There is more than one artist or group with this name.

1. Japan's fi… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist or group with this name.

1. Japan's first African-American enka singer
2. A South Korean singer

(1) JERO (born Jerome Charles White, Jr., on September 4, 1981) is an enka singer, as well as Japan's first African-American enka singer, signed to Victor Entertainment.
JERO was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His mother was half-Japanese, and his Japanese grandmother got him interested in enka music from a young age. He first went to Japan at age 15 to participate in a Japanese language speech contest. In high school he was captain on the dance team. He enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in information science, and graduated in 2003. During this time, he went on a three month exchange to a university in Kansai, and during his stay was when he decided he would become an enka singer.
After graduating, he returned to Japan and worked as a teacher at an eikaiwa school in Wakayama-ken, as well as being a computer engineer in Osaka. In his spare time he appeared on NHK singing programs, and entered many karaoke competitions and winning an array of awards. In particular, he entered a karaoke competition sponsored by Sakamoto Fuyumi and won first place, which is what caught the eye of Victor and got him scouted. He practiced for two years, and finally in February 2008 debuted with the single Umiyuki.
In contrast to his music JERO usually maintains the outward appearance of a hip-hop artist.
In May 2018, he announced a hiatus to his music career in order return to computer engineering.

(2) Jero (제로), stylized JERO and formerly known as J-Yo (제이요), is a Korean singer currently active in South Korea. He debuted within the group TOUCH in 2010 and was a member of the hip-hop group Lucky J. He is pursuing a solo career since 2016, with the release of his first solo single "Airplane".
Before entering the music scene, Jun-yong attended Anyang Arts High School as a student in the acting department. He made his debut in 2010, known as Junyong in the boy group Touch under YYJ Entertainment, but left in April 2012 to complete his two-year mandatory military service. On July 9, 2014, Jun-yong was announced as a member of YMC Entertainment's new co-ed hip hop group Lucky J, along with Jessi and J'Kyun, under the stage name J-Yo. He left the group in August 2016, to focus on his solo career with the new stage name, Jero. Jero signed to Echo Global Group, where he debuted as a soloist on August 11, 2016, with the single "Airplane". On March 23, 2017 he came out with two more singles, "Delusional" and "Birthday Blu" with their own respected music videos as well. He then came out with his fifth single, "Traffic Light" on June 21, 2017. In 2018 he releases his sixth single, "Flower Bomb." He also released his seventh single, "Save Me" featuring Park Jimin (15&).

東西南北ひとり旅
ジェロ Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

あの娘いるとこ南長崎
花とザボンの港まち
指きりひとつおいたまま
船はどこゆくえー
東西南北気まま旅

俺の生まれは西の大阪
赤いネオンの千日前よ

着たきり雀風来坊
夢にはぐれてえー
東西南北迷い旅

遠く流れて北の札幌
鐘が鳴ります時計台
凍てつくような星空に

背中まるめてえー
東西南北ひとり旅

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of ジェロ's song 東西南北ひとり旅 depict a person who embarks on a journey alone, wandering through different parts of Japan. The song begins with a mention of Minamisakaki, a town known for its flowers and harbor. The singer expresses a sense of uncertainty, as they remain with just a pinky promise while the ship sails away, questioning where it might be heading. This sets the context for the theme of the song, which is the singer's desire for a free-spirited journey to explore various regions.

The lyrics then mention the singer's birthplace in Nishi Osaka, specifically the vibrant area of Sennichimae with its red neon signs. The singer identifies themselves as a wanderer, never settling down, like a carefree sparrow. They feel like they have lost themselves in dreams and continue to wander aimlessly, unsure of where to go. This portrays a sense of longing for adventure and a desire to break free from the constraints of daily life.

The next verse describes the singer flowing far away to Sapporo in the north, where the famous clock tower chimes. They find solace in the cold, starry sky, wrapping themselves up and moving forward on their journey alone. This verse conveys a sense of isolation, as the singer embraces the vastness and beauty of nature while navigating their own path.

Overall, the lyrics of 東西南北ひとり旅 encapsulate the desire for freedom, exploration, and the search for oneself through solitary travels in different corners of Japan.

Line by Line Meaning

あの娘いるとこ南長崎
In the town where that girl is, in the southern Nagasaki.

花とザボンの港まち
A harbor town filled with flowers and persimmons.

指きりひとつおいたまま
Leaving behind just a pinky promise.

船はどこゆくえー
Where is the ship headed? Well...

東西南北気まま旅
A carefree journey in all directions: east, west, south, and north.

俺の生まれは西の大阪
I was born in the western city of Osaka.

赤いネオンの千日前よ
In the lively neon lights of Sennichimae.

着たきり雀風来坊
A wandering gambler stuck in a certain place.

夢にはぐれてえー
Lost in my dreams. Well...

東西南北迷い旅
A journey filled with wandering in all directions: east, west, south, and north.

遠く流れて北の札幌
Flowing far away to Sapporo in the north.