Back when I was a child, before life removed all the innocence¹,

My father would lift me high and dance with my mother and me and then

Spin² me around ´til I fell asleep.

Then up the stairs he would carry me

And I knew for sure I was loved.

If I could get another chance, another walk, another dance with him,

I´d play a song that would never, ever end.

How I´d love, love, love

To dance with my father again.

When I and my mother would disagree

To get my way, I would run from her to him.

He´d make me laugh just to comfort me,

Then finally make me do just what my mama said.

Later that night when I was asleep,

He left a dollar under my sheet,

Never dreamed that he would be gone from me.

If I could steal one final glance, one final step, one final dance with him,

I´d play a song that would never, ever end,

´Cause I´d love, love, love

To dance with my father again.

Sometimes I´d listen outside her door,

And I´d hear how my mother cried for him.

I pray for her even more than me.

I pray for her even more than me.

I know I´m praying for much too much,

But could you send back the only man she loved.

I know you don´t do it usually

But dear Lord³ she´s dying⁴.

To dance with my father again,

Every night I fall asleep and this is all I ever dream.

（一个孩子对父亲的思念）

小时候，生活还没有带走所有的天真，

爸爸常把我高高举起，跟妈妈和我跳舞，然后

抱着我旋转直到我睡着。

然后他抱我上楼，

我敢肯定，他爱着我。

如果再有一次机会，和他一起走路，和他一起跳舞，

我一定要唱一首永远永远不休止的歌。

我会多么多么多么欢喜

能和爸爸再跳一次舞。

每当妈妈不听我的话，

不答应我的要求，我就从她那里跑开去找爸爸。

他总能让我笑起来，给我安慰，

然后乖乖地照妈妈说的去做。

那一天深夜，我睡得很香，

他在我的床单下塞了一块钱，

我做梦也没想到他会从此离开我。

假如我能看他最后一眼，他最后的脚步，和他跳最后一次舞，

我一定要唱一首永远永远不休止的歌，

因为我多么多么多么欢喜

能和爸爸再跳一次舞。

有时我会在妈妈的房门外偷听，

我知道她为他哭得有多伤心。

我为自己祈祷，更为她祈祷；

我为她祈祷超过为我自己。

我知道我祈求的实在太多，

但你能不能把她爱的唯一的男人送回。

我知道你一般不这么做

可是亲爱的主啊，她快要死了。

为了和爸爸再跳一次舞，

每天晚上我都睡着，而这就是我全部的梦。

Luther Vandross

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