越後情話
小林幸子 Lyrics

The lyrics of 小林幸子's song 越後情話 depict a story of a woman named 角兵衛獅子, who is singing about her experiences and emotions. At the tender age of seven, she sang and cried, feeling lost and separated from her parents. The tears in her eyes could either be the tears themselves or the tears mixed with alcohol, symbolizing her sadness and loneliness. The sound of the train in the nightly breeze during her travels serves as a reminder of her home in 越後 (Echigo) and the unknown whereabouts of her parents.

Living as a single woman, 角兵衛獅子 finds solace in the transient lifestyle she leads, illustrated through her dream of being on a flower stage in the capital city. She knows nothing of love, represented by the obliviousness of the 千鳥 (chidori) bird in love. The melancholy of her existence is portrayed through her white makeup, symbolizing sorrow. The mention of the deep snow and the town of 柏崎 (Kashiwazaki) further emphasizes the cold and isolated nature of her life.

In her struggle, she finds comfort in her craft. Holding a 笏 (bachi) in her right hand and embracing a 太棹 (futozao), which are traditional Japanese performance props, she finds that her skills and artistry help alleviate the hardships she faces. The lyrics question when spring will come, indirectly alluding to the hope for a better future. The contrast between the snow falling on a cotton kasuri fabric echoes the conflict between the harsh reality of her life and the beauty of nature.

The mention of the rough sea and Sado Island in the song's final line likely signifies the vastness of her hardships and the longing for something beyond her current circumstances.