はいからはくち
はっぴいえんど Lyrics

The lyrics to はっぴいえんど's song はいからはくち speak of a person who is wandering the streets of a city, taking in the sights and sounds around them. They describe themselves as covered in the blood of the town, while their companion wears a colorful kimono and adorns the city with courtesan-like flowers. Despite the stark contrast in appearance and behavior, they acknowledge a certain kinship between them.

The second verse speaks of the singer being sick and feeling as if they are on the verge of death. They express that they are at the mercy of their companion, who is described as being dressed in a bright red outfit, similar to a fruit. The chorus repeats the phrase "haikara haikara", perhaps suggesting that the singer and their companion are both outsiders in the context of the city.

The lyrics can be interpreted in many ways, but they may be representing the contrast between order and chaos, beauty and decay, or tradition and modernity. The song's title, "Haikara Hakuchi", means "High collar footwork", which might refer to the Western-influenced fashion that became popular in Japan during the Meiji period.