The Tunnels (とんねるず, Tonneruzu) are an owarai duo with a long history compos… Read Full Bio ↴The Tunnels (とんねるず, Tonneruzu) are an owarai duo with a long history composed of Tokyo born Takaaki Ishibashi (石橋貴明, Ishibashi Takaaki) and Noritake Kinashi (木梨憲武, Kinashi Noritake). Both of them attended Teikyō High School (帝京高等学校) where Ishibashi, the taller of the two, participated in baseball, and Kinashi participated in soccer.

They originated not as a manzai duo, so much as an ippatsu gag and monomane act. During the early 80's, they became immensely popular with young Japanese audiences, appearing in several television shows, but their popularity exploded with their show The Tunnels' Thanks to Everyone (とんねるずのみなさんのおかげです, Tonneruzu no minasan no okage desu). Many times they absorbed more than 30% of nationwide television viewers, a great feat for any television show. They then turned their attention to creating music, spawning a string of hit singles that also generated massive sales and attention.

They created many words and expressions that resonated with the youth of Japan included such as moto-kare (元カレ) and moto-kano (元カノ), which are abbreviations meaning "ex-boyfriend" and "ex-girlfriend". Both phrases are still in popular use today. Also, their tendency to use inside jokes that only the show's staff would understand and laugh at created a sur-like response from the audience, inciting nervous laughter from a confused audience, while the staff laughed loudly on-mike.

Interest in the group quickly mellowed in 1990, as Tunnels took a half year vacation from the show, and U-tchan Nan-chan suddenly replaced them. They returned later saying "We are sorry to have laid the burden on U-tchan Nan-chan," but were never really accepted back by the public. As groups such as Downtown and U-tchan Nan-chan become more and more popular with young audiences, Tunnels changed their focus to talk and interview-related shows.

やぶさかでない
とんねるず Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

ブギでいくぜ
テカテカグリース決め込んで
尖ったリーゼント
にわとりのとさかみたいに
背筋伸ばしてコケコッコー
ケンタッキーの生まれで
"生きがいい"
やぶさかでない

真っ黒なグラサン決め込んで
くわえたショッポー
反抗のツバを垂らして
うんこ座りで落ちこぼれ
ちょいとめんたん飛ばして
"ざけんなよ"
やぶさかでない
こんな俺でも
生んでくれた親がいる
パパとママ
かさぎしず子
両手で足りない夢だけで
生きては来たけど
とかげのシッポみたいに
切って切られた青春さ
おぼっちゃまにはわかるまい
この涙
やぶさかでない
こんな俺でも
明日を夢見る種がある
おたまじゃくし
勉強やってもだめだった
スポーツやっても根性がなくて
にげだし中途半端な俺達

だけどこぶしの固さは負けないヨ
やぶさかでない

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of とんねるず's song "やぶさかでない" depict a rebellious and defiant attitude towards life. The opening lines express a sense of confidence and swagger with references to a shiny greased hairdo, a sharp pompadour like a rooster's crest, and a proud stature akin to a rooster's crow. The mention of being born in Kentucky adds a touch of individuality and pride with the declaration that life is good despite any challenges faced.

The singer is described as wearing jet black sunglasses and holding a cigarette in their mouth, dripping with defiance and rebellion. The act of defiantly spitting out defiance and defiance is emphasized, as well as a sense of nonconformity with a dismissive attitude towards societal norms. The mention of "ざけんなよ" (Don't joke around) further reinforces this rebellious spirit.

The lyrics then shift towards reflecting on the character's upbringing and family, acknowledging the presence and impact of parents who gave birth to them. Despite feeling like an outcast or a misfit, there is a sentiment of gratitude and recognition for the family support that has helped them navigate life's challenges. The imagery of dreaming about a future, likened to a tadpole with dreams, shows a glimpse of hope amidst struggles and uncertainties.

The following verses delve into the struggles and shortcomings of the singer, highlighting their inadequacies in academics and sports. Despite feeling like a half-hearted outsider, there is a declaration of enduring strength and resilience likened to the hardness of a clenched fist. The phrase "やぶさかでない" serves as a resolute affirmation of not giving up and facing life's obstacles head-on with unwavering determination and defiance. Overall, the lyrics convey a message of resilience, gratitude, and defiance in the face of challenges and societal expectations.

Line by Line Meaning

ブギでいくぜ
Let's go with a boogie style

テカテカグリース決め込んで
Shiny greased hair, all set

尖ったリーゼント
Sharp-edged pompadour

にわとりのとさかみたいに
Like a rooster's comb

背筋伸ばしてコケコッコー
Stand up straight and crow

ケンタッキーの生まれで
Born in Kentucky

"生きがいい"
"It's fun to live"

やぶさかでない
Not afraid

真っ黒なグラサン決め込んで
Stylishly wearing jet-black sunglasses

くわえたショッポー
With a cigarette in my mouth

反抗のツバを垂らして
Defiantly, spitting saliva