Welcome to Kanagawa

Hurry up, girls, for heaven's sakes!

The Americans will have already landed!

I own a small commercial venture

With a modest clientele

In Kanagawa

I think I see one over there behind the trees!

Shh!

It's been my family's for centuries

And doing very well

For Kanagawa

I hear they're covered all with hair, like some disease

Shh!

Except their knees

Shh!

The arrival of these giants

Out of the blue

Bringing panic to my clients

Alters my view

With so many of them fleeing

Conferring, decreeing

I find myself agreeing

With the ancient haiku

The nest-building bird

Seeing the tree without twigs

Looks for new forests

Exactly

Welcome to Kanagawa

Welcome to Kanagawa!

No!

Welcome to Kanagawa

Oh

Welcome to Kanagawa

So

With all my flowers disappearing (welcome to Kanagawa)

In alarm

I've been reduced to commandeering (welcome to Kanagawa)

From the farm

But with appropriate veneering (welcome to Kanagawa)

Even green wood has its charm (yo-ho!)

Yo-ho!

That you'll have to bend for

Can you see why? (Yo-ho!)

That you need a friend for

Still, you might try (yo-ho!)

That you do through the kimono

Not very much (yo-ho)

That you use glue, then you—

No, no, no, no

Those you don't touch!

Welcome to Kanagawa

Music and food for twenty yen

Music and food

And maybe then

Welcome!

Welcome to Kanagawa!

Music and food and company!

Music and food

And for a fee

Welcome!

When a country is in trouble

Choices are few

And apart from charging double

What can you do?

With my clients off defending

And strangers descending

I find myself depending

On the ancient haiku

The bird from the sea

Not knowing pine from bamboo

Roosts on anything

Exactly.

Welcome to Kanagawa!

Glow!

Welcome to Kanagawa!

Low!

Welcome to Kanagawa!

Grow!

Welcome to Kanagawa!

Go! (Yo-ho)

Yo-ho!

Yo-ho!