Hiyamikachi-bushi (ヒヤミカチ節)
I’ve been drawn to music from Okinawa since my first album in 2012, when I met sanshin player and vocalist Sonny Ochiai. This is a more popular and recent Okinawan song that has been adapted by many different kinds of musicians. I’m very grateful to have Sonny Ochiai join me again to sing and play sanshin on this song.
LYRICS
Lyricist: Shinsuke Taira 平良新助
Composer: Seihin Yamauchi 山内盛彬
楽や鳴いしゅらさ 花や咲ち美らさ
我した 此ぬ沖縄
世界に知らさ 世界に知らさ
ヒヤ ヒヤ ヒヤヒヤヒヤ (hiya! hiya! hiya, hiya, hiya!)
ヒヤミカチウキリ ヒヤミカチウキリ (hiyamikachi bushi-ri)
The leaves are flowering, hiya hiya hiya
The sounds around us ring, hiya hiya hiya
Let’s tell the world of it, hiyamikachi bushi-ri
人ぬ取ゆる歳の んぱんぱぬ なゆみ
覚びらじに取たさ
六十ばんじゃ 六十ばんじゃ
ヒヤ ヒヤ ヒヤヒヤヒヤ (hiya! hiya! hiya, hiya, hiya!)
ヒヤミカチウキリ ヒヤミカチウキリ(hiyamikachi bushi-ri)
CREDITS
Sonny Ochiai, vocals, sanshin
Kaoru Watanabe, fue, Japanese percussion
Elena, vocals, mandolin
Michael Bellar, synths, harmonium, percussion
Yoshi Waki, bass
Colin Brooks, drums
Akiko Hiroshima, background vocals