In April of 1987, on the way to a performance in Fukuoka, she suddenly collapsed. Rushed to hospital, she was diagnosed with bilateral femoral necrosis brought on by chronic hepatitis. Until August she was confined to hospital and eventually showed signs of recovery. She commenced recording a new song Midaregami in October, and in 1988 performed at a concert called Fushichou konsaato (Phoenix Concert) at the Tokyo Dome. Against overwhelming pain in her legs, she performed a total of 39 songs while assuring her fans that she had completely recovered. However, on 24 May 1989, having been re-admitted to the Juntendou hospital in Tokyo, she died from interstitial pneumonitis at the age of 52.
In July 1989 after her death, she became the first female recipient of the National Prize of Honour (国民栄誉賞) for her longstanding contributions to the music industry.
In 1993, the Misora Hibari-kan opened in Arashiyama, Kyoto. Its popularity with fans and tourists has endured through to the present.
Her most famous song, "Kawa no nagare no yō ni," (1989) was voted #1 in a 1997 NHK poll of the best Japanese songs of all time.
あの丘越えて
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
雁が飛んでる ただ一羽
私もひとり ただひとり
馬(アオ)の背中に 眼をさまし
イヤッホー イヤッホー
お花畑の まひるどき
百舌が鳴いてる 雲の上
遠い都を 思い出し
イヤッホー イヤッホー
山の湖 白樺の
影が揺らめく 静けさよ
私はひとり ただひとり
恋しい人の 名を呼んで
イヤッホー イヤッホー
山の牧場の 星の夜
風に揺れてる 灯は
私とおなじ ただひとり
泣けば悲しい 山彦が
イヤッホー イヤッホー
イヤッホー イヤッホー
The song "あの丘越えて" by 美空ひばり describes a person who is alone and wandering through different natural environments - a mountain ranch at dusk, a field of flowers during midday, a lake surrounded by white birches, and a starry night on the ranch. The lyrics of the song evoke a sense of loneliness, which is emphasized by the repetition of "私はひとり ただひとり" ("I am alone, just alone") throughout the song. The lyrics also draw attention to the beauty of nature and the emotions that it can evoke, such as remembering a faraway city or calling out the name of a loved one. The use of "イヤッホー イヤッホー" at the end of each verse gives the song a sense of folk-like simplicity and adds to the atmosphere of loneliness and longing.
Overall, the lyrics of "あの丘越えて" create a mood of bittersweet nostalgia and a longing for companionship, while also celebrating the beauty of the natural world. The song's gentle melody and 美空ひばり's expressive singing style enhance the emotional impact of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
山の牧場の 夕暮に
As the evening falls on the mountain ranch
雁が飛んでる ただ一羽
Only one goose is flying
私もひとり ただひとり
Just like that goose, I am alone
馬(アオ)の背中に 眼をさまし
I look up at the back of the horse
イヤッホー イヤッホー
Yee-haw, yee-haw
お花畑の まひるどき
In the field of flowers in the middle of the day
百舌が鳴いてる 雲の上
Skylarks are singing above the clouds
私はひとり ただひとり
And, just like that skylark, I am alone
遠い都を 思い出し
Thinking of a distant city
イヤッホー イヤッホー
Yee-haw, yee-haw
山の湖 白樺の
At the mountain lake, with white birches
影が揺らめく 静けさよ
The shadows tremble in the stillness
私はひとり ただひとり
Once again, I am alone
恋しい人の 名を呼んで
Calling the name of my beloved
イヤッホー イヤッホー
Yee-haw, yee-haw
山の牧場の 星の夜
On a starry night at the mountain ranch
風に揺れてる 灯は
The lamp sways in the wind
私とおなじ ただひとり
Just like me, it is alone
泣けば悲しい 山彦が
If I cry, the sad echo will be heard
イヤッホー イヤッホー
Yee-haw, yee-haw
イヤッホー イヤッホー
Yee-haw, yee-haw
Writer(s): 菊田 一夫, 万城目 正, 万城目 正, 菊田 一夫
Contributed by Anthony F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
横田直樹
コロナ前はカラオケでよく歌っていました。テンポも軽快で元気が出てきます。いい歌ですね。
立山節子
ひばりさんの歌声💓♥️❤️大好きです
いつもカラオケで歌っています
永遠に私の新曲の一つです❤️ずっと歌いつずけてほしい憧れ😍💓💓の人でした
横田直樹
ひばりさんの曲のなかで大好きな曲の一つです。どんな歌でも歌えるひばりさん最高。
大村洋子
有り難うございました。
大変感激してます。
晩年のひばりちゃんも大好きで、みだれ髪は私のオハコになりました。ひばりちゃん大好き あの世で存分に歌って下さい🎵
ハート
懐かしいいいsongですね🎵
HIROMI MARUYAMA
あの丘越えて[ 大好きな歌です] 練習してます。ありがとうございます。
大村洋子
ひばりちゃんと同年代なので、忘れられません
戦後 貧しかった時代に、随分癒やされました有り難う💓
Rafa
Found this song on accident, best accident ever
一番星ひかり
懐かしい歌を聴かせていただきました。ありがとうございます。😆💕✨
ユニオン大石
この歌は、子供の頃のひばりの方が合ってます