Gondola no Uta

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Gondola no Uta (ゴンドラの唄, Gondola no Uta^? "The Gondola Song") is a 1915 song that was popular during Taishō period Japan. Lyrics were written by Isamu Yoshii, melody by Shinpei Nakayama.

In Kanji:

いのち短し　恋せよ少女
朱き唇　褪せぬ間に
熱き血潮の　冷えぬ間に
明日の月日の　ないものを

いのち短し　恋せよ少女
いざ手をとりて　彼の舟に
いざ燃ゆる頬を　君が頬に
ここには誰れも　来ぬものを

いのち短し　恋せよ少女
波に漂う　舟の様に
君が柔手を　我が肩に
ここには人目も　無いものを

いのち短し　恋せよ少女
黒髪の色　褪せぬ間に
心のほのお　消えぬ間に
今日はふたたび　来ぬものを

In Japanese:

inochi mijikashi
koi se yo otome
akaki kuchibiru
asenu ma ni
atsuki chishio no
hienu ma ni
asu no tsukihi wa
nai mono wo

inochi mijikashi
koi se yo otome
iza tewo torite
ka no fune ni
iza mo eyuru ho wo
kimiga ho ni
koko ni wa dare mo
konu mono wo

inochi mijikashi
koi se yo otome
nami ni tadayou
fune no yo ni
kimiga yawate wo
waga kata ni
koko niwa hitome mo
nai mono wo

inochi mijikashi
koi se yo otome
kurokami no iro
aseme ma ni
atsuki chishio no
mienu ma ni
asu no tsukihi wa
nai mono wo

In English:

life is brief.
fall in love, maidens
before the crimson bloom
fades from your lips
before the tides of passion
cool within you,
for those of you
who know no tomorrow

life is brief
fall in love, maidens
before his hands
take up his boat
before the flush of his cheeks fades
for those of you
who will never return here

life is brief
fall in love, maidens
before the boat drifts away
on the waves
before the hand resting on your shoulder
becomes frail
for those who will never
be seen here again

life is brief
fall in love, maidens
before the raven tresses begin to fade
before the flame in your hearts
flicker and die
for those to whom today
will never return

It was used as a theme song in Akira Kurosawa's 1952 film Ikiru.

The song is also referenced in the Japanese anime titled, Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden.

From the song, the phrase "Life is short, fall in love maidens..." (Inochi mijikashi, koi seyo otome...) has gained some popularity during the 1990's Japan. Especially the phrase "Koi Seyo Otome" has been used as the title for several songs and a Japanese television drama.

Some parts of the song are also used in the video game series Sakura Wars, sometimes as a subtitle of some of the games of the series (Especially in Sakura Wars 1,2, and 4)