My Old Flame
Spike Jones & Spike Jones and His City Slickers Lyrics
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ryuu sagahite.
run away why?
sono meo tojite iru no?
tell me why can you shinjitsu ni tewo nobase
alway (sakebe shout up) all time(tsukame chact up) everybody know (we are the sekeer get fire!) moyase moyase kokorono honoo tsuyoku aritai to negau no naraba narase narase mezameno kaneo koyoi tsukino shita de kokoro sakebe ima ima ima flame up(chact the fire) ima ima ima flame up (blaze up!)
The lyrics of Spike Jones & Spike Jones and His City Slickers' My Old Flame are somewhat unconventional and difficult to interpret. The original song, written by Sam Coslow and Arthur Johnston in 1934, was a slow romantic ballad, but Jones' version is a fast-paced and chaotic re-imagining of the song. The Japanese words in the song are somewhat perplexing, but they can be translated as "Isn't it strange how the world talks about lies and sweet words that aren't true? I'll stop holding back and tell the truth. Why run away? Are you closing your eyes? Tell me why, can you reach out for the truth? Always (shout up), all the time (chact up), everybody knows (we are the seeker, get fire!) Burn, burn, I want my heart's flames to be strong, If you want to shout your heart out, ring the bell that awakens you tonight under the moon, come on, come on, flame up (chact the fire), now, now, flame up (blaze up!)"
The lyrics seem to be about someone who wants to break free from the falsehoods and pretenses of the world and to embrace the truth with a burning passion. The references to flames and fire suggest an intense desire for honesty and authenticity. The Japanese lyrics may reflect Jones' fascination with Japanese culture, which was popular in the US during the 1940s, or they might be a playful nod to the stereotypes associated with Japanese people at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
kizuiten darou sou sekai ga kataru itsuwari to amai
You realize, don't you, how the world is full of lies and sweet deceit?
wannani soukou ni wa hontou natte nai kotoo
What appears to be true is not always the reality.
ryuu sagahite.
We search for the truth.
run away why?
Why do we always want to run away from our problems?
sono meo tojite iru no?
Are we closing our eyes to the reality?
tell me why can you shinjitsu ni tewo nobase
Why don't we strive for the truth?
alway (sakebe shout up) all time(tsukame chact up) everybody know (we are the sekeer get fire!)
Let's always speak up, let's always act, and let everyone know that we have the power to ignite the fire within us!
moyase moyase kokorono honoo tsuyoku aritai to negau no naraba
Let's burn with the strong flame of our souls if that's what we desire.
narase narase mezameno kaneo koyoi tsukino shita de kokoro sakebe
Let's make some noise, let's wake the bells, and let's shout out our hearts under the moon tonight!
ima ima ima flame up(chact the fire) ima ima ima flame up (blaze up!)
Let's ignite the flame within us right now! Let's set it ablaze and let it shine brightly!
Contributed by Evan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.