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[Editorial comments in boldface text.]
Where do you get the folk songs sung by your characters?
(UY Vol 2, #15) Actually, those songs the farmers sing are all made up by myself so they are by no means authentic folk songs, but they are fun. The Koroshi assassin Icho (UY Vol 3, #5 and UY Book 10) sings a song about pigeons in the issue. What is the translation?
(WWW Board September 2000)-- It's an old folk song:
Po po po very loosely translated, it is:
Po po po Was that a real song that Prince Yamato-Dake's wives sang at his funeral at the end of UY Vol 3, #39?
(WWW Board October 2000) It is a real song but (badly) paraphrased by me. According to a footnote in an 1982 printing of The Kojiki it became traditional to sing it at the funeral of emperors until into the 19th century. The Kojiki is the earliest recorded history of Japan. It was written, by imperial command, in the 8th Century. There is an indepth analysis of the song in the aforementioned volume [The Kojiki: Records of Ancient Matters, translated by Basil Hall Chamberlain (Boston: C.E. Tuttle & Co., 1981)] (UY Vol 3, #43) The funeral songs were actually sung at the emperor's death until the early 20th century, though I did take liberties in paraphrasing the lyrics. It is unclear what species of white bird was intended. Chidori is defined as "any kind of dotterel, plover, or sandpiper." (UY Vol 3, #39) His consorts sang four songs at the prince's funeral. These four were sung at every emperor's death since, until the funeral of Emperor Meiji in 1912 A.D.
There and here The field of We do not fly through The waters encumber us. Beach plovers don't travel the waves but along the seaside... What are some of the songs and poems you've written for Usagi Yojimbo?
Farmers tending their rice fields in UY Summer Special, #1 and UY Book 1 "Lone Rabbit and Child":
Monkey Woodcutters (Husband and Wife) travelling in UY Vol 1, #6 and UY Book 2 "Zylla":
Oh, a peasant's lot is an honest life -- Obaasan singing to her son in UY Vol 1, #8 and UY Book 3 "A Mother's Love":
But it withers Winter covers all But lo how they reappear All has its seasons Zato-Ino on the road seeking a life of peace in UY Vol 1, #9 and UY Book 3 "Return of the Blind Swordspig":
Others are content A loner's life has no regrets The daytime sun travels alone Stan's tribute to Sergio Aragonés' Groo in UY Vol 1, #11 and UY Book 3 "The Tea Cup": He comes, a warrior, out of the blue -- General Oyaneko's final haiku in UY Vol 1, #23 and UY Book 5 "The Way of the Samurai": Falling leaves Jei's brigands celebrating in UY Vol 1, #29 and UY Book 6 "Circles, Part 2 -- Remembrances":
Usagi pretending to be drunk in UY Vol 2, #4 and UY Book 8 "Shi, Part 1"
Kimie's parents and Nobu working in their field in UY Vol 2, #5 and UY Book 8 "Shi, Part 2"
"General" Fujii's brigands partying in UY Vol 2, #9 and UY Book 9 "Slavers, Part 1"
Fisherman in his boat in UY Vol 2, #10 and UY Book 9 "Nature of the Viper"
Oh -- I was Oh -- I was Men on the ship travelling with Jei-san and Keiko in UY Vol 3, #10 and UY Book 10 "The Crossing":
Mr. Jelly searched far "Ho," said Jelly to Mr. Monkey, You'll feast on ripe melons all the day "Oh, yes," said the monkey, who But, far out at sea, Jellyfish "But I left my liver drying on a tree," "Take me back and I'll get it now. So back to the beach And Jelly went back "You foolish thing," the Which is why people The Dragon Queen heard When she learned no Usagi skipping merrily through the forest in UY Vol 3, #11 and UY Book 10 "The Lord of Owls"
It comes to the mountains (Tokagé singing along with Usagi) Obaa-san retrieving the giant peach from the stream in UY Vol 3, #25 and UY Book 13 "Momo-Usagi-Taro"
Singers at Yamato-Dake's wedding celebration in UY Vol 3, #39
The "The FIXME Update needed?  |
FAQ: Questions about songs in Usagi Yojimbo.
