Original Concept, Music & Lyrics by Lassie Lady Reimagined Lyrics & Arrangement by ❦*Jennifer.:☪︎ ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ “I stepped off the bus with a wooden case in my hand. The Virginia mountain air smelled of pine beneath the open sky. Bristol was humming up ahead, so I followed the music.” I walked past the main stages toward the old oak shade A street picker was picking out a bright five-string roll A little circle gathered where the dusty pathway turned One quiet woman stood there, listening close nearby I opened up my case and lifted out my shamisen 三本の弦を Virginiaの空の下で構えた I asked the picker softly, “Mind if I join you?” He eyed my shamisen, then smiled and gave a nod The five-string answered back beneath the open sky I sent another phrase, and he caught it with a grin 違う音なのに すぐに息が合った Then boots all around us started kicking up the dust Hear that banjo roll, hear the shamisen ring Five strings and three found a rhythm of their own Two different voices dancing under Bristol skies 違う響きが 一つの歌になった The picker laughed and leaned into the groove That little circle started moving with the sound I never knew these strings could talk this way Yeah, Banjo 'N' Shamisen, let it roll! The picker leaned in harder with a bright five-string run I bent my three strings till the melody began to cry The little circle widened till it spilled across the street Hands were clapping overhead and boots were kicking up dust 午後の陽射しまで 踊り出したようだった Young and old were moving like they'd known the tune for years I looked toward the woman who'd been there from the start She grinned and stepped in closer, ready to raise her voice Five strings called out, and my three came firing back He chased my rising phrase, then I answered with a slide 手拍子まで 二人のrhythmに飛びこんだ By then the whole street was riding on the groove Hear that banjo roll, hear the shamisen ring Now the little circle’s spilling down the street Five strings race ahead, my three come racing back 町中が 一つのbeatで揺れていた Hands in the air, boots beating time beneath the trees Every laugh and shout kept lifting up the sound Bristol caught the rhythm and refused to let it go Yeah, Banjo 'N' Shamisen, carry on! “Hey, You’ve been watching us from the start! I’m Jennifer — what’s your name?” “I’m Lassie.” “And girl, watching you play has got me all fired up.” “Well, I don't play an instrument, but I sure can raise my voice.” “I stepped into that circle and started clapping in time.” (Come on, girl!) Sing it loud — show ’em how we do it in Bristol! That whole street came alive when the banjo and shamisen locked in You brought a sound from Japan right into these Virginia hills I haven't seen a crowd move like that in a long, long while When those final strings rang out, the applause nearly shook the ground And I walked up to you with a grin wide as State Street (Come on, Bristol! Let me hear you!) Hear that banjo roll, hear the shamisen ring (Hear it ring!) From the Blue Ridge mountains to the shores of Japan (Come on!) No map can hold the rhythm we discovered here today (Keep it rollin'!) 遠い二つの場所が 一つの歌で繋がった Five strings met three beneath that old oak tree (That’s right!) And two strangers became friends before the final note was gone (Sing it loud!) Now every time those five and three strings meet again (One more time!) Yeah, Banjo 'N' Shamisen — friends from that day on! “Now that was some magic! Virginia whiskey, pal?” “Only if we’re having sushi with it, pal!” “Ha! You got yourself a deal!” 「乾杯！」 Banjo 'N' Shamisen forever!
