irving Berlin was born in Russia in eighteen eighty-eight. He did not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. He was Jewish.

作詞家Irving Berlin于1888年出生在俄羅斯。他是猶太人，并未把圣誕節(jié)當作宗教節(jié)日來慶祝。

But his song celebrates an idea of peace and happiness that anyone, anywhere -- snowy or not -- can enjoy.

但他的歌詞傳頌了一種任何地方、任何人都會喜歡的和平、幸福的理念，不管那地方下不下雪。

To all of you, best wishes this holiday season from all of us in VOA Special English. This is Steve Ember.

美國之音全體工作人員向大家致以最誠摯的節(jié)日祝福。我是Steve Ember。