Akiko Kobayashi (小林明子, born November 5, 1958), also known by her alias Holi… Read Full Bio ↴Akiko Kobayashi (小林明子, born November 5, 1958), also known by her alias Holi, is a Japanese singer, songwriter, composer and arranger.
Her smash hit debut song, "Koi ni Ochite -Fall in love-" (恋におちて -Fall in love-) from 1985s popular show "Kinyōbi no Tsumatachi e" made her famous in Japan.

She debuted as a writer in 1984, writing the song "Moon Eyes" for folk duo Bread & Butter. Then, in 1985, she released her debut single "Koi ni Ochite -Fall in love-" (恋におちて -Fall in love-). The song became an instant hit, and earned Kobayashi a nomination for best newcomer at the 27th Japan Record Awards. Staff that worked on the recording began to compare Kobayashi's voice to that of Karen Carpenter, lead singer of The Carpenters, and suggested she approach Richard Carpenter. After hearing her demo tape, and enjoying the melody and vocals, Richard announced that her album "City of Angels" would be released in 1988.

In 1991, Kobayashi relocated to the United Kingdom and released an album under the name "holi". Soon after, she released a cover album of The Carpenters' songs. In 2001, she married a British accountant.

夏の終わりに
小林明子 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

夏の日達が終わりに染まるよ寂しげな色に
想い出さえ消えて行くようで悲しげな気持ち

恋の終わりはいつもはかない
誰にこの想いをつげよう

ひとり海辺に腰を下ろして夕暮れに染まる
心が感傷的になるよ涙さえつれて

Oh 旅に出たけれど
忘れることすら出来ない

アイツに今でも会いたい
誰にこの想いをつげよう
アイツに今でも会いたい
誰にこの想いをつげよう

こぼれる涙海にかえすよ振り返らずそっと
遥か彼方の空の向こうで記憶が微笑む

Oh 夏の恋なのに
忘れることすら出来ない

アイツに今でも会いたい
誰にこの想いをつげよう
アイツに今でも会いたい
誰にこの想いをつげよう

Oh 夏の恋なのに
忘れることすら出来ない

アイツに今でも会いたい
誰にこの想いをつげよう

アイツに今でも会いたい
誰にこの想いをつげよう

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to 小林明子's song 夏の終わりに (Natsu no Owari ni) express a sense of melancholy and sadness as the summer days come to an end. The colors of the leaves and the atmosphere become lonely and evoke the feeling of memories fading away. The song speaks about the fleeting nature of love and how its end is always transient. The singer wonders who they can share their emotions with and expresses a longing to be with someone they still love. The lyrics describe sitting alone on a beach and becoming sentimental at sunset, to the point of even shedding tears.

The chorus repeats the phrase "I still want to see him/her" (アイツに今でも会いたい) and wonders who they can confide their feelings to. The song portrays the difficulty in letting go of a summer love, and the desire to hold onto the memories of it. The final verse speaks about tears falling into the sea and memories of the past smiling in the distant sky.

Line by Line Meaning

夏の日達が終わりに染まるよ寂しげな色に
The summer days are turning into an ending, characterized by a lonely and eerie blend of colors.

想い出さえ消えて行くようで悲しげな気持ち
It feels like even the memories are fading away, leaving behind nothing but a melancholy feeling.

恋の終わりはいつもはかない
The end of a love is always fleeting and ephemeral.

誰にこの想いをつげよう
To whom should I confess these feelings?

ひとり海辺に腰を下ろして夕暮れに染まる
Sitting alone on the seashore at dusk, absorbed in the stillness of the sunset colors.

心が感傷的になるよ涙さえつれて
My heart becomes sentimental, and tears even begin to fall.

Oh 旅に出たけれど
Oh, though I set out on a journey,

忘れることすら出来ない
I can't even forget.

アイツに今でも会いたい
I still want to see him.

こぼれる涙海にかえすよ振り返らずそっと
I silently return the tears that spill over to the sea, without looking back.

遥か彼方の空の向こうで記憶が微笑む
Over the distant horizon, memories smile softly.