Pizzicato Five - Poetry Reading By Genqui Numata Lyrics
(to a person descending a staircase)Translator: rie iizukaKeitaro: eto kyô waItsumo boku-tachiGuest gaIrun desukedomo, kyô mo, e...Subarashii guest wo o-mukaeShite orimasu.E... geijutsu-ka no kata desu.Saki hodo utsutteta utsukushiiKono e toka mo kare noSakuhin nan desu gaIdai naru shijin de ariShashin-ka de aruNumata genki san desu.Numata: oss! oss!Numa-gen desu.Kyô wa ippen noShi wo rôdoku saseteItadakimasu.Pizzicato five niSasagemasu.Kaidan wo kakeoriru hito.Kaidan wo kakeoriru hito yoHitai ni ase wo nijimaseObiekitte metsuki deKaidan no ue wo kage no yô niSuberu hitoHaru no chikadô wa hokori no nioiNamanurui kaze ga fukiagete kuruRhythm wo tamotteRhythm wo tamotteTan tan to kaidan woOrite ikeNaname ni taorekakaru building woTorinukeInu wo kettobashiNeko wo kettobashiKippu uriba made hayaashi daItsumoItsumo ashi ga oira no mono to waKagiranaiRhythm wo tamochiRhythm wo tamochiTamochikirenakunatta tokiSoko ni shintai toAshi no motsure atta tokiSoko ni yawaraka naRakka ga aru no daAshi ga karada wo hanareteItte shimau no ka wakaranaiSore tomo shinzô hossa noYô na teishi ga aru no ka wakaranaiSore waWakaranaiRhythm wa shidai niHayakunariHayakunatta rhythm wa kuchibiru noFurue to kyômei shihajimeruItsumo rakka waShunkan ni yôi sarete iru no daIttai ore ra waNan nan da?Oira wa ittaiDare nan da?Kansetu wo kishimaseMashi wo haizurimawaruSakuhin na no ka?Irotsuke wo shita yô naAozora niHibikiwataru koe na no ka?Kihaku na kûkan deRakka noSono kasokudo na no ka?Kiete iku hito kageTôzakaru koeChikatetsu no koeRhythm wo tamotteRhythm wo tamotteCharming niElegant niShitashiki ashi yoTooi ashi yoSaa ensoku ni dekakeyôShizuka na toki gaSugite yukuShizuka ni toshi gaAkete yukuSaraba jaa------------------------------------------------Keitaro: well, todayAs usual we haveA special guest.A wonderful guestHas agreed to come here today.Hes an artist.The pictures you sawOn the screenBefore are his.Please a big applauseTo a great poetAnd a great photographerLadies and gentlemen, mr genqui numata.Numata: hi, yall.My name is genqui numata.Tonight I willReadA poem.I dedicate this poemTo pizzicato five.To a person descending a staircase.Hey you, who are descending this staircaseWith sweat on your browAfraid of going down you let your gazeGlide down the stairs like a shadow.Yes, you.This underpass in springtime smells of dustAnd a lukewarm breeze blows by.Keep up your rhythmKeep up your rhythmAnd climb down those stairsAs if your life depended on that.Pass by that leaning buildingKick the dogs awayKick the cats tooAnd go fast to the ticket counter.LegsAre sometimesIndependent beings.Keep up your rhythmKeep up your rhythmAnd when you cant take it anymoreWhen your bodyAnd your legs have reached their limitAt that timeA soft fall will ensue.You feel as ifYour legs fell off your bodyOr maybe theres a pauseLike a heart attackBut you dont know what it is.You dontKnow.You graduallyGather up speedAnd as you speed up your legsAnd your trembling lips start to resonate.The fall comes at the last momentAnd makes it easier.And you ask yourselfWho are we?Who am iAfter al?Your joints squeakAm I nothing butA crawling work of art?Am I nothing butA voice sounding awayAccross this skySo blue it looks like its been dyed?Am I nothing butThe speed ofThis fall through thin air?Shadow that melts awayVoice that dies awayVoice from the subwayKeep up your rhythmKeep up your rhythmWith graceWith flairHey you, legs,Hey you, my distant legsLets go on a strollAs the silent time goes byThe city silentlyOpens itself.Goodbye.
