案山子
さだまさし Lyrics

The song 案山子 is written by さだまさし, a famous Japanese singer-songwriter. The lyrics are about a father talking to his son, who has gone to the city to work. The father is asking his son if he is doing well, if he has made friends, if he is lonely, and if he has enough money. He also tells the son about the scenery from the castle ruins, looking down at the thin blue river and the brick chimneys of the sake breweries. He describes the town covered in snow like cotton candy and how the first spring after his son left, the snow finally melted away. The father worries about his son's health and wants to see his son's smile again, asking him to call or send a letter, even if it is just to ask for money. The father wraps up the song by asking again how his son is doing, if he is lonely and if he has enough money, and when he will return home.

The lyrics of 案山子 are both sentimental and thoughtful, expressing the feelings of a parent toward their child who has left the shelter of home for work in the city. The song is a reminder to appreciate the beautiful scenery around us and to cherish the simple things in life, such as hearing our loved ones' voices and seeing their smiles. The 案山子 in the lyrics serves as a symbol of loneliness, often overlooked in the fields like the son in the city, waiting for someone to come and keep it company.