Keisuke Kuwata (桑田佳祐, born February 26, 1956) is a Japanese musician from … Read Full Bio ↴Keisuke Kuwata (桑田佳祐, born February 26, 1956) is a Japanese musician from Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. He is a singer-songwriter and Southern All Stars's leader.

He is a multi-instrumentalist who performs on guitar, bass, drums and keyboard. 'Suteki na Mirai wo mite hoshii'（素敵な未来を見て欲しい） was recorded entirely by Kuwata Keisuke. He played all the musical instruments on this record.

Kuwata directed the movie Inamura Jane, released in 1990.

His wife, Yuko Hara is also a member of Southern All Stars. She was in the same music circle at their university. She likes blues too and they hit it off in a moment. They have two sons.

In July 2010, Kuwata was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, causing him to cancel an album planned for October 20th and a live concert tour to undergo treatment.

鏡
桑田佳祐 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

雨の昼間にコーヒーカップで愛を御馳走する
風凍る陳腐な青春に "投げキッス"を頂戴ネ
時刻迫るほどにジンクスは解けて
鏡よ君に語ろう hey, na, na, na, na, hey

向こうが泣いたら親友同士の愛は錯綜する
憐れで呑んべえな精霊は過去に触れない
振り返るたびに天使は逃げて

今君は幸せかい? Hey, na, na, na, na, hey yeah

Without love in your heart 君と見つめ合い
Without love in your stare 明日は遠ざかる

互いを嘆くような二人

俺が死んだら闇の銀河に誰を招待する
光の中じゃ永遠に嘘はつけない
罪深き胸の人物のために
鏡よ君に語ろう hey, na, na, na, na, oh, oh

Without love in your heart 君と見つめ合い
Without love in my dreams 他人の愛は無く
Without love in your stare 明日は遠ざかる

冷たいドアのような鏡

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of 桑田佳祐's song 鏡 beautifully describe a peaceful and introspective moment where the singer is enjoying a cup of coffee on a rainy day. He is investing this time of solitude in talking to his own reflection in the mirror. As he stares at himself, the jinxes that impeded him in the past gradually unravel, and he feels awakened.

The second verse portrays a lingering sadness that hovers over this weightless moment. The singer contemplates the complexities of love and friendship, as he wistfully alludes to the possibility of being taken over by melancholy, just like his friend on the other side of the mirror. He wonders if his friend is happy now.

The third verse talks about death and the way it can separate us from the ones we love. The singer wonders who would he invite to join him in the darkness of the afterlife. He fears that the people he has hurt or the people who have hurt him might have a special place in his heart, and he won't be able to forget them.

This song has a contemplative mood that captures the soul in its attempt to confront its own truth. It is a journey of discovering oneself and finding the answers to the long-standing questions of life.

Line by Line Meaning

雨の昼間にコーヒーカップで愛を御馳走する
On a rainy afternoon, I savor love through a coffee cup

風凍る陳腐な青春に "投げキッス"を頂戴ネ
In this stale, freezing youth, give me a "blown kiss"

時刻迫るほどにジンクスは解けて
As time runs out, the jinx unravels

鏡よ君に語ろう hey, na, na, na, na, hey
Mirror, let me talk to you, hey, na, na, na, na, hey

向こうが泣いたら親友同士の愛は錯綜する
If the other side cries, the love between friends gets complicated

憐れで呑んべえな精霊は過去に触れない
The pitiable, drunken spirit cannot touch the past

振り返るたびに天使は逃げて
Every time I turn around, the angel runs away

今君は幸せかい? Hey, na, na, na, na, hey yeah
Are you happy now? Hey, na, na, na, na, hey yeah

Without love in your heart 君と見つめ合い
Without love in your heart, we gaze into each other's eyes

Without love in your stare 明日は遠ざかる
Without love in your stare, tomorrow drifts away

互いを嘆くような二人
Two people who lament each other