Wednesday, October 24, 2007

OK, this is a great song


I've always loved Kyu Sakamoto's "Sukiyaki," a song that has absolutely nothing to do with the title, which originally was
"Ue o muite arukō" ("I Look Up When I Walk") for its original Japanese release in 1961. The American re-release was all over American Top-40 radio in 1963, when your Mighty Favog was a toddler Favog, and I guess it stuck.

Thing is, the happy melody belies a sad, sad song. Here are the lyrics:
I'll look up while I'm walking
Ue wo muite arukou
上を向いて歩こう

So the tears don't fall from my eyes
Namida ga koborenai youni
涙がこぼれないように

I think back to spring days
Omoidasu haru no hi
思い出す春の日

It's a lonely night
Hitoribocchi no yoru
一人ぼっちの夜

I'll look up while I'm walking
Ue wo muite arukou
上を向いて歩こう

And count the scattered stars
Nijinda hoshi wo kazoete
にじんだ星をかぞえて

I think back to summer days
Omoidasu natsu no hi
思い出す夏の日

It's a lonely night
Hitoribocchi no yoru
一人ぼっちの夜

Happiness is above the clouds
Shiawase wa kumo no ue ni
幸せは雲の上に

Happiness is above the sky
Shiawase wa sora no ue ni
幸せは空の上に

I'll look up while I'm walking
Ue wo muite arukou
上を向いて歩こう

So the tears don't fall from my eyes
Namida ga koborenai youni
涙がこぼれないように

Even while I cry I walk on
Naki nagara aruku
泣きながら歩く

It's a lonely night
Hitoribocchi no yoru
一人ぼっちの夜

Sadness is in the light of the stars
Kanashimi wa hoshi no kage ni
悲しみは星の影に

Sadness is in the light of the moon
Kanashimi wa tsuki no kage ni
悲しみは月の影に

I'll look up while I'm walking
Ue wo muite arukou
上を向いて歩こう

So the tears don't fall from my eyes
Namida ga koborenai youni
涙がこぼれないように

Even while I cry I walk on
Naki nagara aruku
泣きながら歩く

It's a lonely night
Hitoribocchi no yoru
一人ぼっちの夜

It's a lonely night
Hitoribocchi no yoru
一人ぼっちの夜
THIS VIDEO is from a Japanese TV show -- Shall We Meet at Seven? -- broadcast in June 1963. You have to love the quirky -- by American standards -- videography.


HAT TIP: A.J. Lindsey at the KAAY 1090 blog.

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