未曾有自我(I've Never Been to Me)是一首充满女性自觉的抒情歌曲。歌曲的叙述方式十分特别:描述一个历经沧桑的女人,见到一个因不满自己目下的生活、准备去追寻“自由”的怨妇,忍不住真挚地提出忠告“我自己也曾经有过放荡形骸的生活,甚至为追寻所谓的自由走遍了世界;而且凭借年轻和美貌,曾得到过别的女人做梦都不敢想的快乐时光;但是到头来却是一场空,等到年纪大了,发现自己追求的不过是镜花水月,甚至从未有过真正的自我”。
这首歌早在1977即由美国女歌手夏琳(Charlene)灌唱,其后也曾经数次重录,或许是发行公司财力不够。宣传无门,问世没有多久就销声匿迹。终于本歌在1982年被一位电台DJ发掘,在自己的节目中密集的播放,从而老曲新红,一年后拿下全美排行榜第三和英国第一的好成绩。但是夏琳(Charlene)本人的星途却远非一帆风顺,另外唱了一些歌都反响平平,1980年代中期就彻底消失歌坛了。不过这首未曾有自我(I've Never Been to Me)却一直传唱至今,成了夏琳唯一的一首畅销曲。
Hey lady, you lady, cursing at your life You're a discontented mother and a regimented wife I've no doubt you dream about the things you'll never do But, I wish someone had talked to me Like I wanna talk to you.....
Oh, I've been to Georgia and California and anywhere I could run I took the hand of a preacher man and we made love in the sun But I ran out of places and friendly faces because I had to be free I've been to paradise but I've never been to me
Please lady, please lady, don't just walk away 'Cause I have this need to tell you why I'm all alone today I can see so much of me still living in your eyes Won't you share a part of a weary heart that has lived million lies....
Oh, I've been to Niece and the Isle of Greece while I've sipped champagne on a yacht I've moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo and showed 'em what I've got I've been undressed by kings and I've seen some things that a woman ain't supposed to see I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me
[spoken] Hey, you know what paradise is? It's a lie, a fantasy we create about people and places as we'd like them to be But you know what truth is? It's that little baby you're holding, it's that man you fought with this morning The same one you're going to make love with tonight That's truth, that's love......
Sometimes I've been to crying for unborn children that might have made me complete But I took the sweet life, I never knew I'd be bitter from the sweet I've spent my life exploring the subtle whoring that costs too much to be free Hey lady...... I've been to paradise, (I've been to paradise) But I've never been to me
(I've been to Georgia and California, and anywhere I could run) I've been to paradise, never been to me (I've been to Neice and the isle of Greece while I've sipped champagne on a yacht) I've been to paradise, never been to me (I've been to cryin' for unborn children that might have made me complete) I've been to paradise, never been to me (I've been to Georgia and California, and anywhere I could run) I've been to paradise, never been to me