Kiyoshi Nakajo (中条きよし, born as Kiyoshi Shimomura in Gifu City, Gifu, Japan)… Read Full Bio ↴Kiyoshi Nakajo (中条きよし, born as Kiyoshi Shimomura in Gifu City, Gifu, Japan) is an enka-kayokyoku singer and actor. Nakajo made his début as a recording artist in 1968 using the stage name Akira Takanami (高波明), but allegedly his recordings didn't sell well, so in 1971 he changed his stage name to Ken Atsumi (渥美健), but didn't garner much success under this alias either, and returned to being an office worker (salaryman), and running a bar in Tokyo. After winning a singing contest in 1973, Nakajo adopted his current stage name, and tried for the third time to succeed as a singer, releasing his first single in 1974. And with his third single under this name, "Uso" (「うそ」), he finally had his breakthrough, selling more than 1.5 million copies of that single alone.

ちょっとさよなら
中条きよし Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

ぼくはお砂糖ひとつの珈琲
君はいつでもつめたいミルク
朝の陽ざしちぎったレタスに
赤いトマトが似合っています
さああと5分したら
エプロン姿の君と夕方までちょっとサヨナラ

読みかけの朝刊おいて下さい

いつもおねぼうパジャマ姿
こんがりトースト苺ジャムつけて
まるで子供のようですね
さあと5分したら
手をふるあなたと夕方までちょっとサヨナラ

ちょっとサヨナラちょっとサヨナラ
ちょっとサヨナラ

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "ちょっとさよなら" by 中条きよし describe a bittersweet farewell between two people who are parting ways for the day. The singer is drinking coffee with just one sugar, while the other person always has cold milk. They comment on how a red tomato goes well with lettuce picked in the morning sun. The two agree to meet up again later, with just five minutes left together as the other person is dressed in an apron, and it's time for them to say "ちょっとさよなら" ("a little goodbye") until evening.

The next verse focuses on the other person at their morning routine, reading the newspaper in their pajamas, enjoying toast with strawberry jam, and being playful like a child. Five minutes pass, and it's time to wave goodbye until evening.

The song has a nostalgic quality that evokes the feeling of saying goodbye to someone you care about, knowing that you will see them again, but still feeling a tinge of sadness. The mention of simple actions like drinking coffee and eating toast creates an atmosphere of intimacy and comfort.

Line by Line Meaning

ぼくはお砂糖ひとつの珈琲
I am a cup of coffee with only one spoonful of sugar.

君はいつでもつめたいミルク
You are always cold milk.

朝の陽ざしちぎったレタスに
Lettuce with the morning sunlight shining on it.

赤いトマトが似合っています
It suits having red tomatoes with it.

さああと5分したら
Now, in just five minutes,

エプロン姿の君と夕方までちょっとサヨナラ
I'll say goodbye for just a little while until evening, to you in your apron.

読みかけの朝刊おいて下さい
Please leave the morning paper I haven't finished reading.

いつもおねぼうパジャマ姿
You're always in your sleepy pajamas.

こんがりトースト苺ジャムつけて
Toasted bread with strawberry jam spread on it until crispy.

まるで子供のようですね
You look just like a child.

さあと5分したら
Now, in just five minutes,