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.
Eskimo No Musume
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
愛の紅ばら 恋の花
もゆる心の ささやきか
恋のそよ風 ゆらゆらと
ゆれてはずかし 赤いばら
花を召しませ ランララン
召しませ紅ばら 恋の花
白いミモザは 夢の花
ぬれた心の 愛の露
月の光か ささやきか
丘のチャペルの 鐘の音が
花を召しませ ランララン
召しませミモザは 愛の花
花を召しませ ランララン
乙女やさしい チューリップ
赤白黄色と とりどりの
レビューまくぎれ 千代紙や
なげたテープの うつくしさ
花を召しませ ランララン
召しませやさしい チューリップ
花を召しませ ランララン
花は散るもの しぼむもの
咲いた思いの はなびらに
夢があるうち いまのうち
いとしお方に 捧げなさい
花を召しませ ランララン
召しませなさけの 花束を
The lyrics of 美空ひばり's song HIBARI No Hanaurimusume speak of the beauty and power of love. The chorus, "Hana wo meshimase ranran" (Bring me flowers, lalala), is a sweet and simple request for the giver's object of affection to bring them flowers. The verses paint different images of flowers and their significance in love. "Ai no benibara koi no hana" (The red roses of love, the flowers of passion) speak of the wild and fiery nature of love, while "Shiroi mimosa wa yume no hana" (The white mimosa is a dream flower) suggests the purity and delicate nature of love.
The use of nature imagery and sounds, such as the "kaze" (wind) and "tsuki no hikari" (moonlight), add to the romantic and dreamy quality of the song. The final verse, "Hana wa chiru mono shibomu mono, saita omoi no hanabira ni yume ga aru uchi ima no uchi, itoshi kata ni sasagenasai, hana wo meshimase ranran" (Flowers will wither and wilt, but as long as there are dreams in the blooming petals of our feelings, dedicate them to your beloved now, bring me flowers, lalala), encourages the listener to seize the moment and express their love through the beauty of flowers.
Overall, this song is a tender and romantic tribute to the beauty of nature and the power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
花を召しませ ランララン
Summon the flowers, la-la-la
愛の紅ばら 恋の花
Love's red roses, flowers of romance
もゆる心の ささやきか
Do you hear the murmurs of my soft heart?
恋のそよ風 ゆらゆらと
The gentle breeze of love rustles by
ゆれてはずかし 赤いばら
The red roses sway shyly
召しませ紅ばら 恋の花
Summon the red roses, the flowers of love
白いミモザは 夢の花
The white mimosa, the flower of dreams
ぬれた心の 愛の露
The dew of love on my wet heart
月の光か ささやきか
Is it the moonlight or whispered words?
丘のチャペルの 鐘の音が
The sound of the chapel bell on the hill
召しませミモザは 愛の花
Summon the mimosa, the flower of love
乙女やさしい チューリップ
The maiden-like tulips
赤白黄色と とりどりの
Various shades of red, white, and yellow
レビューまくぎれ 千代紙や
Throw confetti and streamers
なげたテープの うつくしさ
The beauty of the tossed ribbons
召しませやさしい チューリップ
Summon the gentle tulips
花は散るもの しぼむもの
Flowers wither and fade
咲いた思いの はなびらに
On the petals of bloomed thoughts
夢があるうち いまのうち
While there are still dreams, while there is still now
いとしお方に 捧げなさい
Offer them to your beloved
召しませなさけの 花束を
Summon the bouquet of love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 藤浦洸
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind