Albert Hammond 1944 年出生於英國倫敦,是位極成功的作曲家歌手,在發行個人專輯之前,就曾經為多位藝人寫過許多首暢銷曲,他的作品曾被灌錄為英語和西班牙語,風行於歐、亞、美三大洲,年代從六十年代至今橫跨四十年,最近的一張專輯發行於 2005 年。資深樂友或許還記得以下這些著名的作品:Leo Sayer 的” When I need you “、The Hollies 的” The air that I breath ”、Starship 的" Nothing's gonna stop us now "、Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias 的" To all the girls I've loved before "等。Albert Hammond直到 1973 年,才發行他的個人首張專輯,裡面出現了一首暢銷單曲" It never rains in southern California 南加州從來不下雨 "。他回憶起寫這首歌時說道:
寫這首歌時是在倫敦,當時我和作詞搭檔 Mike Hazelwood 麥克黑佐伍德計劃前往洛杉磯發展,我聊起了自己在西班牙的遭遇。當時的我才剛起步,窮到沒錢吃飯,又不肯向父母討救兵,只好在火車站外面向人乞討。正巧我的表哥在西班牙度蜜月,在火車站遇見他時,我根本不敢相信自己的眼睛。他鄉遇見親人,我當然跟他開口要錢,他說:你應該覺得很丟臉,我要告訴你父親。我哀求道:拜託別說出去,他要是知道了鐵定抓狂,而且會阻止我留在這裡。然後,表哥帶我到旅館梳洗換裝,又給了我一些錢,然後我便離開了。
後來表哥回美國後,還是把事情告訴了我父親。所以這首歌的歌詞雖然把場景搬移到了美國,但" Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it "等幾句歌詞,就是我當年奮鬥的心情寫照,而我從摩洛哥到西班牙,從西班牙到英國,又從英國到美國發展,這首歌對我可說別具意義。
這首歌發行後反應甚佳,共售出百萬張單曲唱片,也是Albert Hammond自己演唱的作品中最受推崇的歌曲。
It never rains in California--Albert Hammond
Got on board a westbound 747 搭上往西飛行的(波音)747飛機
Didn't think before deciding what to do 下決定以前,並未仔細思考
Oh, that talk of opportunities, 大家都說那裡的工作機會很多,
TV breaks and movies 可以演電視、拍電影
Rang true, sure rang true 傳言是如此真實
Seems it never rains in southern California 南加州似乎從來不下雨
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before 從前好像常常聽到人們這麼說
It never rains in California 南加州從來不下雨
But girl don't they warn ya 但是女孩,沒人會警告你
It pours, man it pours 大雨下著,傾盆而下
Out of work, I'm out of my head 失去工作,我四神無主
Out of self respect, I'm out of bread 沒有尊嚴,沒有糧食
I'm under loved, I'm underfed 沒人關心,營養不良
I wanna go home 我想回家
It never rains in California 南加州從來不下雨
But girl don't they warn ya 但是女孩,沒人會警告你
It pours, man it pours 大雨下著,傾盆而下
Will you tell the folks back home 回家鄉後,可否請妳告訴鄉親們
I nearly made it 我就快成功了
Had offers but don't know which one to take 資源充沛,不知該選擇哪一個
Please don't tell them how you found me 請別告訴他們你是怎麼找到我的
Don't tell them how you found me 別告訴他們你是怎麼找到我的
Give me a break, give me a break 饒了我,請饒了我
Seems it never rains in southern California 南加州似乎從來不下雨
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before 從前好像常常聽到人們這麼說
It never rains in California 南加州從來不下雨
But girl don't they warn ya 但是女孩,沒人會警告你
It pours, man it pours 大雨下著,傾盆而下
"It isn't easy to say goodbye
I try to understand the reason why
My body is shaking
My heart is aching within me
From my window I watch you go
He's waiting for you in the street below
His arms wide open while mine are cold and so empty
'Cause your world and my world they're drifted apart
In yours the sun is shining
In mine it's raining
Knocking on the lonely one
And your life and my life they've gone separated ways
In yours a new tomorrow
In mine the sorrow
Knocking on the lonely one
Through the teardrops that cloud my eyes
I see the image of the love gone by
A silhouette that I won't forget for a long time
The days are longer now that you're gone
Without your loving arms to keep me whole
My future lies on a cloudy skies with no sunshine
'Cause your world and my world they're drifted apart
In yours the sun is shining
In mine it's raining
Knocking on the lonely one
'Cause your world and my world they're drifted apart
In yours the sun is shining
In mine it's raining
Knocking on the lonely one
And your life and my life they've gone separated ways
In yours a new tomorrow
In mine the sorrow
Knocking on the lonely one"