生命是美好的 Life is fine

Life is fine

生命是美好的

——by Langston Hughes

I went down to the river,

I set down on the bank.

I tried to think but couldn't,

So I jumped in and sank.

我走到河边

又退回岸上

我怎么想也想不通

所以我纵身一跳

沉入水中

I came up once and hollered!

I came up twice and cried!

If that water hadn't a-been so cold

I might've sunk and died.

第一次爬回岸上的时候

我大喊大叫

第二次爬回岸上的时候

我哭了

如果那水不是那么冷

也许我早已成了淹死鬼

But it was Cold in that water! It was cold!

但是那水就是那么冷！水里实在是太冷了！

I took the elevator

Sixteen floors above the ground.

I thought about my baby

And thought I would jump down.

我乘电梯来到了十六层楼顶

我想了想我的孩子

然后想着我应该有勇气跳下去

I stood there and I hollered!

I stood there and I cried!

If it hadn't a-been so high

I might've jumped and died.

我站在那儿一动不动，大喊大叫

我站在那儿一动不动，又哭了起来

如果它不是那么高

也许我早就跳下去摔死了

But it was High up there! It was high!

但是它在那儿就是那么高！就是那么高！

So since I'm still here livin',

I guess I will live on.

I could've died for love--

But for livin' I was born

所以既然现在我还活着

我想我应该继续活下去

我不可能去殉情

我要好好活着，慢慢老死

Though you may hear me holler,

And you may see me cry--

I'll be dogged, sweet baby,

If you gonna see me die.

尽管你会听见我大喊大叫

看见我哭哭啼啼

我将变成一个老顽童，可爱的孩子

当你看见我死去的时候

Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!

生活是美好的！就像美酒甘露！生活是美好的！