Born in Shinjuku, Tokyo Japan, as a young girl she fell in love with American jazz that she heard on the armed forces radio broadcasts. Growing up listening to Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller Band, and Doris Day, she decided to join an amateur jazz band and started singing for GI's at the base in Yokohama. Peggy Hayama became one of Japan’s top female jazz vocalists.
かあさんの歌
ペギー葉山 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
手ぶくろ 編んでくれた
こがらし吹いちゃ つめたかろうて
せっせと編んだだよ
故郷のたよりはとどく
いろりのにおいがした
かあさんは 麻糸つむぐ
おとうは土間で 藁打ち仕事
おまえもがんばれよ
故郷の冬はさみしい
せめて ラジオ聞かせたい
かあさんの あかぎれ痛い
生味噌をすりこむ
根雪もとけりゃ もうすぐ春だで
畑が待ってるよ
小川のせせらぎが聞える
なつかしさがしみとおる
The song "かあさんの歌" by ペギー葉山 is a heartwarming tribute to a mother. The lyrics describe how the mother spends her time knitting gloves overnight to keep her loved ones warm. Despite the cold found in their hometown, the mother never stops knitting and is able to stay connected with her family members by giving them the gloves as a present that carry the scent of the home's kitchen. The lyrics reveal how close the family is despite the hardship they face.
The song goes on to describe how the father works hard while the mother spins thread for hours on end. The father works as a laborer and encourages his children to work hard as well. Although they are all separated by the distance between them, they all seek to share their experiences with each other. In the end, the mother uses homemade miso to heal her cracked and worn-out hands, and the family looks forward to the spring when the snow melts and they can begin working on their fields once again. The sound of a nearby stream serves as a reminder of the good times that they have shared in the past.
Overall, "かあさんの歌" is a touching tribute to a loving mother and dedicated family that overcomes the harsh conditions in their hometown. The lyrics reflect a deep love for family and illuminate the struggles that families face regularly, but also reveal the strength found in steadfast determination and an unwavering commitment to one another.
Line by Line Meaning
かあさんが 夜なべをして
Mama stayed up all night
手ぶくろ 編んでくれた
And knitted gloves for me
こがらし吹いちゃ つめたかろうて
The north wind blew so cold
せっせと編んだだよ
She knitted diligently
故郷のたよりはとどく
News from our hometown reached us
いろりのにおいがした
I smelled the scent of the fireplace
かあさんは 麻糸つむぐ
Mama spins hemp threads
一日 つむぐ
Spending all day doing it
おとうは土間で 藁打ち仕事
Dad works on threshing in the earthen floor
おまえもがんばれよ
You need to work hard too
故郷の冬はさみしい
Winter is lonely in our hometown
せめて ラジオ聞かせたい
I just want to listen to the radio
かあさんの あかぎれ痛い
Mama's hands are red and sore
生味噌をすりこむ
She applied fresh miso
根雪もとけりゃ もうすぐ春だで
Soon spring will come when the snow thaws
畑が待ってるよ
The fields are waiting for us
小川のせせらぎが聞える
I can hear the babbling brook
なつかしさがしみとおる
Nostalgia permeates my soul
Contributed by Eliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.