这首我们从小学时候就开始唱的歌曲「送别」,没有人会怀疑它不是中国歌曲,事实上它的原曲是一首美国民谣,歌名為「梦见家乡与母亲」(Dreaming Home And Mother),為J.P. Ordway 所作曲。中文词為有民初才子之称的李叔同所填,因為词曲贴切,歌词意境宛如当下,就被误為中国民谣。林海音女士在其着作「城南旧事」中亦提到这首小时后唱的歌,唯其所记得的歌词為:
对比可知,李叔同的歌词与Dreaming of Home and Mother歌词没有直接关系。Dreaming of Home and Mother表达的是游子对家乡和母亲的怀恋,《送别》表达的是亲人或者友人的离愁别恨。不过也不难品出,两者在情绪上、心灵上是相通的。
那么,李叔同是什么时候接触到Dreaming of Home and Mother的?又是什么促使他在Dreaming of Home and Mother的曲调上填写了《送别》的歌词?李叔同英文很好,早就接触西方文化,应有可能直接移植Dreaming of Home and Mother的曲调。但据李叔同生平研究者考证,李叔同在Dreaming of Home and Mother的曲调上填写《送别》,是经过一个中间环节的。这个环节与李叔同留学日本有关。李叔同传记作者陈星先生指出,Dreaming of Home and Mother传入日本后,一个叫做犬童球溪的日本人给这首歌填写了新词《旅愁》,正在日本留学的李叔同又受《旅愁》的影响,写了《送别》。这个说法大体不错,但在细节上存有错漏。
Dreaming of Home and Mother By Ordway
Dreaming of home,dear old home! Home of my childhood and mother; Oft when I wake 'tis sweet to find, I've been dreaming of home and mother; Home,Dear home,childhood happy home, When I played with sister and with brother, 'Twas the sweetest joy when we did roam, Over hill and thro' dale with mother.
(Chorus) Dreaming of home,dear old home, Home of my childhood and mother; Oft when I wake 'tis sweet to find, I've been dreaming of home and mother.
Sleep balmy sleep,close mine eyes, Keep me still thinking of mother; Hark! 'tis her voice I seem to hear. Yes,I'm dreaming of home and mother. Angels come,soothing me to rest, I can feel their presence and none other; For they sweetly say I shall be blest; With bright visions of home and mother.
(Chorus)
Childhood has come,come again, Sleeping I see my dear mother; See her loved form beside me kneel While I'm dreaming of home and mother. Mother dear,whisper to me now, Tell me of my sister and my brother; Now I feel thy hand upon my brow, Yes,I'm dreaming of home and mother.