小農夫冒險記 - Don't Tell Me To Do The Math

小農夫Los Campesinos!冒險記第三彈，要來介紹另一首Los Campesinos!早期的作品，可以在這兩張單曲作品中發現，分別是最多人知道的Sticking Fingers Into Sockets EP，另一個是You! Me! Dancing!單曲內找到。依照慣例，下面還是要介紹一下小農夫的簡單介紹。

來自於Cardiff大學的七人大編制獨立樂團Los Campesinos!，這個愉快又有點神經質唱腔的indie punk band，團員每個人的藝名很有趣，是把本來每個團員的名字，接上團名當做姓氏，這樣一來他們就像是個瘋狂的大家庭一樣，在台上盡興的各司其職。這個樂團最大的特色就是保有著龐客樂團給人的精力充沛感，Los Campesinos!又有一種花草系列的可愛感，加上受到80年代紅極一時的Tweepop曲風的雙主唱編制，以及融入小提琴與鐵琴的樂器組合，是個非常有趣的樂團。



上面放的影片，是Los Campesinos!在2009年在美國巡迴時錄製的現場片段，是我查過最完整、音質在可接受範圍內的最佳版本，在Los Campesinos!第一張正式的專輯發售後，他們開始準備要進軍美國市場。一般來說，在英國本土受歡迎的英國獨立樂團，登陸美國後常會發現美國人的接受程度，不如在英國獲得的掌聲要來的多，這個大西洋還是讓兩地的音樂品味相差許多。

當初覺得這首歌有趣，是因為在歌詞裡頭，有一句歌詞在Gareth唱起來，非常像是在說：「我們玩麻將...」之類的話，我整個嚇了一大跳，想說原來英國的大學生也會打麻將啊，原來中華文化在Cardiff這麼威！？後來看了歌詞之後才知道，歌詞原來是說「我們秘密地計畫一場對市政府的遊行（We plot our march onto the town hall）」，整個大誤解，但是也對這首歌產生了非常鮮明的印象，那首關於麻將的歌...（大誤）。



但是歌詞也相當的有趣，一開始就威脅對方說，想要賣你雜誌的話，你就要瘋狂愛上文學的世界！！可是又不准對方讀簡愛（Jane Eyre），還要求對方要認真讀代數（algebra），接著還站在雨中淋雨之類等等瘋狂行為，是個標準秘密結社劇情的歌詞。而且在這段影片的快結尾時，Gareth的帶動唱動作也相當的好笑，講到sleep還要擺出裝睡的動作。唔！突然發現這是只有迷弟迷妹，才會認為有趣的笑點，一般人只會用鼻孔出氣冷眼旁觀而已，但是歌曲很好聽，請不要因為一個迷弟的行為不喜歡這首歌。



歌詞

We know that we could sell your magazines
If only you would give your life to literature just
Don't read Jane Eyre!
Work on your algebra
And stand out in the rain
And give yourself to simple pleasures but
Never play card games!
Meanwhile, back at home
Not in communist Russia
Well only on my headphones
We plot our march onto the town hall
And if we'd take prisoners
Or simply simper at those fools

Please don't tell me to do the math
Please don't tell me to do the math

Tonight we're gonna smash this place up
And then we're gonna deck it out with fairy lights till
We are content!
And then we'll maybe drown in Dewey decimals
But leave our shoes off at the door 'cause
That was the point!
Of us at home with the moon
Pouring through the curtains
Working on our attitude
Towards the second hand book shop employees
Reading the inscriptions
That were never meant for their eyes

Please don't tell me to do the math
Please don't tell me to do the math

Please don't tell me to do the math
Please don't tell me to do the math

I'm stitching up each one of your pockets
So when we are together you'll maybe look a little less bored
I'm sticking your fingers into sockets
To kick-start your little heart and maybe sleep a tiny bit more
Oh maybe we should read more into the books that we adore
Perhaps we should drink less vitamin C
And now I'm shouting out in capital letters
"I WILL THROW YOU HIGH FIVES IF YOU KEEP YOUR OWN SECRETS!!"