tengoku ryoko
The Yellow Monkey Lyrics

The Yellow Monkey’s song “Tengoku Ryoko” expresses the desire to escape from the complications of the world and embark on a journey to heaven. The lyrics begin by stating a desire to become nostalgic to the point of tears, expressing a wish to leave the impurity of this world behind on a narrow bed in a train to heaven. There is a realization that love, while gentle, is not needed in the escape from the world but rather a fake sense of peace will do. The VTR within his fading consciousness, he muses, will keep turning. Even a keshi or a flower of poppy with its petals falling and a chirping skylark seems to be a reminder of his loneliness. There is a strong sense of craving for indulgence in the pain and joy of the past to be remembered and relived. Even if it means getting dirty and unclean, the singer desires to escape the world, without laughing till the end like others who can afford to ignore the pain.

The lyrics further dive into the singer’s sensory experiences and imagination of tranquil experiences to contrast with the chaos and isolation they feel. He hears the sound of the tide and smells the wind blow from afar. The hopeful tides, going from the knee to the shoulder, are a metaphor for the singer’s move away from the pain and rejoice in the future. The song ends with an image of his physical self slowly disintegrating into the dissolving union with his heavenly paradise.