有人說這首歌描述的是Joan Baez 與 Bob Dylan 間的一段情。也有人說沒那回事。但我寧願相信它是真的。因為在字裡行間中敘述她對Bob Dylan的愛與怨,太感人:
哦,我的天!你的魂又出現了!
但這不奇怪
因為今天既是圓月,又接到了你的電話
坐在這,我手執著電話
聆聼著那個在數個光年以前,一度熟悉的聲音
我又一頭栽了進去
我還記得你那一對比「知了殼」還要藍的眼珠子
你曾說: 我的詩很爛
「你從那裏打來?」
「在中西部的一個電話亭中」
十年前我曾給你買了付袖扣
你也給過我一些東西
我們都知道這些記憶能帶來的是什麼….
它帶來的是些「鑽石與鐵銹」
當年,當你出現在我眼前的時候,你已經相當有名了
有著無出其右的名氣
一個不折不扣的浪子
就如此,你溜進了我的懷中
你在我的懷中待著,暫時沒有再出海流浪
對你,我是個不用你付出的聖母
是的,是那個站在貝殼上,保護著你的愛神
而如今,我又仿佛見你站在那兒
站立於枯黃的落葉之中
紛雪飄散在你的髮上
看著你,我看見你在華盛頓廣場那個破旅館的窗外笑著
我倆吐出的白霧,在空中交纏著,遊蕩著
對我来說,當時,我倆就是死了都甘心
而現在,你又說你不是一個「念舊」的人
那麼,你就幫我換個詞兒吧
你是那麼地善於遣詞
又精於那種模稜兩可的敘述
我現在就需要來段「模稜兩可」的詞
現在,我全想起來了
是的,我曾十分愛你
但如今你還要給我些「鑽石與鐵銹」的話;這筆帳,我已經付清了
Diamonds and rust Joan Baez
Well , I’ll be damned .Here comes your ghost again
But that’s not unusual
It’s just that the moon is full and you happened to call
And here I sit, hand on the telephone
Hearing a voice I’d known, a couple of light years ago Heading straight for a fall
As I remember your eyes
were bluer than robin’s eggs
My poetry was lousy, you said
“Where were you calling from?”“A booth in the Midwest“
Ten years ago I bought you some cufflinks
You brought me something
We both know what memories can bring They bring diamond and rust
Well, you burst on the scene were already a legend
The unwatched phenomenon,
the original vagabond
You strayed into my arms
And there you stayed ,temporarily lost at sea
The Madonna was yours for free
Yes, the girl on the half shell Could keep you unharmed
Now I see you standing
with brown leaves falling all around
Snow in your hair
Now you’re smiling out the window of that crummy hotel over Washington Square
Our breath comes out ,
white cloud mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me We both could’ve died then and there
Now you’re telling me you’re not nostalgic
Then give me another word for it
You who’re so good with words and at keeping thing vague
Cause I need some of that vagueness now
It’s all come back too clearly
Yes , I loved you dearly And if you’re offering me diamonds and rust
I’ve already paid
網上的版本不少。這是我最喜歡的一個:
其他演唱的版本不少,值得介紹的不多。倒是這個版本不差。團名是 Blackmore’s Night.
團長 Richie Blackmore 可是位有頭有臉的搖滾人物。容後再談。