Jōji "George" Yamamoto (山本譲二) is a Japanese enka and kayōkyoku singer, born… Read Full Bio ↴Jōji "George" Yamamoto (山本譲二) is a Japanese enka and kayōkyoku singer, born 1 February 1950 in Saiwai, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. His blood type is A. His hobby is sports, and as a teenager he played baseball for his high school team. His idol is fellow singer Saburō Kitajima (北島三郎). He made his début as a professional singer in 1974 at the Coma Theatre in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan under the name Haruki Date (伊達春樹). He also released his first single the same year, "Yogiri no Anata" (「夜霧のあなた」), on Victor Records. His first million seller was "Michi no Ku Hitori Tabi" (「みちのくひとり旅」) from 1981. Today he is signed to Teichiku Records. During a press conference in the early summer of 2009, Yamamoto revealed that during a routine medical check-up, a cancerous cyst was discovered in one of his ears. For up-to-date information on George Yamamoto, please visit his official website at http://go-go-george.com/.

みちのくひとり旅
山本譲二 Lyrics

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ここでいっしょに死ねたらいいと
すがる涙のいじらしさ
その場しのぎのなぐさめ云って
みちのくひとり旅
うしろ髪ひくかなしい声を
背でたちきる道しるべ
生きていたならいつかは逢える
夢でも逢えるだろう

時の流れに逆らいながら
ひとりゆく身の胸のうち
俺は男とつぶやきながら
みちのくひとり旅
月の松島しぐれの白河
昨日と明日はちがうけど
遠くなるほどいとしさつのる
未練がつのるだけ
たとえどんなに恨んでいても
たとえどんなに灯りがほしくても
お前が俺には最後の女
俺にはお前が最後の女
たとえどんなにつめたく別れても
お前が俺には最後の女

たとえどんなに流れていても
お前が俺には最後の女

Overall Meaning

The song みちのくひとり旅 by 山本譲二 speaks about a lonely journey through northern Japan's scenic routes called Michinoku. The singer expresses his longing for someone to share his journey with and wishes he could die with that person by his side. He feels helpless and vulnerable, as he tries to console himself by telling himself that their separation is just temporary, and they might meet again in his dreams or in reality.

The lyrics suggest a sense of regret and lost opportunities, as the singer acknowledges that the further he travels, the more he misses his loved one. He describes the beauty of his surroundings, like the moonlit Matsushima and the tranquil Shirakawa, but admits that he feels the most profound sadness. His last words reflect his undying love for his significant other, whom he addresses as the last woman he'll ever love, even if they part ways on a cold note.

Overall, the lyrics of みちのくひとり旅 are poignant and thought-provoking. They paint a vivid picture of the singer's emotional journey, accompanied by the breathtaking natural landscapes of Michinoku.

Line by Line Meaning

ここでいっしょに死ねたらいいと
The pitifulness of desperately wishing to die together here

すがる涙のいじらしさ
The tenderness of clinging tears

その場しのぎのなぐさめ云って
Say temporary comforting words

みちのくひとり旅
A journey to Michinoku all alone

うしろ髪ひくかなしい声を
Sad voices that linger in one's mind

背でたちきる道しるべ
Road signs that stand behind as a reminder

生きていたならいつかは逢える
We'll meet someday if we're still alive

夢でも逢えるだろう
We might even meet in our dreams

時の流れに逆らいながら
Going against the flow of time

ひとりゆく身の胸のうち
The feelings in the heart of a solitary traveler

俺は男とつぶやきながら
Whispering to oneself, 'I'm a man'