Thursday, December 02, 2004
sing me a song
*EDIT: Link to song fixed. Thx Mel.* Continuing on last post's thoughts, I associate a lot of songs with my time in Japan... most of them being the songs that were popular at the time I was there. But if I were to perhaps pick one song that reminds me the most of my experiences there, it would be the song "Sakura" by Naotaro Moriyama (Moriyama -> fam. name). Why "Sakura"? A song that deals with leaving and parting? Learning to deal with mujo (or what we might call "impermanence") is tough... I always seem to waver between resigning to it in one moment and cursing it the next. My pride hates resignation and my rationality despises my stubbornness. Argh. At the beginning of my time in Japan, it seemed like the one year length of stay stretched before me in at imperceivable length. I suppose part of being human though, is overcoming that sort of shortsightness... but after attending many goodbye parties for friends, and my own time reaching about 8 months, the realization of "nothing is going to be as it is now" crept up on me. But I digress... all thoughts and their lessons are stirred in my mind when I hear the song. And memories of my friends in Japan are summoned as well... a Japanese-Canadian friend introduced me to the song (thx. Kaori) and it became sorta my one Japanese song to sing whenever I went out to karaoke with my friends - close friends, Japanese friends, fellow teachers, students... many people who perhaps, I'll never see again in this lifetime. But I don't want to think about that. With a mic in one hand, and glass of cheap whiskey in the other, it goes... bokura wa kitto matteru kimi to mata aeru hibi wo sakura namiki no michi no ue de te o furi sakebu yo donna ni kurushii toki mo kimi wa waratteiru kara kujikesou ni narikakete mo gambareru ki ga shita yo kasumiyuku keshiki no naka ni ano hi no uta ga kikoeru sakura sakura ima sakihokoru setsuna ni chiriyuku sadame to shitte saraba tomo yo tabidachi no toki kawaranai sono omoi wo ima ima nara ieru darou ka itsuwari no nai kotoba kagayakeru kimi no mirai wo negau hontou no kotoba utsuriyuku machi ha maru de bokura o sekasu you ni sakura sakura tada maiochiru itsuka umarekawaru toki o shinji naku na tomo yo ima sekibetsu no toki kazaranai ano egao de saa sakura sakura iza maiagare towa ni sanzameku hikari o abite saraba tomo yo mata kono basho de aou sakura maichiru michi no ue de You can download the original song right here (shift + rightclick) Someone's English translation of the lyrics (edited by myself, of course): No doubt, we're waiting for the day we can see you again. On the street lined with cherry blossom trees overhead, we'll wave our hands and yell out. Whenever we suffer or start to lose heart We feel we can keep going because you're smiling. We can hear the song from back then from in those hazy scenes. cherry blossoms now in full bloom scattered fleetingly I know it's fate, farewell my friend. when it's time to leave on your journey, with that unchanging feeling. now. Now, I wonder if we can say those words without pretense. Words from the heart, Words to hope for your bright future. It's as if the bussling city is rushing us. cherry blossoms just floating to the ground believing one day they'll be reborn Don't cry, friend, now it's a shame we have to part with that simple smile... ahh cherry blossoms now flying in the air eternally rustling awash in light farewell my friend let's meet again here. on the street scattered with cherry blossoms. .:. I'm still on Japan time... it's about 11PM. Lord, bless and guide those I love there. |
Comments:
sakura... also one of my favorite songs from my time in japan. you just need a white background and a guy playing the piano and you'd be ready to recreate the music video. did you know that the song is based on a old japanese folk song of the same name? (btw, your link doesn't work.) -mel
while hovering around in little tokyo in LA w/ some old buddies, mention of the JET program came up and then i was reminded of you. dig the ditty a few posts down.
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