[英文绘本]The Giving Tree
2015-12-18

The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. First published in 1964 by Harper & Row, it has become one of Silverstein's best known titles and has been translated into numerous languages.

Despite the recognition that the book has received, it has been described as "one of the most divisive books in children’s literature." The controversy concerns whether the relationship between the main characters (a boy and a tree) should be interpreted as positive (e.g., the tree gives the boy selfless love) or as negative (e.g., the boy and the tree have an abusive relationship).Scholastic designates the interest level of this book to range from kindergarten to second grade.

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 一棵奉献树(The Giving Tree)歌词

歌曲试听： http://www.kekenet.com/mp3/200812/57676.shtml
　　Once there was a giving tree
　　Who loved a little boy 
　　And everyday the boy would come to play 
　　Swinging from her branches 
　　Sleeping in her shades 
　　Laughing all the summer hours away 
　　And so they loved, and oh the tree was happy 
　　Oh, the tree was glad 
　　
　　But soon the boy grew older 
　　And one day he came and said 
　　Can you give me some money, tree 
　　To buy some things I've found 
　　I have no money, said the tree 
　　Just apples, twigs and leaves 
　　But you can take my apples, boy 
　　And sell them in the town 
　　And so he did, and oh the tree was happy 
　　Oh, the tree was glad 
　　
　　Soon again the boy came back 
　　And he said to the tree, I'm now a man 
　　And I must have a house that's all my own 
　　I can't give you a house, said the tree 
　　The forest is my home 
　　But you may cut my branches off 
　　And build yourself a home 
　　And so he did, and oh the tree was happy 
　　Oh, the tree was glad 
　　
　　And time went by and the boy came back 
　　With sadness in his eyes 
　　My life has turned so cold, he said 
　　And I need sunny days 
　　I'm nothing buy my trunk, she said 
　　But you may cut it down 
　　And build yourself a boat and sail away 
　　And so he did, and oh the tree was happy 
　　Oh, the tree was glad 
　　
　　And after years, the boy came back 
　　From both ends of the world 
　　I really cannot help you 
　　If you ask another gift 
　　I'm nothing but an old stump now 
　　I'm sorry, boy, she said 
　　I'm sorry, but I've nothing more to give 
　　I don't need very much now 
　　Just a quiet place to rest 
　　The boy, he whispered with a weary smile 
　　Well, said the tree, an old stump is still as good for that 
　　Come, boy, she said, sit down 
　　Sit down and rest awhile 
　　And so he did, and oh the tree was happy 
　　Oh, the tree was glad

扩展阅读：
　　这首歌的词曲作者西尔弗斯坦(Shel Silverstein)堪称二十世纪美国文艺界令人印象最为深刻的鬼才之一，1932年出生于芝加哥，少年时代就因为缺乏运动细胞、长相又不讨女孩子喜欢，因此决定把自己的时间用来写诗和作画，由于当时的他从未接触过任何名家的作品，反而发展出一种非常独特的个人风格，等到女孩子们因为他的表现而开始注意到他的时候，他已经忙得没有时间去理会她们了。
    这首歌的演唱者巴比贝尔是西尔弗斯坦的老友，也是乡村歌坛最具特色的资深艺人之一。他来自俄亥俄州，出身贫门，青少年时代在农场和成衣厂打工。由于喜爱音乐、却又买不起乐器，自己做了一把吉他开始练习，进而在一支乡村乐队里面找到一份没有酬劳的工作。他最重要的作品，是在70年代推出的一系列专辑，这首“一棵奉献树”就是他跟鬼才大师西尔弗斯坦合作，根据《奉献的树》这篇儿童作品改编的一首想到成功的歌曲。

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