今日のひとことEnglish

「セサミストリートまでの行き方を、教えてくれないかい？」

アリババは「Open Sesame!」と呪文をとなえて宝物のある洞窟の扉を開けました。同じように「子供達に新しい知識や世界への扉を開けてほしい」と制作されたのが、1969年の放送開始以来世界中の子供たちに親しまれ続けている子供向けテレビ教育番組「Sesame Street」。テーマソングでも「It’s a magic carpet ride. Every door will open wide to happy people like you」「魔法のじゅうたんに乗ってるみたい。扉は開いてるよ、君たちのために」と歌います。子供たちと手をつないで、元気にスキップでもしながら歌いたい歌です♪

Sesame Street Theme
by Joe Raposo

Sunny day
Sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street?

Come and play
Everything’s A-OK
Friendly neighbors there
That’s where we meet

Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street?

It’s a magic carpet ride
Every door will open wide
To happy people like you–
Happy people like
What a beautiful

Sunny Day
Sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street

How to get to Sesame Street
How to get to

「自分を表現しなさい」

この曲がヒットした1989年、私はアメリカ留学中でした。当時のいわゆる「ディスコ」でリクエストしては踊りまくった、たいへん懐かしい曲です。「自分を表現しなさい！」というメッセージは、留学先で、まだまだ英語もろくに話せず、自信ももてず、なにかと遠慮してはオドオドしている自分への激励のような気がしました。”Don’t go for second best baby, put your love to the test” 「二番に甘んじてはだめ。自分の愛をためすのよ。」スパーッと歌ったマドンナは、とてもかっこよかったです。

Express Yourself

[Spoken:]
Come on girls
Do you believe in love?
‘Cause I got something to say about it
And it goes something like this

[Chorus:]
Don’t go for second best baby
Put your love to the test
You know, you know, you’ve got to
Make him express how he feels
And maybe then you’ll know your love is real

You don’t need diamond rings
Or eighteen karat gold
Fancy cars that go very fast
You know they never last, no, no
What you need is a big strong hand
To lift you to your higher ground
Make you feel like a queen on a throne
Make him love you till you can’t come down
(You’ll never come down)

[chorus]

Long stem roses are the way to your heart
But he needs to start with your head
Satin sheets are very romantic
What happens when you’re not in bed
You deserve the best in life
So if the time isn’t right then move on
Second best is never enough
You’ll do much better baby on your own
(Baby on your own)

[chorus]

Express yourself
(You’ve got to make him)
Express himself
Hey, hey, hey, hey
So if you want it right now, make him show you how
Express what he’s got, oh baby ready or not

[Intermediate:]

And when you’re gone he might regret it
Think about the love he once had
Try to carry on, but he just won’t get it
He’ll be back on his knees

To express himself
(You’ve got to make him)
Express himself
Hey hey

What you need is a big strong hand
To lift you to your higher ground
Make you feel like a queen on a throne
Make him love you till you can’t come down
(You’ll never come down)

[intermediate]

So please

[chorus]

Express yourself
(You’ve got to make him)
Express himself
Hey, hey, hey, hey
So if you want it right now, make him show you how
Express what he’s got, oh baby ready or not
Express yourself
(You’ve got to make him)
So you can respect yourself
Hey, hey
So if you want it right now, then make him show you how
Express what he’s got, oh baby ready or not

「満足（なんかできないぜ！ )」

御年72才のミック・ジャガー率いるイギリスのロックグループ、ローリングストーンズの代表曲。このタイトル、文法的には間違っているけれどネイティブがたいへんよく使う、二重否定文の一例です。ロックの歌詞などにはよく登場します。日本語でいう「ぜんぜん大丈夫！」的な用法ですね（えっ、これが間違った日本語だと気づかない!?）。アメリカ留学時、英語のクラスの先生が「さっきエレベーターの中でアメリカ人学生が “I don’t have no money” なんて言っていた！ネイティブなのに！」と嘆いていた姿を思い出します。正しくは？、、、”I don’t have any money”ですね。

I can’t get no satisfaction

I can’t get no satisfaction

I can’t get no satisfaction

‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try

I can’t get no, I can’t get no

 

When I’m drivin’ in my car

And that man comes on the radio

He’s tellin’ me more and more

About some useless information

Supposed to fire my imagination

I can’t get no, oh no, no, no

Hey hey hey, that’s what I say

 

I can’t get no satisfaction

I can’t get no satisfaction

‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try

I can’t get no, I can’t get no

 

When I’m watchin’ my T.V.

And that man comes on to tell me

How white my shirts can be

But he can’t be a man ‘cause he doesn’t smoke

The same cigarrettes as me

I can’t get no, oh no, no, no

Hey hey hey, that’s what I say

 

I can’t get no satisfaction

I can’t get no girl with action

‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try

I can’t get no, I can’t get no

 

When I’m ridin’ round the world

And I’m doin’ this and I’m signing that

And I’m tryin’ to make some girl

Who tells me baby better come back later next week

‘Cause you see I’m on a losing streak

I can’t get no, oh no, no, no

Hey hey hey, that’s what I say

 

I can’t get no, I can’t get no

I can’t get no satisfaction

No satisfaction, no satisfaction, no satisfaction