译歌词之难,难于译诗,不啻一种挑战,因为不仅须翻译意义,而且应模拟节奏,配合乐曲,照谱填词。鲍勃·迪伦的歌词是源自英语谣曲(ballad)传统的新民歌(folk song),形式旧而语言新,好比旧瓶装新酒,只不过叙事成分弱化,而抒情成分强化一些。其形式是传统的,韵式严整,但节奏有弹性;其语言是美国现代诗奠基者之一威廉·卡洛斯·威廉斯所谓的“美国习语” The difficulty of translating lyrics is difficult to translate poetry, not a challenge, because not only the meaning of translation, but also the simulation rhythm, with the music, photographic lyrics. Bob Dylan’s lyrics are ballad traditional folk songs, old in form and new in language, like the old bottled wine, except that the narrative is weakened and the lyrical composition is strengthened. Its form is traditional, rhyme style is rhythmical but its language is one of the founders of American modern poetry William Carlos Williams called “American idiom”