金曲今情 (別了~ Patti Page)

「We were waltzing together to a dreamy melody~~~ When they called out, 'Change partners'~~~~ And you waltzed away from me~~~~~ Now my arms feel so empty, as I gaze around the floor~~~ And I'll keep on changing partner till I hold you once more~~~」

「I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz~~~~  Now I know just how much I have lost~~~~ Yes, I lost my little darlin' the night they were playing~~~~ The beautiful Tennessee Waltz~~~~」

「How much is that doggie in the window?~~~~ The one with the waggley tail~~~~ How much is that doggie in the window?~~~~  I do hope that doggie's for sale~~~~」

「I went to your wedding~~~~ Although I was dreading~~ The thought of losing you~~~~~ The organ was playing my poor heart kept saying~~~~ "Your dreams, your dreams are through"~~~~~ You came down the aisle, wearing a smile~~~~~~~ A vision of loveliness I uttered a sigh, whispered goodbye~~~ Goodbye to my happiness~~~」

貓王、法蘭仙納度拉、納京高、保羅安卡、Engelbert Humperdinck、Tom Jones、Andy Williams、Tony Christie、Roger Miller、Simon and Garfunkel 等等等等，全部至愛，但「第一個接觸」的英文金曲及歌手，當然也是至愛之一，是 Patti Page，和她的「Changing Partners」。

上星期，Patti Page 走了！

不知何故，嗯，緣之使然吧，我從小就接觸各種音樂，對英文老歌金曲情有獨鍾，特別入腦。

我不是 Patti Page 那個年代。但她的歌，卻從十來歲開始伴我成長。

大約應該是中三、中四吧，那時起常「蒲」英式舊 Pub，尤其是位於蘭桂坊與雲咸街之間那經典老吧~ 「Mad Dog」，到那裡去更有如回家一樣，而那裡也是我第一次去酒吧的地方。記得，推開門，聽到酒吧內正播放著一把由低鳴沉厚，磁性又別具韻味嗓子唱出的歌~「We were waltzing together to a dreamy melody~~~ When they called out, 'change partners'~~~~ And you waltzed away from me~~~~」配合那裡，一切深木色古舊佈置，從地板、卡位、吧檯，一杯杯古銅金黃啤酒，如此，由這首「Changing Partners」，便開始了對 Patti Page 的愛上，與及和她的歌所建立的時間感情。嗯，那天那晚，我和當年四位弦樂團成員兄弟，穿梭在當年的蘭桂坊，在「Mad Dog」的露天地方唱著「You've Lost That Lov'in Feeling」和「I Went To Your Wedding」；由蘭桂坊走上堅道的天主教總堂的隧道唱著「How much is that doggie in the window? 汪！汪！」；在一起拿著小提琴在中環大會堂低座正門前拉「Por Una Cabeza」及 Patti Page 的 「Changing Partners」；一切，嗯，多麼美。

同其他人事物一樣，歌與人，都講緣份。在我生命旅程中，不少珍貴回憶都有 Patti Page 的幾首經典哼著。即使是現在進行式，仍是如此。像在澳門酒店房間的客廳中我就攬著她，唱著「Changing Partners」地跳舞。

人去歌仍在，歲月留聲，聲伴君情。以後的種種堆積情感，都與歌互相灌鑄。幾十年前她的歌聲和歌更會一直與現在及將來的日子造出段段亮金酒紅回憶。

「~~~~ Till you're in my arms, and then~~~ Oh, my darling, I will never change partners again~~~~~」