起源於19世紀末的藍調音樂(Blues)，這麼多年來經由音樂人的創意與多元發展，繁衍出超多的分支與流派。像是加入爵士樂(Jazz)的節奏藍調(R&B)，結合福音音樂(Gospel music)的靈魂樂(Soul music)，或是融入美國民謠(American folk music)的鄉村音樂(Country music)等。
而這些分支與流派之間又可以相互融合，創造出更多新的曲風。這篇文章要介紹的「Have You Seen Her」是一首嘻哈靈魂樂(Hip hop soul)代表作品，顧名思義就是融合了嘻哈(Hip hop)與靈魂樂；兩種看似風格迥異的曲風，沒想到結合在一起會有如此美妙的反差感，讓我很喜歡。
Have You Seen Her的原唱是活躍於70年代初的美國靈魂樂與R&B合唱團體「The Chi-Lites」(芝加哥之光)。這首歌收錄在他們1971年發行的第三張專輯「(For God’s Sake) Give More Power to the People」，當年拿下了Billboard熱門R&B/Hip-Hop榜的冠軍，百大單曲榜則是季軍。
知名的嘻哈歌手「MC Hammer」在1990年發行的第三張、也是生涯最成功的專輯「Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em」裡改編翻唱了這首歌。這是樂史銷量最高的嘻哈曲風專輯，不但賣破了1800萬張，還蟬聯Billboard專輯榜21周冠軍，而Have You Seen Her也攻上了Billboard百大單曲榜第4名。
The Chi-Lites的原版Have You Seen Her有著濃濃的靈魂樂風，而MC Hammer的翻唱版本則是將節奏與歌詞改編得更有嘻哈的味道；對我這個藍調迷來說，兩個版本都一樣好聽。
The Chi-Lites的原版(MC Hammer改編翻唱的版本在第2頁，頁次選單在最下方)
Have You Seen Her的歌詞與中文翻譯(MC Hammer版本的歌詞與中文翻譯在第2頁，頁次選單在最下方)：
One month ago today
一個月前的今天
I was happy as a lark
我高興地像隻百靈鳥似的
But now I go for walks
但現在我卻老是獨自散步
To the movies, maybe to the park
可能去看場電影，或者去一下公園
And have a seat on the same old bench
依舊坐在那張舊長椅上
To watch the children play, huh
看著孩子們玩耍
You know, tomorrow is their future
如你所知，每個明天都是這些孩子們的未來
But to me just another day
但對我來說就只是又過了一天罷了
They all gather around me
孩子們全跑來聚集在我身邊
They seem to know my name
他們似乎知道我的名字
We laugh, tell a few jokes
我們歡笑著，講幾個笑話
But it still doesn’t ease my pain
但這依然無法減輕我的痛苦
Well, I know I can’t hide from a memory
好吧，我知道我不能躲在回憶裡
‘Though day after day I’ve tried
之前總是日復一日地試著
I keep sayin’ she’ll be back
老是騙自己她會回來
But today again I lied
結果今天我又對自己撒謊了
Oh, I see her face everywhere I go
哦，我到哪兒都能看到她的臉
On the street and even at the picture show
在街頭甚至在畫展上
Have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Tell me, have you seen her?
告訴我，你見過她嗎
Oh, I hear her voice as the cold winds blow
哦，我聽到她的聲音像冷風吹過
In the sweet music on my radio
在我收音機悅耳的音樂裡
Have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Tell me, have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Why, oh why
為什麼，哦為什麼
Did she have to leave and go away, oh yeah
她有必須要離開的理由嗎
Oh, I’ve been used to havin’ someone to lean on
哦，我已經習慣有個人可以依靠
And I’m lost, baby I’m lost
我迷失了，寶貝我迷失了
Oh doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
哦 嘟~嘟
Have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Tell me, have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Oh doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
哦 嘟~嘟
Have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Tell me, have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Oh, she left her kiss upon my lips
哦，她把吻留在我的唇上
But left that break within my heart
卻把傷痛留在我的心裡
Have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Tell me, have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Oh, I see her hand reaching out to me
哦，我看見她向我伸出手
Only she can set me free
只有她能讓我自由
Have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Tell me, have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Why oh why?
為什麼，哦為什麼
Did you have to leave and go away? Oh yeah
妳有必須要離開的理由嗎
Ooh oh, I’ve been used to having someone to lean on
哦，我已經習慣有個人可以依靠
And I’m lost, baby I’m lost
我迷失了，寶貝我迷失了
Oh doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
哦 嘟~嘟
Have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Tell me, have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
As another day comes to an end
又是一天的結束
I’m lookin’ for a letter or somethin’
我在尋找一封信或是什麼的
Anything that she would send
任何她會寄出的東西
With all the people I know
給所有我認識的人
I’m still a lonely man
我依然是個孤單的人
You know, it’s funny
如你所知，這很滑稽
But I thought I had her in the palm of my hand
但我真的以為我擁有她
Have you seen her
你見過她嗎
Tell me, have you seen her (tell me, have you seen her?)
你見過她嗎
Oh doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
哦 嘟~嘟
Have you seen her?
你見過她嗎
Tell me, have you seen her?
你見過她嗎