Flipper's Guitar were a Tokyo-based Japanese pop duo formed by Keigo Oyamad… Read Full Bio ↴Flipper's Guitar were a Tokyo-based Japanese pop duo formed by Keigo Oyamada (小山田圭吾, better known as Cornelius) and Kenji Ozawa (小沢健二, nephew of famed conductor Seiji Ozawa) in 1987. The band was influenced by the chirpy sound of British 80s pop groups like Haircut 100, The Style Council and Aztec Camera, as well as the fashionably eclectic sounds of early 90s Britain, from indie dance to acid jazz. The sonic experimentation of Brian Wilson was also evident in some tracks, Oyamada was later to state that his greatest influences were "the three Bs - Beck, The Beatles and the Beach Boys".

The group were an important part of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei scene in the 1990s, and Oyamada went on to produce work for Pizzicato Five and his one-time partner Kahimi Karie. The band were never shy to wear their influence on their sleeves, and their song titles often either namechecked their Anglo idols — Goodbye Our Pastels Badges, Haircut 100, Colour Field — or aped them — The Quizmaster from Doctor Head's World Tower treads the line between inspiration and plagiarism of Primal Scream's "Loaded".

Following the demise of the band in 1991, the two members pursued solo careers. Ozawa released the album "The Dogs Bark But The Caravan Moves On" under his own name, and Oyamada recorded under the name of Cornelius.

Dolphin Song
Flipper's Guitar Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

ほんとのことが知りたくて
嘘っぱちの中旅に出る
イルカが手を振ってるよさよなら
真珠と眠りと向う見ずを
逆さに進むエピローグヘ
君がわかってくれたらいいのに
いつか
永遠行きの発射台(ブラスター)へ

いざなえよクールな僕たちを
この胸の高鳴り(ビート)
誰が知ろう?
虚ろな思い遥か越えて
穏やかな午後を歩くだろう

世紀の物語(ストーリー)へ!
僕は高く手を挙げて
狂騒のパーティへ!
闇を照らす火をかかげて
はるかな栄光(グローリー)へ!
昇る夕日背にうけて
瞬間の映画(ムービー)へ!
時の呪い切り裂いて

遠くまで行く海を見にゆく
出鱈目に見える挑戦は続く
回るテープから君の枕へと
叫び声の中胸張って進む
諸刃の剣かただの煙幕か
La La La La....La La La La....

ほんとのこと知りたいだけなのに
夏休みはもう終わり

Overall Meaning

The song "Dolphin Song" by Flipper's Guitar is a reflective and whimsical ode to the journey of self-discovery. The opening lyrics express a desire to know the truth amidst a world of falsehoods, and the singer sets out on a journey without direction. The image of a dolphin bidding farewell underscores the theme of saying goodbye to the familiar and embarking on a new adventure.

As the song progresses, the lyrics become more hopeful and optimistic, suggesting that the journey may lead to an eternal launchpad of infinite possibilities. The singer encourages a "cool" and confident attitude, and the pulsing beat of the song emphasizes the thrill of the unknown. The chorus invites the listener to join in on the adventure towards a century-defining story, a wild party, or a glorious future.

The final stanza reflects on the ambiguities and uncertainties of life, where challenges may seem aimless and personal truths may feel elusive. The song ends with a sense of bittersweetness as the singer resigns to the end of a summer vacation and the fleetingness of youthful energy.

Overall, the lyrics of "Dolphin Song" convey a sense of wanderlust and a yearning for meaning amidst the chaos of life.

Line by Line Meaning

ほんとのことが知りたくて
I want to know the truth behind things

嘘っぱちの中旅に出る
So I'm on a journey through a sea of lies

イルカが手を振ってるよさよなら
And as we part ways, the dolphin waves goodbye

真珠と眠りと向う見ずを
Along with pearls, sleep, and purposelessness

逆さに進むエピローグヘ
I'm headed towards an epilogue, in reverse

君がわかってくれたらいいのにいつか
I wish you could understand me someday

永遠行きの発射台(ブラスター)へ
Towards a launchpad of eternal journey

いざなえよクールな僕たちを
Calling out to the cool kids among us

この胸の高鳴り(ビート)
With this heart-pounding beat

誰が知ろう?
Who knows?