踊子
三浦洸一 Lyrics

The song "踊子" by 三浦洸一 (Kouichi Miura) is a nostalgic ballad that tells the story of a farewell to a dancer (踊子, "odori-ko" in Japanese). The first stanza sets the scene, with the singer unable to bid farewell to the dancer, who is crying as the ship sails away. The second stanza takes us back to a day when they met at Tenjou Pass, in a picturesque setting where the dancer's red sleeves got wet with white rain. The third stanza brings us to a moonlit night at an inn in Izu, where the dancer's nostalgic dancing with a fan lent a sense of enchantment to the memory. The final stanza is a farewell at the end of their journey in Izu, where not even the small comb from the dancer's hair will be forgotten.

The lyrics are full of sensory details that transport the listener to a world of memories and emotions. The dancer's tears and red sleeves, the rain and the moon, the color of the lights and the shape of the fan, all contribute to the feeling of longing for something that has passed. The mention of Izu, a region known for its natural beauty and hot springs, adds to the romantic atmosphere of the song.

The melody of "踊子" is gentle and melancholic, with a slow pace that matches the mood of the lyrics. The use of traditional Japanese instruments, such as the shamisen and the shakuhachi, adds to the nostalgic feel of the song. Overall, "踊子" is a beautiful example of Japanese balladry, with lyrics that evoke the past and a melody that tugs at the heartstrings.