GO!GO!7188 (go go nana ichi hachi hachi), also known as GO!GO! 7188 and sim… Read Full Bio ↴GO!GO!7188 (go go nana ichi hachi hachi), also known as GO!GO! 7188 and simply Gogo, was a Japanese rock band with a strong surf influence. The band was formed in June of 1998 by Yumi Nakashima (nicknamed Yuu) and Akiko Hamada (nicknamed Akko), both alumnae of the same year at Shoyo High School in Kagoshima, Kyushu. The band's drummer, Turkey (real name Takayuki Hosokawa), a native of Mitoyo, Shikoku, joined in 1999 and they debuted on Breast/milia, a division of Capitol Records (Toshiba-EMI) in 2000. The meaning of the band's name is known only to its members. The band announced they were disbanding in 2012.

Yuu composed the music, Akko wrote the lyrics, and the band arranged the songs. Yuu was the main vocalist and guitarist with Akko playing bass guitar and providing backup vocals. In addition to drums, Turkey would sometimes provide a scream or other such vocalization. In the song "Ban Ban Ban" featured on the cover album Tora no Ana, he took up lead vocals.

Members:
* Yuu, (Real name: Yumi Nakashima, born December 1, 1979) Vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. Released a solo album, Ten no Mikaku as ゆう (Yuu), in 2004. Released the album Iroha with side band, チリヌルヲワカ (Chirinuruwowaka) in 2005.
* Akko, (Real name: Akiko Noma, born February 13, 1980) Bassist, backup vocalist, and lyricist. Released a solo album, Kirari, under her maiden name, 浜田亜紀子 (Akiko Hamada) in 2003. Second solo album, Aru yo de nai yo de, aru mono, was released on November 2, 2005.
* Turkey, (Real name: Takayuki Hosokawa, born July 10, 1973) Drummer, additional vocals.

Official Website: http://www.gogo7188.jp

マンホール
GO!GO!7188 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

マンホールの蓋　不思議の入り口
パラレルワールド　つながってるのさ

こんな生活には　もうあきあきなんで
風の強い真夜中　蓋を開けたのさ

-逃げ出したんだ-

暗く長い階段　続く方へと歩いてく
上へ下へ右へ左へと歩いてく

たった1つこの心に　リアルに響く何かを
ぎゅっと押し込んで欲しいだけ
余計な快楽ばかり　溢れ返った世界だ
ゆっくり紅茶も飲めやしない

辿り着いたのは　黄砂吹き荒れる
誰もいない街　干からびた時計

手招きしている　年老いた猫が
「君の進む方へと　道はできるのさ」

-逃げたつもりでも-

つまりここは君が　望んだ場所だってこと
どこへ行っても同じ　逃げられはしないのさ

見上げた空には低く　瞬く1番星が
なぜだかとてもさみしそうで
余計な快楽ばかり　溢れ返った世界に
明日　朝一番で帰ろう

-繰り返すだけさ-

つまりここは君が　望んだ場所だってこと
誰のせいでもない　逃げられはしないのさ

たった1つこの心に　リアルに響く何かを
ぎゅっと押し込んで欲しいだけ
余計な快楽ばかり　溢れ返った世界だ
ゆっくり紅茶も飲めやしない

タッタラ　タッタラ　タッタラララ
タッタラ　タッタラ　タッタラララ
タッタラ　タッタラ　タッタラララ

余計な快楽ばかり　溢れ返った世界に
明日　朝一番で帰ろう

Overall Meaning

The song "マンホール" by GO!GO!7188 is about finding an escape from the mundane and unsatisfactory life that the singer has been leading. The manhole cover serves as a mysterious entrance to a parallel world that is connected to the real world. In this real world, the singer has become bored and restless, deciding to open the manhole cover on a windy night and escape into another world. The singer finds themselves walking along a long, dark staircase that leads to different directions, trying to find something real and substantial to hold onto.

The world beyond the manhole cover is a desolate place, where the wind blows with yellow sand, time seems to have stopped, and the streets are deserted. However, the old cat that beckons to the singer holds the key to understanding that they are exactly where they wanted to be. The song ends with the realization that we can’t escape from our problems, and that the only things that matter are the real connections we have with other people.

Overall, the song is about escapism, boredom with life, and the search for something real and meaningful. It suggests that there may not be an easy way out of our problems, but that we can find solace and connection with others by opening ourselves up to new experiences.

Line by Line Meaning

マンホールの蓋　不思議の入り口
The manhole cover is an entrance to a mysterious parallel world.

こんな生活には　もうあきあきなんで
I'm tired of this kind of life.

風の強い真夜中　蓋を開けたのさ
In the strong wind of the night, I opened the manhole cover.

-逃げ出したんだ-
I ran away.

暗く長い階段　続く方へと歩いてく
I walked towards the direction of a long, dark staircase.

たった1つこの心に　リアルに響く何かを
I want something that truly resonates with my heart.

ぎゅっと押し込んで欲しいだけ
I just want to push it in tightly.

余計な快楽ばかり　溢れ返った世界だ
The world is filled with unnecessary pleasures.

ゆっくり紅茶も飲めやしない
I can't even enjoy a leisurely cup of tea.

辿り着いたのは　黄砂吹き荒れる
What I arrived at was a deserted town with blowing yellow sand.

誰もいない街　干からびた時計
A town with no one and the old, dried up clock stands.