19世纪美国音乐家J·P·奥德威作有一首歌曲《梦见家和母亲》(Dreaming of Home and Mother),这首歌流传到日本后,日本音乐家犬童球溪以原歌的曲调(可能作过略微的改动),填上日文的新词,作成《旅愁》这首日文歌。1904年《旅愁》发表后,在日本被广泛流传。1905年至1910年,李叔同留学日本,故接触到了《旅愁》,他被这首歌曲的优美旋律所打动,产生了创作灵感,后于1915年在浙江省立第一师范学校任教时便以J·P·奥德威的曲调配上中文歌词,作成了在中国传颂至今的《送别》一歌。
《送别》用的是J·P·奥德威作的曲调,但李叔同本人在作词时对曲子作过少量修改,故《送别》与《梦见家和母亲》的曲子并不完全相同。在歌词上,《梦见家和母亲》、《旅愁》、《送别》则分别是三位艺术家的个人创作,是三个独立的作品,之间无直接联系;当然由于曲调的一致基础,或许在艺术神韵和表现感情上有一定的相通之处。《送别》的歌词类似中国诗词中的长短句,有古典诗词的文雅,但意思却能平白易懂;整个中文歌词与曲调结合得十分完美,几乎不能发现是谱曲后重填词的歌曲。
《送别》和《旅愁》两首歌曲在中日两国分别都广为流传直至今日,但英文的《梦见家和母亲》在美国却没有被人们记住,如今已很少有人知道。
【英文版】
Dreaming of Home and Mother,美国国会图书馆馆藏,爱迪生唱片公司出版的唱片,演唱者是 Thomas Chalmers。
Dreaming of Home and Mother
Music and words by J.P.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)
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.
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.
(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.
【日文版】旅愁Ryoshu
Live performance at Cafe de Gospel in Kyoto
更け行く秋の夜 旅の空の わびしき思いに ひとりなやむ
恋しやふるさと なつかし父母 夢路にたどるは 故郷(さと)の家路
更け行く秋の夜 旅の空の わびしき思いに ひとりなやむ
窓うつ嵐に 夢もやぶれ 遥けき彼方に こころ迷う
恋しやふるさと なつかし父母(ちちはは) 思いに浮かぶは 杜(もり)のこずえ
窓うつ嵐に 夢もやぶれ 遥けき彼方に 心まよう
【中文版】
1935年百代公司的唱片录音,演唱者:龙洵
长亭外,古道边
芳草碧连天
晚风拂柳笛声残
夕阳山外山
天之涯,地之角
知交半零落
一瓢(觚)浊酒尽余欢
今宵别梦寒
草碧色,水绿波
南浦伤如何
人生难得是欢聚
唯有别离多
情千缕,酒一杯
声声离笛催
问君此去几时来
来时莫徘徊