艶歌船
細川たかし Lyrics

These lyrics are from the song 艶歌船, which translates to "Boat of Enchanting Songs" in English. The lyrics depict the life of seafarers who embark on a voyage on a boat, facing the rough waves in the sea while still keeping their spirits high. The first few lines refer to a sailor who has tied his life to a single rope wrapped around his waist and entrusted in the reckless seagulls, swaying back and forth on the deck while the wind and waves strike. In the middle of the ocean, the boat makes its way through the ocean spray that splashes onto the bow. The rough sea, the strong winds, and the restless hearts of the sailors filling the air with their noise. The last lines of this stanza references the ship as a boat of enchanting songs that sings to the sailors to keep their spirits up.

The lyrics continue to describe the tough life of seafarers, where the sea itself provides their livelihood, and the men struggle with their emotions and loyalties. The second stanza describes a girl on the shore who has to be weighed like other commodities before the departure, leaving the sailors feeling nostalgic. The scent of a woman lingers on their skin while they sail the ocean, and they struggle with the notion that like the scent, their longing and regrets will eventually fade away in the waves of the ocean.

The third and final stanza has the sailor relating to the boat as his home. He drinks his memories like a toast, remembering the harbor lights and the taste of crab liquor, which he considers to be the perfect drink for a sailor. He reminds himself to not cry when the waves pound the boat and the dewy horizons show no land, but reminds himself that life is like debris floating in the ocean.