Evita是阿根廷前总统贝隆的夫人,她出生贫寒,做过舞女和影视演员,她靠姿色和手腕成为贝隆夫人后,为阿根廷的社会、劳工、医疗等方面均作出过卓越的贡献,逝世时年仅33岁。贝隆夫人的传奇经历一向是剧作家非常感兴趣的题材,1976年,韦伯首先推出了由朱丽叶·科文顿(Julie Covington)演唱的单曲《阿根廷别为我哭泣》(Don't Cry for Me Argentina),随着这首歌的轰动,由寇姆韦尔金森加盟的唱片随即发行,而且不出意料地广受欢迎。1978年,在万千音乐剧迷的企盼下,《贝隆夫人》在伦敦爱德华王子剧院正式上演,创下了连演八年的惊人纪录。次年9月,它又登上了百老汇的舞台,拉开了英国音乐剧攻陷百老汇的序幕。
1996年由麦当娜、班德拉斯和普莱斯主演的电影版本中,其中移植了舞台剧的所有歌曲。正如《万世巨星》被宗教人士认为贬低耶稣一样,这部电影由于描写了贝隆夫人早年的风尘生涯,在开拍时就遭到了阿根廷群众的抗议和抵制,再加上导演挑选以性感出位的表演而闻名的歌星麦当娜来出演阿根廷的国母,更是屡遭非议。后来的事实证明,麦当娜的演出风格无损于她对角色的精当把握,也不会遏制她的艺术天分和敬业精神,尽管韦伯为适应麦当娜的音域特地把《阿根廷别为我哭泣》降了几度,但她的演绎自然贴切,歌声真切感人,不但在拍摄时感动了全体摄制组,还使了整个阿根廷完全接受了麦当娜扮演的这个角色,为这首名曲增添了新的光彩。麦当娜也因此获得当年金球奖最佳女主角奖。
《Don't Cry for Me Argentina》中英双语歌词:
It won't be easy,you'll think it strange
这不容易,你也许好奇
When I try to explain how I feel
让我敞开心扉
That I still need your love, after all that I've done
即使事到如今,我仍需要你的爱
You won't believe me
你不会相信我
All you will see is a girl you once knew
你眼中的我依然是你初识时的摸样
Although she's dressed up to the nines
只不过衣锦华裳 (be dressed up to the nines 穿华丽的衣裳)
At sixes and sevens with you
只不过曾经失和 (at sixes and sevens 乱七八糟,不和)
I had to let it happen, I had to change
我必须出走,我必须改变
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
我不能一生潦倒 (down at heel 鞋后跟破损的,意思指贫穷、邋遢)
Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun
不想旁观,不想在阴影中躲藏 (stay out of 不参与,置之度外)
So I chose freedom
所以我选择自由
Running around trying,everything new
四处奔走,尝试一切
But nothing impressed me at all
但是没有什么让我留恋 (impress 印,留下印象)
I never expected it too
失我所望
Don't cry for me Argentina
阿根廷,不要为我哭泣
The truth is I never left you
我从未将你背弃
All through my wild days
纵使花天酒地
My mad existence
纵使狂野不羁
I kept my promise
但我谨记我的的诺言
Don't keep your distance
不要离我远去 (keep one's distance 保持疏远)
And as for fortune, and as for fame
对于财富和声誉
I never invited them in
我从未汲汲以求
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired
尽管世人以为我追名逐利
They are illusions
人生如梦
They're not the solutions they promised to be
名利转眼成空
The answer was here all the time
至始至终唯一长存——
I love you and hope you love me
你我相濡以沫
Don't cry for me argentina
阿根廷,不要为我哭泣
The truth is I never left you
我从未将你背弃
All through my wild days
纵使花天酒地
My mad existence
纵使狂野不羁
I kept my promise
但谨记我的的诺言
Don't keep your distance
不要离我远去
Have I said too much
千言万语
There's nothing more I can think of to say to you
尽在无言中
But all you have to do is look at me
望穿秋水
To know that every word is true
笃信箴言