Lullaby of Takeda
Yoshida Brothers Lyrics

The lyrics of Yoshida Brothers' "Lullaby of Takeda" depict a serene scene in the forest, where a child is left alone as the night falls. The first three lines describe how the forest becomes restless, and the snow begins to fall as the child remains silent. The arrival of Bon, a traditional Japanese holiday where the spirits of the dead return to the world of the living, is mentioned, but it is uncertain whether or not the child is aware of it, as the last three lines mention how the child cries in the forest with no one to hear, and there are no clothes nor belts on the child. The next few lines seem to be spoken by the mother or caretaker, who laments leaving the child only to return to find them crying in the forest all day. Finally, the song's last two lines describe how this woman sees something beyond the forest and looks through it to see the house where the child's parents or family live.

The lyrics of "Lullaby of Takeda" are somewhat ambiguous, which is common for Japanese lullabies. It can be interpreted as a simple, timeless story of a baby left alone in nature or as a more complex metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life and the inevitability of death. In either interpretation, the song's haunting music, which combines the traditional Japanese shamisen with contemporary instruments and rhythms, creates a meditative and peaceful state.