Akeboshi Yoshio (明星嘉男), known by his stage name, Akeboshi, is a Japanese fo… Read Full Bio ↴Akeboshi Yoshio (明星嘉男), known by his stage name, Akeboshi, is a Japanese folk singer-songwriter and composer.

Akeboshi was born on July, 1, 1978 in Yokohama. He learned to play the piano when he was three years old, later learning to play the guitar. He studied music in Liverpool, and his time there has heavily influenced his music. Before his major debut, he produced two of the songs on Matsu Takako's fourth album, a piece of life.

Akeboshi's songs are mainly sung in Japanese, but there are some notable songs that are sung in English, such as "Night and day", "Money", and "Wind". Akeboshi rarely uses the basic 4/4 time signature. "Wind" and "神様の舌打ち" (Kamisama no Shitauchi) for example, are both written in 5/8.

He is popularly known for the two songs that were used as ending themes in the NARUTO anime: "wind" (as in wind a clock), and "Yellow Moon".

The Cliff
Akeboshi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In the town by the river
Where you and I first met before

If I could see you now
In that same situation
I could give better vibrations to you

Seasons change with the scenery
Where you stand, what do you see
Twisted shadows in the burning sun

You seem confused and lost
In the cheerful sessions
While they trade the stories and tunes

You slowly spoke your mind
About what's going on in your life
On our way to the cliff

※seasons change with the scenery
Where you stand, what can you see
Twisted shadows in the burning sun※

Branching off ahead there lies a road
And a world that we haven't seen

If I could see you now and talk again
On that road going down to the sea

(※ Repeat)

I've come back again
To the town by the river
Where you and I first met before

If I could see you now and talk again
On that road going up to the sky

Seasons change with the scenery
Where you stand, what can you see

Twisted shadows in the burning sun
Where you stand, what can you see>

Overall Meaning

In Akeboshi's song The Cliff, the singer returns to the town where he first met the person he is now addressing in the song. He longs to see them once more and speak with them in the present. He imagines that if he could see them again, he could offer them better "vibrations". The scenery changes with the seasons, but the singer sees twisted shadows in the burning sun. He notices that the person he is speaking to seems lost and confused in the cheerful sessions while everyone else trades the stories and tunes. Finally, though, they spoke their minds, about what's going on in their lives as they walked towards the cliff.

The repeated refrain, "Seasons change with the scenery, where you stand, what can you see, twisted shadows in the burning sun," represents the passage of time and the ever-changing nature of life, with its ups and downs. The branches that lie ahead represent a road and a world that they haven't seen, suggesting that there is still much to discover, much to experience. The singer returns to the town by the river, present in the memories and thoughts of their past encounters. Ultimately, he wishes that he could talk to the person again on the road going up to the sky, in a place where the possibilities are endless, and anything can happen.

Line by Line Meaning

so I'm back again
I have returned to the same town by the river where we first met

In the town by the river
Referring to the location where the singer and someone else met previously

Where you and I first met before
The singer and someone else met at this location before

If I could see you now
Expressing the desire to see the other person again

In that same situation
Under the same circumstances as when they first met

I could give better vibrations to you
The singer believes they could connect better with the other person if they were reunited

Seasons change with the scenery
The passing of time is reflected in the changing landscapes

Where you stand, what do you see
Asks the other person to describe how they're feeling or what they're experiencing at this moment

Twisted shadows in the burning sun
Describing a surreal and unsettling landscape, possibly reflecting the artist's internal struggle or confusion

You seem confused and lost
The artist's observation of the other person's behavior and state of mind

In the cheerful sessions
Referring to a group of people who are having a good time

While they trade the stories and tunes
The other people are sharing stories and music, but the artist and the other person seem to be disconnected

You slowly spoke your mind
The other person is opening up and sharing their thoughts and feelings

About what's going on in your life
The other person is talking about their current situation and struggles

On our way to the cliff
The singer and the other person are heading towards a cliff, which could represent a moment of decision or transformation

Branching off ahead there lies a road
There is a new path and opportunity ahead, beyond the current situation

And a world that we haven't seen
The new path leads to unknown and unexplored territory

If I could see you now and talk again
The singer still wishes to reconnect with the other person

On that road going down to the sea
The new path leads towards the ocean, which could symbolize the unknown or the infinite

(※ Repeat)
Repeating the chorus

I've come back again
Repeating the first line of the song, emphasizing the artist's return to the town by the river

To the town by the river
Repeating the second line of the song, emphasizing the location of the meeting between the artist and the other person

If I could see you now and talk again
Repeating a previous line, reflecting the singer's yearning to reconnect with the other person

On that road going up to the sky
Instead of going towards the sea, the new path now leads upwards, which could represent growth or transcendence

Where you stand, what can you see
Repeating a previous line, possibly to reflect the cyclical nature of life and how perspectives may change over time

Twisted shadows in the burning sun
Repeating a previous line, possibly to emphasize the surreal and unsettling nature of the landscape

Where you stand, what can you see
Repeating a previous line, potentially to reflect the theme of perspective and the subjective nature of experience

Contributed by Layla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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