Like a water buffalo
accordion [1985]
by Yuji Takahashi [*1938]
... is a movement of variations
about a political song composed by Takahashi, "a song for Water-buffalo". The
water buffalo is a Japanese symbol for silent suffering, of unopposed suppression.
The water buffalo works on the rice fields until he dies.
[sh, 1997]
Words are born of people's
fears
Music grows from the people's tears
The sound of freedom I can't define
But when I hear it, I know it's mine.
Our brother's freedom is torn
away
Our sister's sorrow is every day
Our hands reach out to them
Though love is strong, we cannot touch them
So we sing their song.
A song is a question and a
memory
There is no limit to what a song can be
The memory's meaning depends on you
The question's answer is what you do.
Singing a song together, walking
down the road,
We don't have long, we are hot and cold,
Stop and go.
But the song plays on
...
Like a water-buffalo.
duration: 10'00