Soshu Serenade [Japanese classic serenade] - Sayuri Ishikawa

Soshu Serenade [蘇州夜曲] - Sayuri Ishikawa [石川 さゆり]

Song by Sayuri Ishikawa [石川 さゆり]

Song composed by Yaso Saijyo [西条 八十]

Lyrics written by Ryoichi Hattori [服部 良一]


Sayuri Ishikawa, beautiful Japanese female singer with her soulful mind is singing "Soshu Serenade", Japanese classic serenade.
"Soshu" is literally Japanese pronunciation for "Suzhou", province of Jiangsu, china.

This song initially became very popular among all Asian Nations during 40's before WW2 due to originally sung by Lǐ Xiānglán [Shirley Yamaguchi], famous Japanese female movie star in the Japanese old romantic movie, "China Nights", shown in 1940.

And ever since this song has been covered by various singers and music players, Sayuri's version is said to be the most beautiful cover version among them.

Anyway let's try to enjoy her song!


[Contents of Lyrics in English]

I would listen to a dreamy boat song and a bird's song in your embrace.

Willow weeps lamenting falling petals in spring of the water city, Soshu (Suzhou).

(Interlude)

Floating flowers on a stream of a river but whereabouts they will have gone by tomorrow is unknown.

Our figures reflected on the surface of the river tonight would never disappear forever.

(Interlude)

Ornamenting your hair or kissing you with peach flowers filled with sweet fragrance of you.

In hazed moonlight misted with tears the bell is tolling in *Kanzan-ji Temple (Hanshan Temple).


* Kanzan-ji Temple (Hanshan Temple in Chinese), literally "Cold Mountain Temple", is a Buddhist temple and monastery in Suzhou, China. It is located at the town of Fengqiao (lit. Maple Bridge), about 5 kilometres west of the old city of Suzhou.