[현대시 읽기 하려다가 노래가사 읽기] 빌리조엘의 "엔터테이너"

그렇게 복잡한 일은 아니지만 야근 중이라 시 대신 노래가사를 하나 올려봅니다.

이 노래는 꼬마적에 테이프로 듣다가 최근에 다시 들었는데 가사를 알고 들으니까 왜그런지 소름이 끼치더라고요. 엔터테인먼트 산업에 대해서는 잘 모르지만 본질을 잘 꼬집었다 싶기도 하고요. 

유튜브의 공연에서는 "어나더 롱 헤어드 밴드" 부분에서 지금은 벗겨진 머리를 쓰다듬습니다. 네, 당신은 지금도 이 시대의 아이돌.

제가 가장 좋아하는 부분은 잘나가던 시절에 아름다운 노래를 만들었지만 인기곡이 되려면 길이가 맞아야하기 때문에 3분 5초로 줄였다는 부분이에요.

The Entertainer - Billy Joel

I am the entertainer,
And I know just where I stand:
Another serenader,
And another long-haired band.
Today I am your champion.
I may have won your hearts.
But I know the game,
You will forget my name,
And I won't be here
In another year,
If I don't stay on the charts.

I am the entertainer,
And I've had to pay my price.
The things I did not know at first,
I learned by doin' twice.
Ah, but still they come to haunt me,
Still they want their say.
So I've learned to dance
With a hand in my pants,
And they rub my neck,
And I write 'em a check,
And they go their merry way.

I am the entertainer,
Been all around the world.
I've played all kinds of palaces,
And laid all kinds of girls.
I can't remember faces,
I don't remember names.
Ah, but what the hell,
You know it's just as well.
'Cause after a while
And a thousand miles,
It all becomes the same.

I am the entertainer,
I bring to you my songs.
I'd like to spend a day or two.
I can't stay that long.
No, I've got to meet expenses.
I got to stay in line.
Gotta get those fees
To the agencies.
And I'd love to stay,
But there's bills to pay,
So I just don't have the time.

I am the entertainer,
I come to do my show.
You've heard my latest record,
It's been on the radio.
Ah, it took me years to write it,
They were the best years of my life.
It was a beautiful song.
But it ran too long.
If you're gonna have a hit,
You gotta make it fit--
So they cut it down to 3:05.

I am the entertainer,
The idol of my age.
I make all kinds of money,
When I go on the stage.
Ah, you've seen me in the papers,
I've been in the magazines.
But if I go cold,
I won't get sold.
I'll get put in the back
In the discount rack,
Like another can of beans.

I am the entertainer,
And I know just where I stand:
Another serenader,
And another long-haired band.
Today I am your champion.
I may have won your hearts.
But I know the game,
You will forget my name,
And I won't be here
In another year,
If I don't stay on the charts.