Introduction
Petula Clark was part of the British Rock and Roll invasion that conquered the American youth of the early 1960's. She is well known in great Britain for her roles in twenty-four movies， many hit songs and for having performed over 500 times for British soldiers during World War Ⅱ. Three words have been used to describe her，“Music， Music， Music！”
Petula recorded“Downtown”in 1964. In it she sings “Just listen to the rhythm of the gentle Bossa Nova， you'll be dancing with them too， before the night is over，happy again…”
Bossa Nova music from Brazil has a kind of smooth jazz melody that catches your imagination. Perhaps the best known example of such a style is the romantic song， “Girl From Ipanema” sung by Astrud Gilberto. It is about a young woman walking on beautiful Ipanema Beach in the city of Rio DiJanero， Brazil. With a light and lively jazz beat， will the yearning of a man for the woman be fulfilled？ The lyrics go like this：
Tall and tanned and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes
Each man she passes
Goes Aaah！
When she moves it's like a samba
That swings so cool and sways so gently
That when she passes
Each man she passes
Goes Aaah！
Oh-but he watches so sadly
How-can he tell her he loves her
He-would just give his heart gladly
But each day when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead not at he
Tall and tanned and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes
He smiles
But she doesn't see
No she doesn't see
She just doesn't see…
Do you know a woman like the girl from Ipanema， with smiles and curves that can take away a man's salacious heart without even noticing…
Imagine you are slow dancing with your true love to a clear Brazilian jazz beat， at night in the courtyard of a café on exotic Ipanema Beach. Behind you are modest apartments that cost over two million dollars each， and bright city lights that seem to offer an invitation for exploration. Instead， you and your partner decide to walk along the shore and watch the Atlantic Ocean waves roll in. Soon you come near a young couple cuddled on a blanket listening to a CD boombox. Are you smiling as you hear Petula Clark sing“My Love？”
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine，
softer than a sigh.
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean，
wider than the sky.
My love is brighter than the brightest star
that shines every night above.
And there is nothing in this world
that can ever change my love.
Something happened to my heart the day that I met you.
Something that I never felt before.
You are always on my mind no matter what I do.
And everyday it seems that I want you more.
Once I thought that love was meant for anyone else but me.
Once I thought you'd never come my way.
Now it only goes to show how wrong we all can be.
For now I have to tell you every day…
Petula knows what to sing.
Romantic evenings are nice if you are 25， or even 75 years old. Petula is amazing in that while she was attractive 35 years ago， many of her fans think she looks just as lovely today. How does she do it？ Maybe she goes downtown！
Downtown
Vocal： Petula Clark
When you're alone
and life is making you lonely，
You can always go…Downtown…
When you've go worries all the noise and the hurry
seems to help I know…
Downtown… Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty.
How can you lose？
The lights are much brighter there，
You can forget all your troubles，
Forget all your cares，so go downtown…
Things will be great when you're downtown…
No finer place for sure… downtown…
Everything's waiting for you… Downtown…
Don't hang around and let your problems surround you…
There are movie shows， downtown…
Maybe you know some little places to go where they
never close… Downtown
Just listen to the rkythm of the gentle Bossa Nova
You'll be dancing with them too，
before the night is over.
Happy again…
The lights are much brighter there.
You can forget all your troubles，
forget all your cares…
So go downtown，
Where all the lights are bright…Downtown…
Waiting for you tonight…Downtown…
You're going to be all right now…
Downtown， Downtown， Downtown…
And you may find somebody kind to help
and understand you，
Someone who is just like you，
Who needs a gentle hand to guide them along
So maybe I'll see you there.
We can forget all our troubles，
Forget all our cares.
So go downtown.
Things will be great when you're
Downtown…
Don't wait a minute more，
Downtown…
Everything's waiting for you
Downtown…
Downtown， Downtown， Downtown，
Downtown…
[参考译文]
闹市区
当你独自一人的时候，
当生活使你感到寂寞的时候，
你总是可以去……闹市区……
当你有苦恼时，
我知道市区的熙熙攘攘，
车水马龙对你会有帮助。
闹市区……只要倾听城里
像音乐般的车辆声，
徘徊在人行道上，
那里有漂亮的霓虹广告灯。
你怎么可能会迷惘？
那里的灯光明亮得多，
你可以忘记所有的烦恼，
忘记你所有的心事，去闹市区吧……
当你在闹市区时，一切都会令人愉快的……
决没比闹市区更美好的地方……闹市区……
一切都在等待着你……闹市区……
不要在家里逗留，
让疑难问题包围你……
闹市区有电影，闹市区……
也许你知道一些场所可以去，
那里从不关门……闹市区……
倾听Bossa Nova音乐柔和的节奏，
在黑夜结束之前，
你也将与他们一起跳舞。
重新快乐吧……
那里的灯光明亮得多，
你可以忘记所有的烦恼，
忘记你所有的心事……
去闹市区吧，
那里的灯光都很明亮……闹市区……
今晚在等待着你……闹市区……
你将会满意……
闹市区，闹市区，闹市区……
也许你会找到一个
能帮助你，理解你的好心人，
一个像你一样的人，
需要一只温柔的手
来指引他们向前。
所以，也许我会在那里见到你。
我们可以忘记一切烦恼，
忘记所有的心事。
所以去闹市区吧。
当你在闹市区时，
一切都会令人愉快……
一分钟都不要等待了。
闹市区……
一切都在等待着你……闹市区……
闹市区，闹市区，闹市区
闹市区……
[语言点解析]
1．When you're alone and life is making you lonely.
1）alone： without the company or help of others or other things 独自的（地）；孤独的（地）；独立的（地）；单独的（地）；
例如：He likes living alone （by himself）. 他喜欢孤独生活。
You can't lift the piano alone （without help）. 你不能独自抬起那架钢琴。
2）lonely： without companions孤单的； sad or melancholy because one lacks companions， sympathy， friendship孤寂的
例如：lonely traveler孤单的旅客
feel lonely感到寂寞
a lonely-looking girl样子孤寂的女孩
2．Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty. linger on： stay as when others have left， remain for a long time留下不走；逗留不去
例如：Henry lingered on， and even treated himself to a third half-pint. 亨利留下不走，甚至喝上了第三杯。
3．Don't hang around and let your problems surround you…
1）hang around/ round/ about——spend time in a certain place or in certain company； remain near 逗留；跟在…身边；待在…附近；围在…旁边
例如：The library hasn't opened yet， so I have to hang around here. 图书馆还没有开门，所以我只得在这儿呆着。
The children are always hanging around me， getting in my way！ 孩子们总是围在我旁边，挡住我的路！
He seems to spend half his time hanging around the galleries and museums. 他一半的时间似乎是在美术馆和博物馆逛掉的。
Don't hang around， we have a train to catch. 别闲呆着了，我们要赶火车。
5．Just listen to the rhythm of the gentle Bassa Nova. 请听Bossa Nova音乐柔和的节奏。
Bossa Nova是巴西音乐。它有一种抓住你想象力的悦耳的爵士旋律。
