Akiko Yano is a Japanese pop and jazz musician.

Her music is by tur… Read Full Bio ↴Akiko Yano is a Japanese pop and jazz musician.

Her music is by turns playful, heartfelt, melodic, ornate, and disarmingly simple, reflecting a love of music in all its forms and colors. She handles moody new wave, virtuosic fusion, traditional jazz ballads, straightahead pop, and singer-songwriter folk songs with equal aplomb.

Though she's recorded with many of the 20th century's greatest pop and jazz musicians, her primarily Japanese-language albums have kept her music below the radar of most English-language listeners. She's recorded with, among many others, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, members of Little Feat, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Hosono, David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Kenji Omura, Jeff Bova, Yukihiro Takahashi, Charlie Haden, Peter Erskine, Anthony Jackson, David Rhodes, the band Quruli, and her son Futa Sakamoto.

Beyond her solo work, Yano has recorded with Thomas Dolby, Yngwie Malmsteen, The Chieftains, The Hammonds, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Kazumi Watanabe, The Boom, Tetsuro Kashibuchi, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. She appeared on the recording "Snowflake" reading a children's story in Japanese with Peter Gabriel reading in English and music by Akira Inoue and David Rhodes accompanying both.

わたしのバス
矢野顕子 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

街がそよそよさわいでる
わたしはごきげんさようなら
月がいそいそついてくる
わたしはごきげんさようなら

甘い言葉いらないわ
うそじゃない強がりじゃない

のってみんなのってわたしのバスもうすぐ出る
のってみんなみんなのってまにあうように走ってきて

エンジンは愛でまわしてます
どんな坂ものりこえます

開けた窓から見知らぬ風
わたしはごきげんさようなら

暗いところきもちいいけど
もどらない怖れてはいない

のってみんなのってわたしのバスもうすぐ出る
のってみんなみんなのってまにあうように走ってきて

エンジンは愛でまわしてます
どんな坂ものりこえます
エンジンは愛でまわしてます
どんな坂ものりこえます

No tears and fears
When you're on the bus

Love is the fuel
Never running out

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to 矢野顕子's song わたしのバス convey a sense of contentment and saying goodbye to the city and its noises. The singer expresses her happiness and bids farewell, noticing that the moon follows her quietly. She proclaims that she doesn't need sweet words or fake bravery; she is being genuine without any pretense.

The chorus emphasizes the idea of everyone getting on the singer's bus as it is about to depart. The bus symbolizes the singer's journey in life, and she invites everyone to join her, hoping to meet them along the way. The engine of the bus is driven by love, giving her the strength to overcome any challenges or obstacles she might encounter.

In the verse about the open window and the unknown wind, the singer acknowledges the pleasant feeling of being in a dark place but doesn't fear not being able to return. The lyrics suggest a sense of freedom and a willingness to embrace uncertainty.

Overall, the song conveys a message of positivity, courage, and the power of love as a driving force in life. It encourages listeners to be genuine, embrace new experiences, and face challenges fearlessly.

Line by Line Meaning

街がそよそよさわいでる
The streets are gently bustling.

わたしはごきげんさようなら
I bid farewell with a cheerful heart.

月がいそいそついてくる
The moon quietly follows.

わたしはごきげんさようなら
I bid farewell with a cheerful heart.

甘い言葉いらないわ
I don't need sweet words.

うそじゃない強がりじゃない
It's not a lie, it's not pretending.

のってみんなのってわたしのバスもうすぐ出る
Get on, everyone get on, my bus is about to depart.

のってみんなみんなのってまにあうように走ってきて
Get on, everyone, everyone get on, hurry to catch it, running.

エンジンは愛でまわしてます
The engine runs on love.

どんな坂ものりこえます
It overcomes any hill.

開けた窓から見知らぬ風
From the open window, an unfamiliar breeze.