Kaji Meiko Lyrics - Urami Bushi

Urami Bushi [怨み節] is the theme song of Female Prisoner 701 Scorpion and is sung by the film's lead femme fatale Kaji Meiko (梶芽衣子). This and another of her songs were recently used by Quentin Tarantino in both volumes 1 & 2 of Kill Bill.

If you are interested in Kaji's songs, she released an audio CD containing 20 songs from this same (early 1970s) era, all of which she sings and several of which are theme songs from films she played the lead role in.

The following English lyrics are my own LITERAL translation and are not intended to be (nor are they in any sense of the words) rhythmic or poetic. To date, I do not believe these lyrics have yet been formally translated into English, and so I would ask that you (correctly) treat the following as a uniquely SaruDama contribution.

Urami Bushi [怨み節] (Bitter Melody / aka Grudge Song)

花よきれいと おだてられ 咲いてみせれば すぐ散らされる 馬鹿な バカな バカな女の 怨み節 Hanayo kireito odaterare Saitte misereba sugu chiraseraru Baka-na Baka-na Baka-na onna-no urami bushi The flower, if it is pretty, becomes flattered (Then) If it shows itself in full blossom, soon its petals are scattered Foolish! Foolish! Foolish woman's bitter melody. ----------- さだめ哀しと あきらめて 泣きをみせれば また泣かされる 女 おんな 女の涙の 怨み節 Sadane kanashito akiramete Naki o misereba mata nakasareru Onna onna onna-no namida-no urami bushi If fate is harsh, you must accept it If you show yourself crying, you will be forced to cry again A Woman, a woman, a woman's tears' bitter melody* ----------- 憎いくやしい 許せない 消すない消えない 忘れられない つきぬつきぬ つきぬ女の怨み節 Nikui kuyashii yursenai kesunai kisenai wasurarenai Tsukinu tsukinu tsukinu onna-no urami bushi This hateful regret, I cannot forgive It is not erased. I does not disappear. I cannot forget it. Pierced through, pierced through. Pierced through woman's bitter melody. ----------- 夢よ未練と わらわれて さめてみせます まださめきれぬ 女おんな 女ごころの 怨み節 Yuumei-yo mirento warawarete Samete misemasu mada samekireru Onna onna onna gokoro-no urami bushi When dreams bring lingering regret, laugh If they appear while you're awake, don't close your eyes A woman, a woman, a woman's heart's bitter melody ----------- 真赤なバラにゃ トゲがある 刺したかないが 刺さずにゃおかぬ 燃えるもえる 燃える女の 怨み節 Makka-na bara-nya toge ga aru Sashitaka naiga sasazu nya okanu Moeru moeru moeru onna-no urami bushi The most brilliantly red rose has many thorns If the (thorn's) wound was not deep, it was not fate to wound deeply Burning, burning. Burning woman's bitter melody. ----------- 死んで花実が 咲くじゃなし 怨み一筋 生きて行く 女おんな 女いの命の 怨み節 Shinde hanami** ga saku jyanashi Urami hitosuji ikite iku Onna onna onna-no inochi-no urami bushi The dying fruit of the flower*, it can no longer bloom In blind bitterness it lives out its days A woman, a woman, a woman's life's bitter melody. 終　[END]

[Notes:
* A more readable English translation here and in the other verses would be something like "The bitter melody of a woman's tears", but this song makes a point of ending each verse with the phrase "bitter melody".

** The term hanami also carries a metaphorical reference to the "interior and exterior" -- here referring to the singer's heart (interior) and body (exterior).]