Yumi Matsutōya (松任谷由実, born January 19, 1954) is a Japanese singer-songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴Yumi Matsutōya (松任谷由実, born January 19, 1954) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. She was born in Hachioji, Tokyo. Her nickname is Yuming, which she received at the age of 13 from a Chinese artist, who inspired her to take on a career in music. Her first 4 albums are released under her maiden name, Yumi Arai (荒井由実).

In 1972, she released her debut single Henji wa Iranai (返事はいらない, "No Response Necessary"). The next year she released her first album Hikoki-gumo (ひこうき雲, "Contrail").

In 1976, at the age of 22, she married her producer, Masataka Matsutoya (松任谷正隆), and from then on she went by her new name Yumi Matsutoya. In 1990, she received a gold disc grand prix. She also made appearances in many television commercials. Fans take note of her singing talent as well as her unique singing voice.

She became famous for many songs, including Hikoki-gumo and Haru yo, Koi (春よ、来い, 1994, "Spring, Come") which was used as the opening theme song for a TV drama by the same name. Her song Rouge no Den'gon (ルージュの伝言, "Rouge Message") is featured in the anime film Kiki's Delivery Service from the famed Studio Ghibli.

As reported on various websites, Yuming also writes songs for other singers, using the pen name Kureta Karuho.

恋人がサンタクロース
松任谷由実 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

昔となりのおしゃれなおねえさんは
クリスマスの日私に云った
今夜 8時になれば
サンタが家にやって来る
ちがうよそれは絵本だけのおはなし
そういう私にウィンクして
でもね大人になれば
あなたもわかるそのうちに

恋人がサンタクロース
本当はサンタクロース
つむじ風追い越して
恋人がサンタクロース
背の高いサンタクロース
雪の街から来た

あれからいくつ冬がめぐり来たでしょう
今も彼女を思い出すけど
ある日遠い街へと
サンタがつれて行ったきり

そうよ明日になれば
私もきっとわかるはず
恋人がサンタクロース
本当はサンタクロース
プレゼントをかかえて

恋人がサンタクロース
寒そうにサンタクロース
雪の街から来る

恋人がサンタクロース
本当はサンタクロース
つむじ風追い越して
恋人がサンタクロース
背の高いサンタクロース
私の家に来る

恋人がサンタクロース
本当はサンタクロース
プレゼントをかかえて
恋人がサンタクロース
寒そうにサンタクロース
雪の街から来る

恋人がサンタクロース
本当はサンタクロース
つむじ風追い越して
恋人がサンタクロース

背の高いサンタクロース
私の家に来る

Overall Meaning

The song 恋人がサンタクロース by 松任谷由実 tells the story of a young girl who is told by her fashionable next-door neighbor that Santa will come to her house on Christmas Eve at 8 pm. The girl is excited and believes it to be true until the neighbor winks at her and tells her that it is just a story from a picture book. However, the girl still holds onto the hope that her lover will come and bring her presents as Santa Claus, even though she knows deep down that it is not possible. She reminisces about her past and the time when her lover took her away to a far-off snowy city, from where she imagines he still comes as Santa Claus to her house every Christmas.

Line by Line Meaning

昔となりのおしゃれなおねえさんは
A fashionable lady next door from the past said to me

クリスマスの日私に云った
On Christmas day, she said to me

今夜 8時になれば
If it becomes 8 o'clock tonight,

サンタが家にやって来る
Santa will come to the house

ちがうよそれは絵本だけのおはなし
No, that's just a story from a picture book

そういう私にウィンクして
She winked at me like that, though,

でもね大人になれば
But you know, when you become an adult

あなたもわかるそのうちに
You will understand one day too

恋人がサンタクロース
My lover is Santa Claus

本当はサンタクロース
He really is Santa Claus

つむじ風追い越して
Surpassing the whirlwind