Sanmon Gossip
| Playing cops and robbers
’neath Ginza signs All who chance to prosper shall go blind Won’t you buy me a Ric [1] to play What I got ain’t enough to pay I’ll play a riff Plug me into Marshall, [2] I’ll blow out your window And trip my way up to eternal heights RAT [3] and I will lay down and shake out your eardrums A hit of this distortion makes me high houshuu wa nyuushago heikousen de toukyou wa aisedo nannimo nai ryoushuusho kaite choudai zeirishi nante tsuite inai korakuen [4] I’ll rip into those robes and pursue the Dharma A Buddhist monk of my own would feel fine Selflessness and cessation get you Nirvana If Kurt would beat my Gretsch, [5] I think I’d fly shourai sou ni natte kekkon shite hoshii maiban shingu de yuugi suru dake pizaya no kanojo ni natte mitai [6] soshitara benjii, atashi o gurecchi de butte [5] I’m looking for a good way to fly I’m searching for a way you can’t buy You know I know a kickin’ way to die It’s rock and roll, martyrs keep the fans high Still floating, as time rolls by |
The reward’s on the parallel lines after joining a company I love Tokyo but there’s nothing there Gimme a receipt No tax accountants here Korakuen [4] In the future I want you to be a monk and get married Every night on your bed just playing games I wanna try being a pizza place girl [6] And then Benzie smacks me with his Gretsch [5] |
Translation notes: [1] Rickenbacker 620 – her famous guitar, also known for being a favorite brand of the Beatles
[2] Marshall - brand of her amplifier
[3] Rat - her PROCO brand distortion pedal - her ’zine “RAT” is also named after this
[4] Korakuen - a music hall in the Tokyo Dome and a Marunouchi line stop
[5] Gretsch - Asai Kenichi’s guitar
[6] pizza place girl - Shiina Ringo had worked part time at a pizza place before she made it big. She was likely inspired (both in her choice of workplace and in writing this song lyric) by a line in Blankey Jet City's song "Pink no Wakai Buta" which mentions a "pizaya no kanojo" (pizza place girl).
Romanization & translation credit: Brian Stewart & Takako Sakuma
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