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.
ダニー・ボーイ
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
時がすべてを流してくれると
みんな言うけど
私の胸の痛み 心の痛みは
いつになったら
消えるのでしょう
落葉のセレナーデが今夜も
私の心を痛ませるの
幸せの消えた街
帰らぬ人と知りながら
今日も呼ぶあなたの名
思い出も今ははかなく
過ぎた日の夢に泣く
枯葉の散る音さえも
胸にせつない秋の夜
思い出も今ははかなく
過ぎた日の夢に泣く
枯葉の散る音さえも
胸にせつない秋の夜
These poignant lyrics from 美空ひばり's song ダニー・ボーイ delve into the theme of longing, heartache, and the passage of time. The first verse expresses a common sentiment that time heals all wounds, but the singer questions when their chest and heartaches will finally fade away. The imagery of the falling leaves serenading the night and causing pain to the singer's heart symbolizes the relentless reminder of their sorrow in a city that has lost its happiness since their loved one departed. The deserted streets only amplify the absence of joy, and the singer yearns for the return of their beloved despite knowing they will not come back.
Continuing with the theme of fleeting memories and the transience of past days, the singer experiences a profound sense of melancholy and yearning. The repetition of "思い出も今ははかなく" ("Even memories now are ephemeral") emphasizes the fleeting nature of the past and the tears shed for days gone by. The sound of the withered leaves falling evokes a feeling of sadness that pierces the heart on an autumn night. The singer is haunted by the memories of happier times that have now become distant dreams, and even the simplest sounds, such as leaves rustling in the wind, evoke a deep sense of longing and sorrow.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person grappling with the pain of loss and the relentless passage of time. The singer's heartache is palpable as they navigate through a city that has lost its luster in the absence of their loved one. The juxtaposition of the bittersweet memories of the past with the stark reality of the present creates a poignant contrast that underscores the singer's emotional turmoil. The autumn night becomes a poignant backdrop for the singer's lament, as they find themselves unable to escape the melancholy that permeates their being.
In the final verse, the sense of longing and sorrow intensifies as the singer continues to mourn the passing of happier days and the absence of their beloved. The imagery of tears shed for past dreams and the sound of withered leaves falling evoke a deep sense of nostalgia and sadness that reverberates in the singer's heart. The autumn night serves as a melancholic setting for the singer's reflections on love lost and moments that can never be recaptured. Through these poignant lyrics, 美空ひばり captures the universal emotions of heartache, longing, and the transient nature of memories that continue to haunt the singer on a poignant autumn night.
Line by Line Meaning
時がすべてを流してくれると みんな言うけど
Everyone says that time will heal everything, but
私の胸の痛み 心の痛みは いつになったら 消えるのでしょう
when will the pain in my chest and heart finally disappear?
落葉のセレナーデが今夜も 私の心を痛ませるの
Even tonight, the serenade of falling leaves pains my heart
あなたのいないこの街は 幸せの消えた街
This town without you is a place where happiness has vanished
帰らぬ人と知りながら 今日も呼ぶあなたの名
Knowing you will never return, yet I call your name again today
思い出も今ははかなく 過ぎた日の夢に泣く
Even memories are fleeting now, I cry for dreams of days gone by
枯葉の散る音さえも 胸にせつない秋の夜
Even the sound of scattering dead leaves brings a painful autumn night to my heart
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Weatherly Edward Frederick, 哲 水島
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind