In 1971, Ken debuted as an enka-oriented singer with a single "Daitokai no Yasagure On'na". In 1975, after the release of several charted singles, she gained the first outstanding commercial success with a song "Guzu", which was written by Ryudo Uzaki and his wife Yoko Aki. "Abayo", a song written by Miyuki Nakajima became the most successful single for Ken, selling more than 600,000 copies. In 1976, the prize-winning song reached number-one spot on the Oricon, Japan's most eminent chart.
In addition to the success as a musician, she also obtained popularity as a tarento in the mid 1970s, through her comical actings on the multiple TV shows including Kakkurakin Daihousou!!.
After the temporary hiatus of its career in 1977, she returned to the Japanese entertainment industry with a hit tune "Kamome wa Kamome". The melancholic ballad written by Nakajima became known as one of her signature songs, finally sold in excess of 300,000 units.
In 1982, she gained huge commercial success as a singer again with a cover version of the Southern All Stars' song "Natsu wo Akiramete", winning several Japanese music prizes. The song is her last top-ten hit solo single so far.
Through her long-term career as a comedic TV personality, she has released several novelty singles with other performers such as Ken Shimura. The song "Natsuzakari Ho no Ji Gumi" recorded with an idol singer Toshihiko Tahara is the last top-40 hit single for Ken on the Japanese record charts.
帰愁
研ナオコ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ひさしぶりのそのまなざし
さよならがこわくて
私の名前を呼び捨てにできない
遠くなったあなたがいた ゆうべは目の前に
あの日からの悲しみを 素直に云えたら
もう一度 髪にふれてくれたの
ラララララ はじめてあなたとどこで逢い
ラララララ いつからあなたと愛し合い
ラララララ 渇いた 瞳が離れない
それからなみだ雲ばかり
弱い心には嘘も忍び込むわ
忘れるため身をゆだねたゆきずりのひとたち
元気そうでよかったとあなたはわらったけど
云えなかったああ本当は ずっと淋しかった
人ごみは何もきかず私を包んで
毎朝の駅へ流れてゆく
ラララララ はじめてあなたとどこで逢い
ラララララ いつからあなたと愛し合い
ラララララ 渇いた 瞳が離れない
それからなみだ雲ばかり
ラララララ はじめてあなたとどこで逢い
ラララララ いつからあなたと愛し合い
ラララララ 渇いた 瞳が離れない
それからなみだ雲ばかり
The song 帰愁 by 研ナオコ is a poignant expression of nostalgia and longing for a lost love. The lyrics describe the singer's feelings of regret and sadness as she remembers a former lover she still loves. She reflects on how she was too foolish and reckless in the past, and wishes she could ask for forgiveness. She sees her lover once again after a long time, but is too frightened to say goodbye properly, unable to call him by his name. Instead, she is haunted by the image of him standing in front of her, and the emotions she feels bring tears to her eyes.
The lyrics are a lament on the pain of failed relationships, and the inability to express oneself honestly. The singer's heart is weak and vulnerable, and she is aware of how deceit can seep into it. She attempts to forget her lost love, but struggles to do so. She remembers how he would touch her hair and longs for those moments again. She recalls the joy they shared and how their eyes would not let each other go, and the tears that followed when they parted. She sees him again in the crowd, and the memory of him floods her soul with emotion once again.
The song is a deeply emotional piece, and the lyrics capture the essence of the longing and nostalgia that come with lost love. The words are simple, yet powerful, and the melody adds to the melancholy feeling. It is a beautiful and sincere expression of a heart that still yearns for the love that once was.
Line by Line Meaning
許してほしかったふざけすぎた私
I wish you had forgiven my foolishness
ひさしぶりのそのまなざし
Your gaze after a long time
さよならがこわくて
I am scared of saying goodbye
私の名前を呼び捨てにできない
You cannot call my name without honorifics
遠くなったあなたがいた ゆうべは目の前に
Last night, there you were, so distant yet right in front of me
あの日からの悲しみを 素直に云えたら
If only I could express my sadness since that day
もう一度 髪にふれてくれたの
You touched my hair once again
ラララララ はじめてあなたとどこで逢い
La la la, where did we first meet?
ラララララ いつからあなたと愛し合い
La la la, since when did we fall in love?
ラララララ 渇いた 瞳が離れない
La la la, my dry eyes won't leave you
それからなみだ雲ばかり
Since then, only tears cloud my vision
弱い心には嘘も忍び込むわ
Lies can sneak into a weak heart
忘れるため身をゆだねたゆきずりのひとたち
I entrusted myself to random strangers to forget
元気そうでよかったとあなたはわらったけど
You smiled and said you were glad I looked happy
云えなかったああ本当は ずっと淋しかった
Oh, I could not tell you, but I've been lonely this whole time
人ごみは何もきかず私を包んで
The crowd engulfs me, but I hear nothing
毎朝の駅へ流れてゆく
Flowing towards the station every morning
Writer(s): 松任谷 由実, 松任谷 由実
Contributed by Liam E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.