Автор мелодии: lyrics: Isamu Yoshii. melody melody: Shinpei Nakayama
This is a Japanese song from the 1910s. It was played in Akira
Kurosawa's movie 'Ikiru' and I've also heard it was played in the
anime 'fushigi yuugi.'It's sad and beautiful when sung
passionately.
The English version is sometimes called: Life is brief
You can check out one version here (text differs slightly in certain
sentences, lyrics change depending on the artist):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMSQ1amd7sU&feature=related
(English translation will be at the bottom)
4 4 4 -4 5 6 5 7 6
inochi mijikashi
6 -6 6 5 4 5 -4
koi seyo otome
4 4 4 -4 5 6 5 7 6
akaki kuchibiru
4 -4 -6 6 -4 5 4
asenu ma ni
6 6 6 8 -8 -8 7 -6 6
atsuki chishio no
6 6 6 5 7 6
hienu ma ni
4 -4 5 6 7 -6 -8 7 -6 6
asu no tsukihi no
4 -4 -6 6 -4 5 4
nai mono wo
(rest of the song, repeat the above)
inochi mijikashi
koi seyo otome
iza te wo torite
ka no fune ni
iza moyuru ho wo
kimiga ho ni
koko ni wa dare mo
konu mono wo
inochi mijikashi
koi seyo otome
nami ni tadayou
fune no yo ni
kimiga yawate wo
waga kata ni
koko niwa hitome mo
nai mono wo
inochi mijikashi
koi seyo otome
kurokami no iro
asenu ma ni
kokoro no honoo
kienu ma ni
kyou wa futatabi
konu mono wo
(In English)
life is brief.
fall in love, maidens
before the crimson bloom
fades from your lips
before the tides of passion
cool within you,
for those of you
who know no tomorrow
life is brief
fall in love, maidens
before his hands
take up his boat
before the flush of his cheeks fades
for those of you
who will never return here
life is brief
fall in love, maidens
before the boat drifts away
on the waves
before the hand resting on your shoulder
becomes frail
for those who will never
be seen here again
life is brief
fall in love, maidens
before the raven tresses begin to fade
before the flame in your hearts
flicker and die
for those to whom today
will never return