I strove with none, for none was worth my strife.
Nature I loved and, next to Nature, Art;
I warmed both hands before the fire of life,
It sinks, and I am ready to depart.

Walter Savage Landor (1775-1864)

我和谁都不争,
和谁争我都不屑；
我爱大自然，
其次就是艺术；
我双手烤着，
生命之火取暖；
火萎了，
我也准备走了。
　　
[英]兰德（杨绛 译）

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Christmas Must Be Something More – Taylor Swift – Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection (2007)

Released on October 14, 2007.

What if ribbons and bows didn’t mean a thing
Would the song still survive without five golden rings
Would you still wanna kiss without misletoe
What would happen if God never let it snow
What would happen if Christmas carols told a lie
Tell me what would you find

You’d see that today holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here’s to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It’s something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here’s something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

What if angels did not pay attention to
All the things that we wished they would always do
What if happiness came in a cardboard box
Then I think there is something we all forgot
What would happen if presents all went away
Tell me what would you find

You’d see that today holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here’s to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It’s something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here’s something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

We get so caught up in all of it
Business and relationships
Hundred mile an hour lives
And it’s this time of year
And everybody’s here
It seems the last thing on your mind

Is that the day holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here’s to Jesus Christ who saved our lives
It’s something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
But here’s something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something more

There’s gotta be more
There’s gotta be more

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Viva la Vida – Coldplay – Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008)

Released on 25 May 2008.

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can’t explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn’t believe what I’d become

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

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The Gift – Jim Brickman – Visions of Love (1998)

(with Collin Raye and Susan Ashton)

Winter snow is falling down
Children laughing all around
Lights are turning on
Like a fairy tale come true
Sitting by the fire we made
You’re the answer when I prayed
I would find someone
And baby I found you

All I want is to hold you forever
All I need is you more every day
You saved my heart
From being broken apart
You gave your love away
And I’m thankful every day
For the gift

Watching as you softly sleep
What I’d give if I could keep
Just this moment
If only time stood still
But the colors fade away
And the years will make us grey
But baby in my eyes
You’ll still be beautiful

All I want is to hold you forever
All I need is you more every day
You saved my heart
From being broken apart
You gave your love away
And I’m thankful every day
For the gift

(Instrumental)

All I want is to hold you forever
All I need is you more every day
You saved my heart
From being broken apart
You gave your love away
I can’t find the words to say
That I’m thankful every day
For the gift

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Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) – Beyoncé – I Am… Sasha Fierce (2008)

Released on October 12, 2008.

All the single ladies (7x)

Now put your hands up
Up in the club, we just broke up
I’m doing my own little thing
you Decided to dip but now you wanna trip
Cuz another brother noticed me
I’m up on him, he up on me
don’t pay him any attention
cuz i cried my tears, GAVE three good years
Ya can’t be mad at me

[Chorus]
Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don’t be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

wo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh oh x2

(Chorus)Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don’t be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

I got gloss on my lips, a man on my hips
hold me tighter than my Dereon jeans
acting up, drink in my cup
I couldn’t care less what you think
I need no permission, did I mention
Don’t pay him any attention
Cuz you had your turn
But now you gonna learn
What it really feels like to miss me

(Chorus)

Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don’t be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

woo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh oh 2x

Don’t treat me to the things of this world
I’m not that kind of girl
Your love is what I prefer, what I deserve
Is a man that makes me, then takes me
And delivers me to a destiny, to infinity and beyond
Pull me into your arms
Say I’m the one you WANT
If you don’t, you’ll be alone
And like a ghost I’ll be gone

All the single ladies (7x)
Now put your hands up
woo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh
oh oh oh 2x

Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don’t be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it woo oh ooh 2x

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The Sweet Escape – Gwen Stefani – The Sweet Escape (2006)

Released on January 1, 2007.

[Gwen]
If I could escape I would but,
First of all, let me say
I must apologize for acting stank & treating you this way
Cause I’ve been acting like sour milk all on the floor
It’s your fault you didn’t shut the refrigerator
Maybe that’s the reason I’ve been acting so cold?

[CHORUS]
If I could escape & recreate a place that’s my own world
& I could be your favourite girl (forever), Perfectly together
Tell me boy now wouldn’t that be sweet? (sweet escape)
If I could be sweet, I know I’ve been a real bad girl (I’ll try to change)
I didn’t mean for you to get hurt (whatsoever)
We can make it better, Tell me boy wouldn’t that be sweet? (sweet escape)

[Akon]
I want to get away, to our sweet escape
I want to get away, yeah

[Gwen]
You held me down, I’m at my lowest boiling point
Come help me out, I need to get me out of this joint
Come on let’s bounce, counting on you to turn me around
Instead of clowning around, let’s look for some common ground
So baby, times get a little crazy
I’ve been gettin’ a little lazy, waitin’ on you to come save me
I can see that you’re angry by the way that you treat me
Hopefully you don’t leave me, wanna take you with me

[CHORUS]
If I could escape & recreate a place that’s my own world
& I could be your favourite girl (forever), Perfectly together
& tell me boy now wouldn’t that be sweet? (sweet escape)
If I could be sweet (sorry boy)
I know I’ve been a real bad girl (I’ll try to change)
I didn’t mean for you to get hurt (whatsoever)
We can make it better
& tell me boy now wouldn’t that be sweet? (sweet escape)

Woohoo, Yeehoo
Woohoo, Yeehoo (If I could escape)
Woohoo, yeehoo (If I could escape)
Woohoo, Yeehoo

Cause I’ve been acting like sour milk all on the floor
It’s your fault you didn’t shut the refrigerator
Maybe that’s the reason I’ve been acting so cold?

[CHORUS]
If I could escape & recreate a place that’s my own world
& I could be your favourite girl (forever), Perfectly together
& tell me boy now wouldn’t that be sweet? (sweet escape)
If I could be sweet (sorry boy)
I know I’ve been a real bad girl (I’ll try to change)
I didn’t mean for you to get hurt (whatsoever)
We can make it better
& tell me boy now wouldn’t that be sweet? (sweet escape)

Woohoo, Yeehoo (I wanna get away, get away)
Woohoo, Yeehoo (To our sweet escape)
Woohoo, Yeehoo (I wanna get away)
Woohoo, Yeehoo (Yeah)
Woohoo, Yeehoo
Woohoo, Yeehoo

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Let’s Start From Here – Joanna Wang – Start From Here (2007)

Giving up, why should I
I’ve come too far to forget
We’re beautiful, we just got lost
Somewhere along the way
So much was missing when you went away

Let’s start from here, lose the past
Change our minds, we don’t need a finish line
Let’s take this chance don’t think too deep
Of all those promises we couldn’t seem to keep
I don’t care where we go
Let’s start from here

Standing here face to face
A finger on your lips
Don’t say a word don’t make a sound
Silence surrounds us now
Even when you were gone I felt you everywhere

Let’s start from here, lose the past
Change our minds, we don’t need a finish line
Let’s take this chance don’t think too deep
Of all those promises we couldn’t seem to keep
I don’t care where we go
Let’s start from here

Let’s start from here

I’ve never been the one to open up
But you’ve always been the voice within
The only warmth from my cold heart

Let’s start from here, lose the past
Change our minds, we don’t need a finish line
Let’s take this chance don’t think too deep
Of all those promises

Let’s start from here, lose the past
Change our minds, we don’t need a finish line
Let’s take this chance don’t think too deep
Of all those promises we couldn’t seem to keep

I don’t care where we go

Let’s start from here
Let’s start from here
Let’s start from here
Let’s start from here

黄庭坚 (1045-1105)

万水千山来此土，菩提心印传梁武。对朕者谁浑不顾，成死语，江头暗折长芦渡。

面壁九年看二祖，一花五叶亲分付。只履提归葱岭去，君知否？分明忘却来时路。

白居易（772-846）

江南好，风景旧曾谙。日出江花红胜火，春来江水绿如蓝。能不忆江南？
江南忆，最忆是杭州。山寺月中寻桂子，郡亭枕上看潮头。何日更重游？
江南忆，其次忆吴宫。吴酒一杯春竹叶，吴娃双舞醉芙蓉。早晚复相逢？

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Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song) – Amy Grant – Home for Christmas (1992)

I have traveled
Many moonless night
Cold and Weary
With a babe inside
And I wonder
What I’ve done
Holy Father
You have come
Chosen me now
To carry your son

I am waiting
in a silent prayer
I am frightened
by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now
Be with me now

[chorus:]
———————————–
Breath of Heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven
Lighten my darkness
Pour over me, your holiness
For your holy

Breath of Heaven
———————————–

Do you wonder
As you watch my face
If a wiser one, should have had my place
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me

[chorus]