I first liked the melody (obviously 'cause I don't know what she's singing) when I heard it yesterday on my iPod. After I know what she's singing, I found this song unique (see lyrics below). The effects used i.e the sound of hand claps when she sang 'applauses begin' caught me by surprise. This track is by far my best pick in her TODAY album together with one melody.
I especially loved how she sang it at 1:27.
(Track 7. moral no soushiki)
モラルの葬式 (The Funeral of Morals) 作詩：アンジェラ・アキ 作曲：アンジェラ・アキ Lyrics & melody : Angela Aki Translation & Romaji: underthemoon.wordpress.com
フクロウの鳴き声は「死」の警報で the cry of an owl, a warning of “death”, 闇が傷口を開いて満月を出す The full moon appears, opening the wounds of the darkness. 信者から不信心者 神父達まで from believers to non-believers, to even all catholic priests, 喪服を着て風の声に耳をすました it made clear to all ears that the wind’s voice said “wear a mourning dress”
今宵はモラルの葬式だ This evening is the morals funeral. Pater Noster＊
流れ星は空の涙 樹々の嗚咽が森に響く shooting stars are sky tears, trees sobs resound through the forest, 湖は悲哀を 水面を渡る風に伝え The lake grief goes across the water superface, the wind said so, その風が皆を葬儀場に呼んだ That wind invited everyone to the funeral home.
今宵はモラルの葬式だ This evening is the morals funeral.
前の方に愛が座り その隣には next to Love, that is sitting right in front, 哲学がタバコをくわえ思いにふける Philosophy holds a cigarette between the lips, absorved in thoughts. プライドと献身はその真後ろで Pride and Devotion are a little behind, やけに深刻な顔をして話し込んでいる with awfully serious faces, while being deep in talk.
誰もが動揺を隠せない No one hides the commotion. Pater Noster＊
知恵に手を引かれたまだ幼い無垢が Wisdom was attracted to the hand, still a young purity 棺の中に白いバラを投げ込むと Into the coffin, throws a white rose, and 理性が席を立って 黒いベールをまくり Reason stand from the seat and roll up the black veil, 式の最後に皆の前でゆっくりと語り始めた in the conclusion of the ceremony, in front of everyone, started to talk:
「息子との突然の別れに私は今 心を乱している “Son abruptly parted from me, now my heart is in a chaos, 凛とした彼の声 まっすぐなまなざしを his voice still resounds, his honest look, いつまでも忘れない I never will forget it
今でもきっと灯台の様に私達を照らしている Even now, surely, like a light house, he is shining on us all 迷った時 はぐれた時 道が見えない時 when you get perplexed, when you get lost, when you can’t see the the way, 善と悪の節目にそっと あなたの心に 彼は生き続ける」 at the good and bad moments, softly, in your heart, he will live on”
Pater Noster＊
同情が激しくうなずき 拍手が起こり Sympathy nods vehemently, applauses begin, 真実が理性の耳元で言った Truth spoke close to Reason’s ear
「私も息子がいたの “He was a son to me too, 希望がいなくなっても彼は今でも Hope didn’t come, but even now, he, 皆の中で生きている」 inside of everyone, still lives on”
フクロウが鳴き止んで飛び立った頃 When the owl got silent and flew away, 朝もやをかきわけながら太陽が出た the morning also pushed its way through while the solar light appeared.
＊(Latin) The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father or Pater noster is probably the best-known prayer in Christianity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord’s_Prayer