In rural Japan much of the caring for small children is by grandparents, so that if they are away, of course the child might cry. This song, though often enough sung out of realistic context by one of the grandparents, nevertheless reflects truly the close bond between the alternate generations.
105
Nenneko Torahachi
Baba no mago
Baba oraren
Jī no mago
Jī wa doke ikaita[1]
Jī wa machi
Fune kai ni
Fune wa nakatte
Uma kōta[2]
Uma wa doke Tsunagaita
Uma wa sendan no ki[3] Tsunagaita
Nan kwasete Tsunagaita
Hami kwasete Tsunagaita
Go to sleep Torahachi,
Grandma’s grandchild.
Grandma is not here,
Grandpa’s grandchild.
Grandpa where did he go?
Grandpa went to town
To buy a boat.
There was no boat
He bought a horse.
The horse, where Did he tie it?
The horse to a sendan tree He tied it.
What did he feed it Tied to a tree?
He gave it a bit, Tied to a tree.
Turtle Dove
106
Yezo yaro[4]
Nenne horori
Yama de naku no wa
Yama bato yo
Horo horo horori
Nen horori
Bōya wa yoi ko da
Nenne shinai
Yezo yaro
Nen horori
That cries in the mountain
Is the turtle-dove.
Horo horo horori
Nen horori
Sonny is a good boy
Go to sleep.