上を向いて歩こう
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi Lyrics

The lyrics to Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi's song "上を向いて歩こう" (Ue o Muite Arukou) tell the story of a person walking alone through different seasons of the year, reminiscing about happy memories and experiencing bouts of intense sadness. The title phrase "上を向いて歩こう" means "let's walk looking up," and the song encourages the listener to keep their head up and face life's challenges with fortitude.

The first stanza starts with the goal of walking with one's head held high and not letting tears fall. The singer then thinks back to a spring day, trying to recall a happy memory to boost their spirits while they walk alone at night. The second stanza expresses the same sentiment, but with the focus on the summer season. The singer counts the stars to distract themselves from their loneliness, reflecting on the fact that happiness seems to be far away, up in the clouds or in the sky.

The third stanza introduces a moment of sadness, recalling an autumn day and the feeling of being alone at night. The shadows of the stars and the moon represent the person's sorrow and grief, which they try to overcome by continuing to walk, even while crying. The last line of the song repeats the phrase "一人ぽっちの夜" (hitori pocchi no yoru), meaning "a night all alone," emphasizing the theme of solitude throughout the song.