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