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.
裏町酒場
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
俺にゃ似合いの 裏町酒揚
泣いているのか あの唄も
酔えばおまえの 声になる
よせよいまさら あゝひとり酒
肩を並べて 飲む夜が
俺とおまえの 幸せだった
そっと笑って 飲んでいた
思い出すのさ あゝひとり酒
いつかおまえと みちづれに
俺はなろうと 思ったものを
箸の袋に 別れ文字
書いて残して どこ行った
馬鹿な奴だよ あゝひとり酒
These lyrics are from the song "Uramachi Sakanagai" (裏町酒場) by Misora Hibari, a renowned Japanese singer and actress. The song is set in a dark and rainy alleyway, where the red lights of a bar reflect the singer's mood. The songwriter describes this as a place that suits their nature, implying a sense of familiarity or comfort in such a environment. There is mention of a song that makes them cry, but when intoxicated, it becomes their voice. This suggests that the liquor provides an escape or means to express their emotions.
The lyrics then shift focus to the shared moments of drinking together. The singer reminisces about nights spent drinking side by side, suggesting that it was their source of happiness. They recall a toast where they symbolically let go of dreams by drinking from a cup, silently acknowledging and accepting the fleeting nature of those aspirations. The line "I recall" implies a sense of nostalgia for those moments.
The last verse reflects on the singer's past hopes and aspirations. They mentioned writing farewell words on a chopstick wrapper, a symbolic act of leaving a message, but it is uncertain where it went. The word choice of "idiot" at the end conveys self-deprecation and regret, possibly hinting at their decision to pursue a solitary path fueled by alcohol.
Overall, the lyrics of "Uramachi Sakanagai" convey a sense of longing, reflection, and resignation, encapsulating the emotions and atmosphere of a lonely drinker in a quiet backstreet bar.
Line by Line Meaning
雨にぬれてる 赤い灯が
The red light soaked in the rain symbolizes my gloomy mood.
俺にゃ似合いの 裏町酒揚
I find solace in drinking at this shady bar.
泣いているのか あの唄も
That song seems to cry its own sorrows.
酔えばおまえの 声になる
Once I'm drunk, your voice becomes mine.
よせよいまさら あゝひとり酒
I don't need anyone's pity, I'll drown my sorrows alone.
肩を並べて 飲む夜が
Those nights we drank side by side were our happiness.
俺とおまえの 幸せだった
Those moments were our shared happiness.
夢を落した 盃を
We gently drank the cup that shattered our dreams.
そっと笑って 飲んでいた
We quietly drank, laughing away the pain.
思い出すのさ あゝひとり酒
I remember it now, drowning myself in alcohol.
いつかおまえと みちづれに
One day, I thought we would walk the path of life together.
俺はなろうと 思ったものを
I had aspirations and dreams for myself.
箸の袋に 別れ文字
But now, I write farewell letters on disposable chopsticks wrappers.
書いて残して どこ行った
Leaving them behind, I wonder where you've gone.
馬鹿な奴だよ あゝひとり酒
I'm just a fool, drowning my sorrows alone.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: sa itou oomitsu
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-yf9nv2xq6g
歌して表情よし声よし全てよし😊ひばりの先にひばりは無しひばりの後にひばりは無し最高の歌姫
@user-we3tx9hr2v
ひばりさんの歌声は。
すべての人の心に沁みると
思います。
素晴らしいの一言です💖
@user-qg1jq3kc6s
ひばりさんの歌元気がでます。素晴らしい
@masahidekawabe9620
この曲 当初はyoutubeで千万回以上の再生数を誇る藤あや子のカバーが自分的にはしっくりきていましたが、やはり原点の美空ひばりの原曲がいいなと思い直しました。 これは男唄です。 ひばりはそのことをしっかり踏まえた上で自らのハートを男のそれにすっかり擬装して唄っています。 ヤワに唄うのはこの曲の歌詞を考えれば全くふさわしくありません。 歌のスタイルについてはひばりは全く正しい形を取っています。
@user-mp3rh2yc8g
😅 2:04
@user-pk1vl9mu4u
何度聞いてもいいですね❤心に沁みる
@user-gg3jn1eg9p
ひばりさんいつ聞いても。気持ちがいいですね🎵
@user-bz2cd1qq4k
ひばりさんの裏町酒場いいですね♥歌ってある飲みっぷり素敵で女性でも惚れますね✨♥✨
@user-qy2vh7yy3y
素晴らし過ぎます
こんな難しい歌を
簡単にうたい
感動 感動します🍒
@user-yu3jh4bm6q
この人を超える歌い手は出るのだろうか、まず無いと思いますけど。ただただ聴き惚れるばかりです。