Asia Classics 2 Lyrics
songlist Shoukichi Kina & Ry Cooder - Asia Classics 2: Peppermint Teahouse  

Asia Classics 2
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1. Jing Jing (Firefly)
Lyrics by Shoukichi Kina
Traditional song, Arranged by Tito Kawachi and Makoto Kubota

Firefly, firefly, drink water from the sake shop
Come down, firefly
Go fly away, firefly

Firefly, firefly, drink water from the potters’ district
Come down, firefly
Go fly away, firefly

Firefly, firefly, drink water from Kumuji district
Come down, firefly
Go fly away, firefly

From the release Blood Line, Polydor K.K., 1989
©Uni-Japan Music, Inc.
®Nichion, Inc
.

Shoukichi Kina: Guitar, vocals
Tomoko, Keiko & Sachiko: vocals
Takao Nagama: shamisen
Ry Cooder: slide guitar
Makoto Kubota: electric guitar
Toshiaki Yokota: woodwind
Macky Ferry: electric bass
Tito Kawachi: drums
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2. Hana-No-Kajimaya (Flower Pinwheel)
Lyrics by Shoukichi Kina
Traditional song, arranged by Tito Kawachi and Makoto Kubota

Children of the sun are dancing
With flower pinwheels in their hands
*Chorus: chituntutentun chituntuten
tutuntutenten chituntu^

Children of the sun are singing
Swinging and dancing in the wind
*(Chorus)

Children of the sun are smiling
Even in the rain, even in the wind
*(Chorus)

Children of the sun are laughing
Even when shedding tears in deep sorrow
*(Chorus)

Children of the sun are going
Wherever the wind and clouds are flowing
*(Chorus)

^fweshi, traditional, regional onomatopoeia, meaningless syllables added to the ends of Okinawan song phrases.

From the release Blood Line, Polydor K.K., 1989
©Uni-Japan Music, Inc.
®Nichion, Inc.


Shoukichi Kina: Guitar and Vocals
Champloose: vocals
Makoto Kubota: organ
Ry Cooder: mandolin
Tito Kawachi: drums
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3. Celebration
Music and Lyrics by Shoukichi Kina
Arranged by Makoto Yano

lalala lalala lalalala lalalala
*Chorus: All right, it’s a celebration Eisa da kaisha
All right, it’s a celebration Eisa da kaisha

Run up the mountains, into the valleys, through the fields
Let’s go to the town of celebration
Where the cedar tree is growing

Run at full speed one more time, it’s fun, cry and laugh, it’s fun
Run at full speed one more time, it’s fun, cry and laugh, it’s fun
*(Chorus)

Sing and dance into the night
The town’s cedar tree is growing
Young men are coming from all directions

Forget about time and just drink
Forget about home and drink and drink, until you’re drunk
Forget about home and drink and drink

You’ll turn into dancing
You’ll be part of the circle and lose yourself
You’ll be part of the music
All your senses will melt into celebration
*(Chorus)

Cheerful, elated and relaxed, the soul is soothed
The spirit of the pine is growing
Young men are coming from all directions

Run at full speed one more time, it’s fun, cry and laugh, it’s fun
Run at full speed one more time, it’s fun, cry and laugh, it’s fun
*(Chorus)

Run up the mountain, into the valleys, through the fields
The spirit of the pine is growing
*(Chorus)

(Okinawan folk dance)
From the release Celebration, Vap Inc., 1982
©1982 Uni-Japan Music, Inc.
®Nichion, Inc.


Shoukichi Kina: vocals
Tomtihiro: guitar
Makoto Yano: keyboards
Kohki Itoh: bass
Kiyohiko Semba: percussion
Shigeru Inoue: drums
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4. Michiri Bozu / Ear-Cutting Samurai Monks*
& Danju Kari Yushi/What a Wonderdul Day
Lyrics by Shoukichi Kina, traditional songs
Arranged by Tito Kawachi and Makoto Kubota

*Chorus: Heiyo heiyo heyo hei
heiyo heiyo don’t you cry

At the corner of the village palace
The samurai are standing
How many are standing there, how many?
Three or four are standing
What do they hold in their hands?
Sickles and short swords
The crying baby will have its ears cut off
*(Chorus)

What a wonderful day
The sun
Pours blessings over you
*Chorus: Let the boats sail
Let the wind blow
Let the boats sail

When you’re navigating
The wind pushes your boat
The wind calls forth more wind
The boats call for blessings
*(Chorus)

On the lucky boat
Rides the happiness of a woman
It carries many happy things
It carries many blessings
*(Chorus)


*Regional Folklore: An earless lute player, blind, living in temple, haunted by ghosts, played at nite, so the janitor got suspicious, & played in front of the graveyard so the undead could comfort their souls. Therefore the priest wrote sutra all over his body to protect himself, but forgot his ears. He was invisible except for his ears, so they were cut off.
From the release Blood Line, Polydor K.K., 1989
©Uni-Japan Music, Inc.
®Nichion, Inc.

Shoukichi Kina: guitar, vocals
Champloose: vocals
Takao Nagama: vocals
Makoto Kubota: electric guitar, organ, synthesizer
Tito Kawachi: drums
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5. Dondonbushi/Dondon Song
Lyrics by Shoukichi Kina,
Traditional song, arranged by Shoukichi Kina and François Breant

The rock-gate to the heavenly cave has opened,
Look, Himiko+ is dancing
Love rides on a wondrous beam
*Chorus: haradondonse samaitosanse samitosanse

Where has Uncle Susanou^ gone?
He’s turned into a white bird?
When the front and the back laughed,
Heaven cracked
*(Chorus)

A man loved a woman, a woman loved a man
When a crane fell in love with a turtle,
The third eye opened
*(Chorus)

When white mingled with black,
The color disappeared
Where have the people gone?
Right here
*(Chorus)

How much is one plus one? They equal a greater One
When you and I met, we became zero
*(Chorus)

Dondonbushi, a popular song,
Drunk people are everywhere
They’re out of their minds
The rainbow appeared
*(Chorus)

(drinking song)
+Mythological diety who enticed the sun goddess out of her cave of punishment
^From Prince Susanou: mythological fisherman

From the release Earth Spirit, Planet Earth/Toshiba EMI, 1991
©KTV Music Publishers
®KTV Music Publishers


Shoukichi Kina & Champloose: vocals
Takao Nago: sanshin
François Breant: keyboards
Ives Ndjock: guitar
Tierry Fanfant: bass
Jaco Dargent: percussion
Jean Pierre Fanfant: drums
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6. Zorba De Buddha
Music and Lyrics by Shoukichi Kina
Arranged by Makoto Yano

Rrrrrrrrr ha rrrrrrrr ha rrrrrrrrr ha
eisa hoi eisa hoi eisa hoi


With tears, life is becoming rough
On the island of seagulls, life is becoming rough
All year round, something always happens in the town
With torn pockets, young hippies and revolutionaries
Come to this place seeking a hometown+
searching for a light
essa hoi essa hoi essa hoi

In the city of Tokyo, there is an old woman
In the city of Tokyo, there is an old woman
All year round, something always happens in the city
With deep pockets, people meet
Girls in sandals and rock ’n’ roll guys
Want to meet each other
Fire and gambling, justice and evil
A snowstorm outside, god and devil
halleluiah halleluiah halleluiah halleluiah

Living in Tokyo, there’s always a meeting by chance
Living in Tokyo, there’s always a meeting by chance
When light and wind meet
When god and devil meet
More of the homeland is destroyed
Sacred flowers and seeds of palms are destroyed
That’s the Almighty’s accomplishment
Then a smile will come back
Somewhere sharks are shot, from a shark comes dignity
Somewhere they’re shot, two as one
essa hoi essa hoi essa hoi essa hoi

(Note the hodge podge of influences {old, new and foreign}, important to the isolated island)
+Japanese hippies went to Okinawa to search for roots
From the release Celebration, Vap, Inc., 1982
©1982 Uni-Japan Music, Inc.
®Nichion, Inc.


Shoukichi Kina: vocals
Ryomei Shirai: guitar
Makoto Yano: keyboards
Kohki Itoh: bass
Kiyohiko Semba: percussion
Shigeru Inoue: drums
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7. Bashagua Suncha (The Cart Puller)
Music and Lyrics by Shoukichi Kina
Arranged by Shoukichi Kina

Pulling a cart, where you goin’, where you goin’?
From the mountain I’m carrying firewood, peacefully
Making friends with Saburo, the horse
Giddyup, Giddyup
Whippin’ its hind, Giddyup
My heart’s impatient, it’s in a hurry, Giddyup
Calm down, calm down or you won’t get there

A pail on your head, where you goin’, where you goin’?
To sell fish in town,
I’m in a hurry, Giddyup
Fish for sale!
Octopus, mackerel and snapper
You better buy now or they’ll be gone
Look! They’re all gone

A pig on your shoulder, where you goin’, where you goin’?
Today’s a celebration for 88-year-olds*
I’m gonna’ cook with Taro, my neighbor
Don’t squeal, don’t squeal, little pig
If you squeal, we can’t celebrate
Don’t squeal, don’t squeal, just calm down

A bamboo basket on your shoulder, where you goin’, where you goin’?
I’m on my way to pick sweet potatoes in the field
That’s our supper tonight
Working hard, working hard
For my kids waiting at home
I’m working hard, working hard

*Important year at which one gains “permanent age”, and receives presents including a red seat cushion

From the vinyl single on Champloose, Inc.
©1977 Shinko Music Publishing Co., Ltd.
®Champloose Inc.


Shoukichi Kina: vocals and guitar
Sachiko Kina: backing vocals
Yaeko Inamine: backing vocals
Tsuyoshi Matayoshi: sanshin
Shinsei Isa: bass
Yasukazu Touyama: drums
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8. Crazy Kacharsee
Music and Lyrics by Shoukichi Kina
Arranged by Tito Kawachi and Makoto Kubota

When the sun beams on the mountain
Toward the old man, a fresh good morning
The flowers smile, “good morning”
A rooster belatedly cock-a-doodledoos
All right, let’s dance, you and I
Yes, let’s dance, grandmas and grandpas

A frog in the pond says good day
Startling the old man
The petrified man smiles and says good day
The frog smiles back, “good day”
All right, let’s dance, you and I
Yes, let’s dance, mommy and daddy

In the field, the old man decides the daikon is tonight’s supper
Surely, grandma would be mad
The old man changes his mind
Potatoes and carrots growing
All right, let’s dance, you and I
Yes, let’s dance, sister and brother

On his way home, the old man rests
Then a mole comes out and says hello and
What a harvest !
Then the smiling face says, of course, always a great harvest
All right, let’s dance, you and I
Yes, let’s dance, grandpa and grandma

The moon rises and says good evening, grandpa
And grandma
The neighbor’s dog barked, good evening, too
A meowing cat smiles, “good evening”
All right, let’s dance, you and I
Yes, let’s dance, mommy and daddy

From the release Blood Line, Polydor K.K., 1989
©Uni-Japan Music, Inc.
®Nichion, Inc.


Shoukichi Kina : guitar, vocals
Makoto Kubota: combo organ, synthesizer
Tito Kawachi: drums, synthesizer

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9. Subete No Hito No Kokoro Ni Hanna O
Flowers For Your Heart

Music and Lyrics by Shoukichi Kina
Arranged by Tito Kawachi and Makoto Kubota

River flowing, where does it go?
People flowing, where, where do they go?
When the flow comes to the end
Like flowers, let’s make them bloom
*Chorus: Cry, smile
Some day, some day, let’s make them bloom

Tears flowing, where do they go?
Love flowing, where does it go?
Like flowers, let’s embrace them
*(Chorus)

Flowers smile like flowers
People shed tears like people
That is nature’s song
In your heart, in your heart, let’s make them bloom
*(Chorus)

From the release Blood Line, Polydor K.K., 1989
©Uni-Japan Music, Inc.
®Nichion, Inc.


Shoukichi Kina: Guitar, vocals
Tomoko King: vocals
Ry Cooder: slide & acoustic guitars, flat mandolin
Makoto Kubota: acoustic guitar, electric piano, backing vocals
Macky Ferry: electric bass, backing vocals
Tito Kawachi: drums
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10. Haisai Ojisan / Hey Man!
Music and Lyrics by Shoukichi Kina
Arranged by Shoukichi Kina

Hey, man! Hey, man !
If there’s a drop of sake left in last night’s little bottle
Won’t you give me some?
Hey, boy! Hey, boy!
You think I’m satisfied with a little bottle?
Don’t say there’s none left!
Ok, man! If the little bottle’s not enough, give me a big one

Hi, man! Hi, man!
I wanna marry, I’m not a kid anymore
Can I marry your daughter?
Hey, boy! Hey boy!
Marry? No kidding!
You’re still too young to talk about such things
Ok, man! I’ll wait till my hair turns white

Hi, man! Hi, man!
What a big bald spot you have!
Hey, boy! Hey, boy!
Bald men are excellent
My forefathers were really excellent
Ok, man! I’m gonna have cosmetic surgery to add bald spots

Hi, man! Hi, man!
Your beard is funny, like the whiskers of an attic mouse
Hey, boy! Hey, boy !
Laugh at my beard, but women love bearded men
Ok, man! I don’t wanna be outdone by you,
Starting tomorrow, I’ll grow a beard that looks like the whiskers of a mouse

Hi, man! hi, man!
Last night’s hooker was really pretty, you should go there, too
Hey, boy! Hey, boy !
In Chiji, Nakajima and Watanji,* I’m a big shot
Okay, man! Going around here and there, I’m wasting my money
You’re wasting your money

*Red light districts in Okinawa

From the vinyl single on Champloose, Inc.
©1977 Shinko Music Publishing Co., Ltd.
®Champloose, Inc.


Shoukichi Kina: vocals, guitar
Tsuyoshi Matayoshi: sanshin
Shoei Kina: sanshin
Sachiko Kina: sanba, cho
Yaeko Inamine: sanba, cho
Shinsei Isa: bass
Yasukazu Touyama: drums
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11. Eternal Ecstacy
Music and Lyrics unknown author
Arranged by Shoukichi Kina and François Breant

For your smile
Everything will sing and dance forever
Sensing your fragrance, these are my thoughts
*Chorus: Dance, dance, into your heart, dance dance
I’ll fly to you, dance, dance, with a radiant heart, dance dance
I’ll fly to you, dance, dance, fly to you, dance dance
You of whom I dream

In your hands
Everything shines like a light, forever
Sensing your fragrance, I think about this
*(Chorus)

With your glance
Everything opens and melts forever
Sensing your fragrance, I thing about this
*(Chorus)

At the sound of your voice
Everything smiles and echoes forever
Maroon-colored flowers give love to the cosmos
When you turn your face
Everything is in love with this girl forever
*(Chorus)

From the release Earth Spirit, Planet Earth/Toshiba EMI Ltd., 1991
©Uni-Japan Music, Inc.
® Nichion, Inc.


Shoukichi Kina: Vocals
Sachiko Kina & Champloose: vocals
Ashik Peter Lynch: violins
Ives Ndjock: guitar
François Breant: keyboards
Tierry Fanfant: bass
Jaco Dargent: percussion
Jean Pierre Fanfant: drums
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12. Iynu-Pri
Music and Lyrics by Shoukichi Kina
Arranged by Makoto Yano

*Chorus: hahahahai hahahahai hahahahai hahahahai
inuku charake inuku charake


When there’s wind and rain, a storm rises
A well known name at Ponyaun
Joyful, cheerful North Country
*(Chorus)

When heaven and earth holler and sing
The renowned Ainu people
In the joyful, cheerful North Country
*(Chorus)

Come now and make Ponyaun
Gods and devils sing and dance
In the joyful, cheerful North Country
*(Chorus)

The valley of nature sings and dances and
Gives eternal life
In the joyful, cheerful North Country
*(Chorus)

From the release Celebration, Vap, Inc., 1982
©1982 Uni-Japan Music, Inc.
® Nichion, Inc.


Shoukichi Kina: vocals
Ryomei Shirai: guitar
Makoto Yano: keyboards
Kohki Itoh: bass
Kiyohiko Semba: percussion
Shigeru Inoue: drums
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13. Iya-Hoi!
Lyrics by Shoukichi Kina, Music by Takao Nagama
Arranged by Tito Kawachi and Makoto Kubota

Gale winds and ceaseless downpours, Okinawa is crying
Tears are streaming
*Chorus: Ah what are we gonna do? Okinawa is crying
Iya-hoi iiya-hoi iiya-hoi Okinawa is crying

The luminescent moon is forever stable
Only the hearts of people change easily
*(Chorus)

If god exists, we pray for his protection over Okinawa’s future
Ah what are we gonna do? No matter how much we pray
It will never be enough
*(Chorus)

From the release Blood Line, Polydor, K.K., 1989
©Uni-Japan Music, Inc.
®Nichion, Inc.


Shoukichi Kina : Guitar, vocals
Makoto Kubota: backing vocals,12 string acoustic guitar,
Tito Kawachi: backing vocals
Shikou Touma: backing vocals
Touru Higa: backing vocals
Jaco Dargent: percussion
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