He is a founding member of the New York synth rock outfit Jupiter One, as well as a touring member of Georgia based indie rock group of Montreal and has also toured with Regina Spektor, predominantly as a violinist.
Kishi Bashi is Kaoru Ishibashi's self-recorded and self-produced project started in 2011 with his first EP; Room For Dream, released in May 2011
http://kishibashi.bandcamp.com/
Manchester
Kishi Bashi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hid the last page
I didn't even look
I think i locked it in a cage
Wrote a novel
Cause everybody likes to read a novel...
It started with a word,
About a rare and fragile bird that i couldn't even spell
On the table
I think i left it on the table...
I found the last page in the sky,
Cold and sweet, like an apple
Oh hello,
Will you be mine?
I haven't felt this alive in a long time
All the streets are warm today
I read signs
I haven't been this in love in a long time
The sun is up, the sun will stay
The very last breath of the hero of our tale
Would you only to guess
Did he truly prevail
In the the sequel?
I guess i'll have to write a sequel...
My favorite part's when i die
In your arms like a movie
It's tragic, but now the story has it's proper end.
Oh hello,
Will you be mine?
I haven't felt this alive in a long time
All the streets are warm and grey
I read the signs
I haven't been this in love in a long time
The sun is up the sun will stay
All for the new day
Will you be mine?
The days are short and i wrote me my last rhyme
All the streets are warm today
I read the signs
I haven't been in this love in a long time.
It's been a long time
The lyrics to Kishi Bashi's song Manchester are rich with imagery and metaphor. The song seems to be about the process of creating something, perhaps a novel, and the emotions that come with it. The first stanza speaks to the idea of creating something and then hiding it away, not even looking at the final page. It's as if the singer is afraid to fully engage with what they have created, and they've locked it away to keep it hidden.
The second stanza describes the start of the process- the singer has begun to write about a rare and fragile bird, but can't even spell its name. It seems that the creation of something is difficult and overwhelming, but it's also exciting. The line "On the table, I think I left it on the table" speaks to the idea that the creation is right in front of them, but they're not quite ready to fully engage with it yet.
As the song progresses, the singer finds the final page of their creation in the sky, and it's cold and sweet like an apple. This line is particularly beautiful and ambiguous- it could mean that the ending is beautiful, but also bittersweet. The singer speaks to someone in the chorus, asking if they will be theirs, and saying that they haven't felt this alive in a long time. It seems as though the process of creating has brought them back to life, and they're ready to fully engage with the world around them.
The final stanza speaks to the idea of wrapping up a story, and hints that the singer may have died in the process. They say "My favorite part's when I die, in your arms like a movie. It's tragic, but now the story has its proper end." This line is haunting and beautiful, and suggests that the process of creating something can be deeply personal and emotional.
Overall, Manchester is a song about the beauty and pain of the creative process. It speaks to the idea that creating can be both exhilarating and frightening, and that the end result can be both beautiful and bittersweet.
Line by Line Meaning
I wrote me a book
I wrote a novel
I hid the last page
I concealed the conclusion of my novel
I didn't even look
I didn't read the ending myself
I think i locked it in a cage
I possibly kept it secure somewhere
It started with a word
My novel began with a single word
And it started pretty well
It had a promising start
About a rare and fragile bird that i couldn't even spell
It was about an elusive bird I couldn't spell
On the table
I think I left it lying around
I think i left it on the table...
And now I don't remember where it is anymore
I found the last page in the sky,
The missing ending of my novel appeared to me as if it was from the heavens above,
Cold and sweet, like an apple
It was chilling yet satisfying like taking a bite from a ripe apple
Oh hello, Will you be mine?
As I write this, I am looking for a companion
I haven't felt this alive in a long time
I feel more alive than I have been in a long while
All the streets are warm today
The streets are comfortable and welcoming today
I read signs
I read the signals around me
I haven't been this in love in a long time
I haven't felt this in love in a long time
The sun is up, the sun will stay
The sun is out and it will remain that way
The very last breath of the hero of our tale
The final moments of the singer of my novel
Would you only to guess
One can only speculate
Did he truly prevail
Did he really overcome his obstacle?
In the sequel?
In the sequel I must write.
I guess i'll have to write a sequel...
Looks like I have to write a sequel now
My favorite part's when i die
One of my favorite parts is when I, the author, die
In your arms like a movie
Just like in the cliche romantic movies
It's tragic, but now the story has it's proper end.
It's sad but the story has come to a satisfying end for the readers
The streets are warm and grey
The streets are now lukewarm and somber
I haven't been this in love in a long time
I still feel as emotionally invested as earlier
The sun is up the sun will stay
The day still feels radiant and eternal
All for the new day
Everything in anticipation for the new day
Will you be mine?
Will you be by my side?
The days are short and i wrote me my last rhyme
The days are becoming shorter and I wrote my final poem
All the streets are warm today
The streets are still warm today
I read the signs
I continue to read signals around me
I haven't been in this love in a long time.
I still haven't loved like this in a long time.
It's been a long time
This state of mind has persisted for quite some time
Contributed by Peyton G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fedor Prunkov
thank you Kishi for trusting and giving us an opportunity to create this little movie! it was a pleasure to hear this song on repeat everyday whilst editing. one of my favorite songs from 151a. masterpiece ✨
Robert Shafer
What a beautiful short film to partner with an extraordinary song. I am so glad I was turned on to this song from watching "The Alpinist" which in turn led me to Kishi Bashi, which brought me here. I am so grateful to have been exposed to all 3 projects. Thank you.
Judith Velana Sahl
The video is a masterpiece!
madridista sejati
I'm sorry to ask, but where did you make this video? It looks like it was taken from Bali
Fedor Prunkov
@madridista sejati it was indeed! 🫶🏼
Chris Barry
@Robert Shafer same here😀
Kalvin Yeager
If they don't play this song at my wedding, I'm not getting married
Jamison Thatismyname
That'll show 'em! I like your spirit!
How To Meet Women
Kishi Bashi's music makes me feel like I got to go outside and see nature.
podoyle
You do! 😊