Kyu Sakamoto, born Hisashi Oshima - December 10, 1941 - August 12, 1985 - w… Read Full Bio ↴Kyu Sakamoto, born Hisashi Oshima - December 10, 1941 - August 12, 1985 - was a popular Japanese singer and actor. He was born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa prefecture as the youngest among 9 siblings and his parents; Hiroshi Sakamoto and Iku Sakamoto. His most popular song, Ue o muite aruko ("Looking up while walking") known as Sukiyaki in the US, was a hit in Japan and topped the Billboard pop charts in the United States in 1963 -- to date the first and only song sung entirely in Japanese to do so.

In 1985, Sakamoto was killed in the crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123. Before the doomed aircraft hit the ground, he managed to write a farewell note to his wife Yukiko Kashiwagi. Married in 1971, they had two daughters, Hanako and Maiko.

涙くんさよなら
坂本九 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

涙くんさよならさよなら涙くん
また逢う日まで
君は僕の友達だ
この世は悲しいことだらけ
君なしではとても
生きて行けそうもない
だけど僕は恋をした
すばらしい恋なんだ

だからしばらくは君と
逢わずに暮せるだろう
涙くんさよならさよなら涙くん
また逢う日まで

涙くんさよならさよなら涙くん
また逢う日まで
君は僕の友達だ
この世は悲しいことだらけ
君なしではとても
生きて行けそうもない
だけど僕のあの娘はね
とってもやさしい人なんだ
だからしばらくは君と
逢わずに暮せるだろう
涙くんさよならさよなら涙くん

また逢う日まで
また逢う日まで

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of 坂本九's song 涙くんさよなら (Goodbye, Tears) express a bittersweet farewell to tears. The singer acknowledges that the world is filled with sadness, and without the presence of a beloved friend, life feels unbearable. However, the singer has fallen in love with someone special, a wonderful love. Because of this, the singer believes they can live without seeing their friend for a while. Saying goodbye to tears becomes a symbolic act of moving forward, embracing the new love, and finding hope in the possibility of meeting again in the future.

The repetition of "さよなら涙くん" (goodbye, tears) at the beginning and end of the song emphasizes the theme of bidding farewell to sorrow and pain. The singer acknowledges that tears have been their companion for a long time, but now it is time to part ways. The lyrics also highlight the importance of friendship, as the singer assures their friend that they will always remain friends, even though they may not see each other for a while.

Overall, 涙くんさよなら reflects a mix of emotions: sadness and longing for a dear friend, but also hope and excitement for a newfound love. It captures the complexities of human relationships and the inevitable changes that come with love and growth.

Line by Line Meaning

涙くんさよならさよなら涙くん
Goodbye, Mr. Tears, goodbye Mr. Tears

また逢う日まで
Until we meet again

君は僕の友達だ
You are my friend

この世は悲しいことだらけ
This world is filled with sadness

君なしではとても生きて行けそうもない
I cannot live without you

だけど僕は恋をした
But I have fallen in love

すばらしい恋なんだ
It is a wonderful love

だからしばらくは君と逢わずに暮せるだろう
So I can live without seeing you for a while

だけど僕のあの娘はね
But that girl of mine, you know

とってもやさしい人なんだ
She is a very kind person

だからしばらくは君と逢わずに暮せるだろう
So I can live without seeing you for a while