The Wayfaring Stranger

鸟儿在海上此起彼伏，盘旋不断，慢慢聚拢又突然散开，往远处飞去。彼时，一根羽毛一摇一曳，随风飘荡，不知风儿将它吹往何方？而我，却不知身往何处？
Birds, they wheel in slow circles, then suddenly swoop and soar up again, flapping their wings. Moving against the sky and the sea, they fly far far away. A feather floats in the air, following the wind to anywhere. Where is it blowing? And where I am going?

以上是听完了Ashley和Troy共同演绎的一首歌曲而留下的感悟。他们分别饰演了Ellie与 Joel这两位主角，该角色来自顽皮狗工作室开发的最富盛名、满分神作之一的动作冒险生存恐怖游戏——《美国末日》（又名《最后的生还者》）。时隔多年，即将发布续作，早在16年的12月，我曾在订阅号中对其续作预告片的歌曲《Through The Valley》进行过赏析，童鞋们可以先阅读我早期文章来了解故事背景。
That’s what I felt as I listened to the song played and sung by both Ashley and Troy. They are actors for those two protagonists Ellie and Joel from an action-adventure survival horror video game developed by Naughty Dog. The Last of Us is one of the famous game and has been honored with perfect scores. And now, here comes Part II. In Dec. 2016, I wrote an article to appreciate the song, or “Through The Valley” in Part II’s trailer. For readers, you could read my former article to understand the game and the story better if you like to.

此次的歌曲则更胜一筹，顽皮狗有意安排让两位在索尼的PlayStation Experience，即PSX 2017游戏展会上共同演唱，为《美国末日2》留下了深深的悬念。精心制作堪比演唱会，区区一款游戏却如此讲究，他们不是在制作游戏，而是在创作着自己的艺术品，好似被注入了灵魂让你深感共鸣。
And now this song is way better than the first song in the trailer. Naughty Dog arranged for a live one by having two actors sung together at the PSX 2017. This live show could hold a candle to a real concert. The developer’s not make the video games, they are creating artwork of their own. As if they’ve put their own souls in it to boost your feelings.

一起来欣赏两位主角的深情演绎吧：
Let’s enjoy the song by those two actors.

(下方有我听译的歌词及歌曲赏析便于大家更好的理解)
(There’s the lyrics I’ve interpreted below and the appreciation of the song for better understanding.)

歌词 | Lyrics:
听译：BubbleSwan | Interpreted by BubbleSwan

[Ashley(Ellie)唱 | Ashley(Ellie) Sings]
我只是一个在外漂泊的旅人，哀鸿遍野
I’m just a poor wayfaring stranger
穿越这一世界末日，天愁地惨
Traveling through this world of woe
明亮之地我一心向往
There is no sickness, no toil, nor danger
因为那儿安然无恙、舒适安逸、毫无危险
In that bright land to which I go
我，将与我的母亲重逢
I’m going there to see my Mother
而她早已在那儿默默等待
She said she’d meet me when I come
苟延残喘，我一步又一步
I’m just going over Jordan
因为，我只想“回家”
I’m just going over home

我知道，乌云袭来即将笼罩于我
I know dark clouds will gather around me
我也知晓，我这条路充满崎岖、坎坎坷坷
I know my way is rough and steep
然而前方优美迷人、霞光万道
But beauteous fields lie just before me
在那儿，救世主们熬更守夜、静默祈祷
Where God’s redeemed, their vigils keep
我就要与我的父亲团聚
I’m going there to see my Father
那时，我将不再四处游荡
I’m going there no more to roam
苟延残喘，我一步又一步
So I’m just going over Jordan
因为，我只想“回家”
I’m just going over home

[Troy(Joel)唱 | Troy(Joel) Sings]
不久，我将在这恩赐中懈怠而下
I’ll soon be free from earth’s triumph
身躯则在破旧不堪的教堂院外休憩
This body rests in the old churchyard
我将摒弃那克己的信仰
I’ll drop this cross of self-denial
在一片上帝的歌颂中
In those singing home to God
与我的救世主再会
I’m going there to see my savior
那时，我将不再四海飘零
I’m going there no more to roam
苟延残喘，我一步又一步
I’m just going over Jordan
因为，我只想“回家”
I’m just going over home

[合唱 | Chorus]
苟延残喘，我一步又一步
I’m just going over Jordan
我只想——“回家”
I’m just going over home
我只想……
I’m just going…

歌曲赏析 | Music Appreciation:
这一歌词源自一首早期19世纪脍炙人口的美国乡村与福音歌《The Wayfaring Stranger》，又名《Poor Wayfaring Stranger》亦或《I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger》，映射了一位哀伤的灵魂，一位垂死挣扎的旅人摒弃周围的战乱，踏上去天堂的路与家人团聚，直至生命的终结。这首歌曲被许多艺人翻唱，歌词也有多个版本，其中我觉得最为耐人寻味的，要数经典电影《冷山》中Jack White翻唱的版本，很好的诠释了电影的主题。
The lyrics are from a well-known American folk and gospel song likely originating in the early 19th century. The song is “The Wayfaring Stranger” (also known as “Poor Wayfaring Stranger” or “I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger”), implying a dying man, a plaintive soul leaves turmoil behind to see his family on the journey through life. The song has been covered by many artists, and many variations of the lyrics exist. One of the best version, I think, could be from a noted movie, Cold Mountain that sang by Jack White.

现在回到这首歌曲，歌词也修改了几处以应景，加之重新编排的吉他配乐，更让人意味深长。闭眼细听，1代中的情节在脑海中闪现，历历在目。歌曲前奏，指尖轻柔划过吉他的琴弦拉开序幕，正当回味之时，一阵和弦划破空气，随即伴随着配乐Ashley的歌声渗透进来，瞬间贯穿整个现场角落。两位演唱者不愧是主角演员，将自己的角色也很好的融入其中，不论是表情还是歌声好似他们就是Ellie与Joel谱写着自己的一生，苦雨凄风。
Let’s get back to the song now. To fit the game, some words of the lyrics have been changed. The incidental music is recomposed as well. So, it really hits the moment when you listen to it as you close your eyes while the image of the game stories appears. To begin with, the pick slides over the strings of the guitar. When you collect your thoughts, a low-pitched chord is strummed in the air. Then Ashley sings. The room fills with her song slowly. Looking at their performance, not only their expressions but also the music indicates that as if they were Ellie and Joel to compose the very songs of their own for their tragic lives.

该歌曲的翻译是一大难点，不能过多直译，里面有许多内涵之意、宗教与习语，并且得符合游戏的主题，遂我的译本是听了一遍又一遍，细细品味后的产物，融合了对其游戏的理解与西方的文化而翻译的版本。游戏迷们都知道，死亡贯穿了整个《美国末日》的基调，病毒导致人类生存面临困境，时不时身边就有人死亡或变异，Ellie不仅要提防人性的自相残杀，还得在末日中苟且偷生，为此“安然无恙、舒适安逸、毫无危险的明亮之地是她一心向往的地方”，而那一地方预示着天堂，也暗示了第二部中Ellie有可能会死亡。歌词中“我将与我的母亲重逢，而她早已在那儿默默等待；苟延残喘，我一步又一步，因为，我只想‘回家’”，“Going See One’s Father/Mother, No More to Roam, Going Over Jordan, Going Over Home”则为习语即表示日薄西山，驾鹤西去也再次强调了死亡，隐喻了Ellie与她去世的父母相聚。
The translation for this song is a killer. I have to understand the game itself, the culture, the idioms, and the religion of the western Country by reviewing the online documents and listening the song over and over again. We, fan of The Last of Us, all know that death is a main theme in the game. The virus ravages the human existence, transforming its human hosts into monsters. There’s always dead people or infected one around. Ellie has to survive this post-apocalyptic world as well as to beware of not being get killed by human nature. That’s why Ashley sings “There is no sickness, no toil, nor danger in that bright land to which I go.” And that bright land probably means heaven, implying that Ellie may go to paradise in the Part II. The lyrics “I’m going there to see my Mother. She said she’d meet me when I come. I’m just going over Jordan. I’m just going over home.” enhances the death once more in which there’s four idioms in it, including “Going See One’s Father/Mother, No More to Roam, Going over Jordan and Going Over Home”. That may saying Ellie would be united with her dead parents finally.

歌词“我知道，乌云袭来即将笼罩于我；我也知晓，我这条路充满崎岖、坎坎坷坷。然而前方优美迷人、霞光万道，在那儿，救世主们熬更守夜、静默祈祷”，游戏剧情中Ellie一路上经历了生死，在被咬后一起与好友Riley等死，却目睹了好友的死亡，而发现自身具有免疫抗体，却还得在这末日中一惊一乍、度日如年，彼时她觉得死亡才是最美丽的，或许在那时她才觉得真正的回到了家，魂魄才能得到安宁。
“I know dark clouds will gather round me. I know my way is rough and steep. But beauteous fields lie just before me where God’s redeemed, their vigils keep” – In the game storyline, Ellie has been through a lot, fighting to survive every day. Having been bitten, her friend Riley and she waited for death to find them. However, she found herself that she’s immune to that kind virus, and had to see her friend dying on her side. She survived, and had to fight again at the end of world. That time hung heavy for her. Somehow, she may think death is the most beautiful thing. Maybe, at that moment, she finally could feel home sweet home, and her soul could rest in peace.

下半段Troy的歌词内容偏于宗教，歌词“不久，我将在这恩赐中懈怠而下；身躯则在破旧不堪的教堂院外休憩，我将摒弃那克己的信仰；在一片上帝的歌颂中，与我的救世主再会。”，其中“恩赐”可以看作上帝给予Ellie自身的病毒抗体，或许可以拯救整个人类，然而在剧情末尾，Joel不想看到Ellie被摧残受苦，为此没有交给Fireflies组织提取她的抗体作为研究，而这一点他很是内疚，或许才有了这段话，喻意了他很快能从这内疚中解脱出来。歌词内的宗教色彩，内心的罪过让Joel想着去救赎，去见自己的救世主，也就是上帝，预示了天堂。虽然剧情中未告知Joel是否信奉上帝，可是这一句“我将摒弃那克己的信仰”，暗示了他还是有宗教信仰，但面对世界末日，他的信仰也随之开始动摇，是追随上帝还是为了自己而活？这是一个困难的抉择。不过最后也提到了“No More to Roam, Go Over Jordan, Go Over Home”，隐喻了死亡对于Joel来说早已不再是死亡，更多的是“回家”，是自我赎罪。
For Troy’s verse, there’s strongly religious. As to first lines “I’ll soon be free from earth’s triumph. This body rests in the old church yard. I’ll drop this cross of self-denial. In those singing home to God, I’m going there to see my savior”, in which “earth’s triumph” may infer Ellie’s immunity for the virus as if God’s gift that would be a cure to save the whole humanity. However, Joel didn’t want Ellie to be suffered by being an experiment of the group called Fireflies. Instead he saved Ellie and killed the leader of the Fireflies. And Joel was guilty of that, but will soon be free from that guilt. He try to redeem himself by seeing his savior. For savior means God, which reckons heaven. Joel has never really confirmed he’s a religious man, but this line “I’ll drop this cross of self-denial” saying he may be one of them. But at the end of the world, his conviction starts shaking. To follow God or to save himself? It’s a tough choice. Nevertheless, these three idioms “No More to Roam, Go Over Jordan, Go Over Home” suggest that death is no longer death, for Joel, it’s more like home, a way of redemption.

合唱部分歌词再次重复了每段落的末尾两句“苟延残喘，我一步又一步；我只想‘回家’；我只想……”，或许这便是顽皮狗告诉我们的是——第二部的Ellie和Joel在向我们告别，很有可能是一部收官之作。最后一句却没有唱完，好一句“我只想……”，像是一杯咖啡，苦涩之后，回味无穷。整首歌带着一丝淡淡的忧伤，彼时，却牵引着听者飘向远方，视线也开始依稀模糊——家，我要回家。
The chorus verse “I’m just going over Jordan. I’m just going over home. I’m just going…” may tell us that Ellie and Joel are saying goodbye to us in Part II, and that may be the last one for Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us. And the last line “I’m just going…” seems not finished singing, but that’s really a good ending as if a cup of coffee leaves a strong aftertaste while it tastes bitter at first. With sorrow in it, the song takes listeners’ ears to a place far away. Meanwhile, the sight starts blurring – home indeed. I’m going over home.

附上我的知识补充，以加深大家对于歌词中宗教的理解：
Allow me to add definitions for some phrase to grasp the meanings of religious words in the lyrics:

I 横渡约旦河 | Going Over Jordan
喻示驾鹤归西；去见天堂。圣经中的一卷书Hebrews箴言11:16中写道：我们创造了上帝的基督教徒，找寻着只有我们才知晓的应许之地。带着信仰穿越生命的荒芜之地，因为只有信奉上帝才能找到这“应许之地”。而那遥远的地方称之为天堂，正等待着上帝之子的到来。但是，要想到达这一“应许之地”，我们必须要有一个仪式，即跨过一条“河”，一条又冷又宽的河流。这条“河”称之为死亡。
It means dying (and presumably going to heaven). we as Christians, who make up the people of God today, are looking for a distant land of promise that we have only heard of. As we travel through the wilderness of life we cling to this land by faith because this “promised land” is an expectation that comes from believing in God. Heaven is its name, and it’s waiting for God’s people (Hebrews 11:16). But before we enter this “promised land” a rite of passage must be experienced – a “river” has to be crossed; this river is a cold river; this river is a wide river; and this river is an intimidating river, to say the least. This “river” is called death.

II 守夜 | Keep Vigil
倘若有人在守夜，或在别处守夜，意味着他们在那里会默默地待上一段时间，尤其在夜晚，往往在祷告着、祈求着，亦或在进行一场政治抗议。歌曲中则很显然，喻指祈祷。
If someone keeps a vigil or keeps vigil somewhere, they remain there quietly for a period of time, especially at night, for example, because they are praying or are making a political protest. And from the song, it apparently indicates praying.

III 克己 | Self-denial
圣经卷书Mark箴言8:34写道：“任何想要追随我的人，他都必须自我否定，之后才能拿起十字架跟随于我。”克己表明了信奉上帝，自己早已忘我。传达了个人心中只有上帝，一旦跟随着他，所有的道路将不再崎岖不平。为此，“克己”意味着跟随上帝，紧紧尾随于他……
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Self-denial means knowing only Christ, and no longer oneself. It means seeing only Christ, who goes ahead of us, and no longer the path that is too difficult for us. Again, self-denial is saying only: He goes ahead of us; hold fast to him…

基督教徒认为十字架是一种赎罪、宽恕、优雅与爱的象征，然而在耶稣日，却传达了死亡，痛苦又惨烈。因为在早期，罗马迫使认罪的犯人背着自己的十字架上刑场，即钉十字架。那时，携带着十字架则表示一种刑行道具，承载着它走向死亡。
Christians view the cross as a cherished symbol of atonement, forgiveness, grace, and love. But in Jesus day, the cross represented nothing but torturous death. Because the Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place of crucifixion, bearing a cross meant carrying their own execution device while facing ridicule along the way to death.

因此“拿起你的十字架，跟随于我”预示了他人为了跟从耶稣，已准备好面临死亡。这便称之为“自我灭亡”，是一种绝对顺从投降的抉择。因为在圣经卷书Luke箴言9:24-25中诠释道：每逢耶稣命令其背负十字架的时候，他会说：“任何人只要为了救自己，那会丢失十字架，而那些为我奉献生命者将留存下来。对于一个人来说，因罪过而失去自我，甚至自我否定，却最终获得整个世界，这有什么不好么?”显然，虽然抉择艰难，但是回报却无法比拟。
Therefore, “Take up your cross and follow Me” means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus. This is called “dying to self.” It’s a call to absolute surrender. After each time Jesus commanded cross bearing, He said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:24-25). Although the call is tough, the reward is matchless.

圣经卷书Luke箴言14:27补充：向上帝自我否定，这就要求你每日携带十字架，放弃希望、梦想、财富，甚至必要的话，为了上帝奉献自己的生命。只有当你完完全全自愿拿起十字架后，你才能称之为上帝的信徒。
Commitment to Christ means taking up your cross daily, giving up your hopes, dreams, possessions, even your very life if need be for the cause of Christ. Only if you willingly take up your cross may you be called His disciple (Luke 14:27).

阅读完我的歌曲赏析，各位是否很期待《美国末日》的续作呢？因为一贯是PS4独占，为此我等待着过场剧情当电影看了。另外，这歌曲其实最原本的含义——回家。快过年了，期望大家快快回家，与家人团聚吧。家之完善，不在于名贵的布置摆设，而在于以和为贵的家人。
How are you holding up? Can’t wait for the Last of Us Part II? For PS4 only, so I’m looking forward to watching the whole story cutscenes as if enjoy a great movie. Anyway, this song has its original profound meanings that going home. So, our Chinese Spring Festival is around the corner, it’s time for you to head back home, to get together with your beloved families. A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit. Home only can be completed by families, not by expensive decorations.

撰写/编译：BubbleSwan
Writings/ Translations by BubbleSwan

Click here to read more: Song “The Wayfaring Stranger“ from The Last of Us Part II