Hamabe No Uta

Song of the Shore

Hamabe No Uta

Tomorrow, if I wander by the shore,
あしたはまべをさまよえば
ashita hamabe o samayoeba
I’ll remember the days of yore.
むかしのことぞしのばるる
mukashi no koto zo shinobaruru
The sound of the wind, the clouds drifting by,
かぜのおとよ くものさまよ
kaze no oto yo kumo no sama yo
The waves rolling in, the sea’s colors high.
よするなみも かいのいろも
yosuru nami mo kai no iro mo

Last night, as I passed by the shore,
ゆうべはまべをもとおれば
yuube hamabe o motooreba
I recalled the people from before.
むかしのひとぞしのばるる
mukashi no hito zo shinobaruru
Oh, waves that come in, waves that retreat,
よするなみよ かえすなみよ
yosuru nami yo kaesu nami yo
The moon’s glow and the shadows of stars so sweet.
つきのいろも ほしのかげも
tsuki no iro mo hoshi no kage mo

The swift winds blow through the town,
はやてたちまちなみをふき
hayate tachimachi nami o fuki
The red of the sunset, the sun going down.
あかものすそのれもひじし
aka mo no suso zonure mo hiji shi
The darkness has already begun to fade,
やみしがは すでにいえて
yamishi ga wa sudeni iete
At the shore, the memories cascade.
はまべのまさごまなごいまは
hamabe no masago ma nago ima wa