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.

酔歌
中条きよし Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

ぽつりぽつりと
降りだした雨に

男は何故か
女を想う

ひとりひとりで
飲みだした酒に

夢を浮かべて
この胸に流す

ヤーレンソーランヨ
都会の隅で

ヤーレンソーランヨ
今夜も酒を

風に風にヨ
暖簾巻く風にヨ

遠い故郷のヨ
父親を想う

ふらりふらりと
居酒屋を出れば

冬の近さが
心に吹くよ

ヤーレンソーランヨ
雨から霙

ヤーレンソーランヨ
今夜も酒を

ふわりふわりと
降りだした雪に

この手当てれば
おふくろを想う

詫びて合わせる
右の手と左

酒が降らせた
男の涙

ヤーレンソーランヨ
積もり行く雪に

ヤーレンソーランヨ
今夜も酒を

ヤーレンソーランヨ
積もり行く雪に

ヤーレンソーランヨ
今夜も酒を

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "酔歌" by 中条きよし describe the feeling of being alone in a quiet bar, drinking alcohol and thinking about someone special. The rain outside sets a melancholic tone, and the singer finds themselves lost in thought about a woman. As they drink and imagine their dreams, the lyrics mention the traditional Japanese drinking song "Ya-ren-sou", which is often sung in groups.

The song continues to describe the singer's thoughts as they think of their father back in their hometown and the approaching winter. As they leave the bar and feel the cold air, they think of the changing seasons and the coming snow. The singer finds themselves with tears in their eyes as they think of their loved ones and the passage of time. The lyrics end with a repetition of "Ya-ren-sou", suggesting that the singer will continue to drink and reminisce about their memories and loved ones.

Overall, "酔歌" captures the bittersweet feeling of solitude and reminiscing that often accompanies alcohol consumption, while also nodding to traditional Japanese drinking culture and the emotions that come with missing loved ones.

Line by Line Meaning

ぽつりぽつりと降りだした雨に
Against the backdrop of raindrops falling one by one

男は何故か女を想う
A man suddenly thinks of a woman for reasons unknown

ひとりひとりで飲みだした酒に
Drinking alone, he dreams as he consumes drink after drink in his heart

夢を浮かべてこの胸に流す
And allows those dreams to flow within him

ヤーレンソーランヨ都会の隅で
In a corner of the city, he sings a traditional song

ヤーレンソーランヨ今夜も酒を
And continues to drink again tonight, singing a traditional song

風に風にヨ暖簾巻く風にヨ
The wind blows, with effort, at the noren curtains, and reminds him of his distant hometown

遠い故郷のヨ父親を想う
He thinks of his father in his faraway hometown

ふらりふらりと居酒屋を出れば
As he aimlessly wanders out of the izakaya

冬の近さが心に吹くよ
He feels the chill of winter inciting his heart

ヤーレンソーランヨ雨から霙
He sings a traditional song, as the rain turns to sleet