アイルランドのパブなど、人の集まる場所で歌われ聞く曲はいろいろあるが、中でも Water Is Wide と Song For Ireland がその代表曲ではないかと、異国にいる我々には思えてしまう。 さて、そのような国土を讃えるような歌(曲)は日本にあるのだろうか。 軍歌や国民歌謡のような、一時代や一事象をたたえるものはあるが、日本を悠久の地として万民の心の底に響くような歌を自分には思いつかない。 あえて挙げるとなると、信濃町の隣にある旧豊田村で生まれた「故郷」かもしれない。 「故郷」を作詞した高野辰之の記念館が、信濃町からほど近い所(現在の中野市)にあるが、子供時代を思い起こし懐かしさを感じさせてくれるのは、今のところ、この歌しかないように思う。
そこで、自分の好みの歌手の一人である、Mary Blackが歌うSong For Irelandをリンクした。
Walking all the day, near tall towers where falcons build their nests Siver winged they fly, they know the call of freedom in their breasts Saw Black Head against the sky with twisted rocks that run down to the sea Living on your western shore, saw summer sunsets, asked for more I stood by your Atlantic sea and sang a song for Ireland
Talking all the day with true friends
who try to make you stay
Telling jokes and news,
singing songs to pass the night away
Watched the Galway salmon run
like silver dancing darting in the sun
Living on your western shore
saw summer sunsets, asked for more
I stood by your Atlantic sea
and sang a song for Ireland Drinking all the day in old pubs where fiddlers love to play Someone touched the bow, he played a reel it seemed so fine and gay Stood on Dingle beach and cast in wild foam we found Atlantic bass Living on your western shore, saw summer sunsets asked for more I stood by your Atlantic sea and sang a song for Ireland Dreaming in the night I saw a land where no man had to fight Waking in your dawn I saw you crying in the morning light Lying where the falcons fly, they twist and turn all in you e'er blue sky Living on your western shore, saw summer sunsets asked for more I stood by your Atlantic sea and sang a song for Ireland