越前しぐれ
鏡五郎 Lyrics

The first stanza of 鏡五郎's "越前しぐれ" paints a nostalgic picture of a farewell scene at a Wakasa inn with the background music of flickering fishing fires. It refers to a woman who leaves her lover with a heavy heart and tears, but her greatest sadness culminates from knowing that she cannot return to the warm embrace of her partner. The phrase "越前しぐれ" refers to the symbol of a winter storm in the Echizen region that people often compare to the bittersweet feeling of longing for someone they cannot have. The song then highlights the irony of how love could not only make a person happy, but also leave them with an eternal sense of longing and despair.

The second stanza captures the beauty and fragility of a woman's heart, which could sway and suffer under the influence of the ever-changing social norms and expectations. The lyrics describe the woman's emotional state as being akin to the wave flowers that ebb and flow in sorrow. Despite feeling resigned and heartbroken, the woman remembers the warmth and kindness her lover once showed her, and she treasured that memory even until the present.

The final passage is a poignant lamentation of the woman's unfulfilled desires and lost opportunities. Like the winter daffodils that endured the harsh snowy terrain, the woman wishes her love could also survive the coldness of reality. She yearned to reunite with her beloved even for once, and to finally fill the void in her heart.

Overall, "越前しぐれ" is a beautifully melancholic traditional Japanese song that strongly reflects the themes of love, loss, and nostalgia. It highlights the transient nature of love that often leaves people with an unfulfilled longing and pain when it is over.