Speak not of lifeTakuro Yoshida

Takuro Yoshida - Don’t Speak of Life (lyrics)Don’t speak of life like you know it allDon’t speak of love like you’ve got it downDon’t speak of dreams the way someone else doesDon’t speak of life, don’t speak of lifeIf you’re gonna talk, then sing it outIf you’re gonna love, then give it allIf you’re gonna dream, then stake your lifeDon’t speak of life, don’t speak of lifeWhen the wind blows through the town at duskI stop and listen to my heartI remember someone I used to loveAnd I feel like I can almost see them nowDon’t speak of life like you know it allDon’t speak of love like you’ve got it downDon’t speak of dreams the way someone else doesDon’t speak of life, don’t speak of lifeIf you’re gonna cry, then cry it outIf you’re gonna laugh, then laugh out loudIf you’re gonna live, then live it throughDon’t speak of life, don’t speak of lifeOn a night when the rain won’t seem to stopI walk with my collar turned upI hum a tune that no one knowsAnd I feel like I can almost flyDon’t speak of life like you know it allDon’t speak of love like you’ve got it downDon’t speak of dreams the way someone else doesDon’t speak of life, don’t speak of lifeIf you’re gonna talk, then sing it outIf you’re gonna love, then give it allIf you’re gonna dream, then stake your lifeDon’t speak of life, don’t speak of life

It’s a song that powerfully sings of the doubts and inner conflicts we face as we go through life, with a stirring vocal performance that shakes the heart.

It’s included on the 1974 album “Ima wa Mada Jinsei o Katarazu” (Not Yet Ready to Speak of Life), whose title is said to have been taken from the lyrics of this track.

While it has a strong yet gentle rhythm that makes it approachable—even for beginners—the tempo is also easy to sing.

The melody is simple and singable, but to convey the song’s atmosphere, a passionate delivery is essential.

It’s important to visualize how to let the words flow and where in each phrase to place your emphasis.

Cape ErimoTakuro Yoshida

Cape Erimo (from the Tsumagoi Concert)

This song exuberantly sings about the calm, uncluttered scenery of Cape Erimo.

Although it was originally provided as a song for Shinichi Mori, it takes on a different atmosphere when performed by its composer, Takuro Yoshida.

Yoshida’s version leans more toward folk, featuring a light, breezy sound and relaxed vocals.

Its simple melody and gentle rhythm make it easy to sing; imagine the softness of nature and deliver it with a tranquil touch.

Until today and from tomorrowTakuro Yoshida

“Until Today and From Tomorrow” by Takuro Yoshida

It’s one of Takuro Yoshida’s signature songs, depicting someone reflecting on the path they’ve taken in life and their connections with others while contemplating the road ahead.

Its popularity is evident from its use in various works, such as the 1972 film “The Weight of the Journey” and the 2001 film “Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called: The Adult Empire Strikes Back.” With a simple, acoustic-guitar-centered sound that embodies classic folk music, it conveys the lyrics’ message all the more clearly.

The repetition of the simple melody makes it easy to sing, and by performing it in a relaxed, murmuring style, you can really bring out the song’s atmosphere.

Friday morningTakuro Yoshida

Friday Morning by Takuro Yoshida

It’s a song that conveys both the warmth of days spent with someone special and the loneliness that follows after losing them.

The way everyday sights trigger images of the departed lover really brings out feelings of confusion and regret.

The layered chorus and instrumentation that create a warm atmosphere also evoke an inability to accept reality.

If you focus on a calm tempo and vocal delivery, as if gazing at a landscape, it should be a song that’s easy to sing.

LuoyangTakuro Yoshida

Setting Sun - Takuro Yoshida

It’s one of Takuro Yoshida’s signature songs, contrasting the image of contemplating life’s long journey with the scenery of the sun setting on the horizon.

It’s also memorable for its many arrangements, including the version used as the theme song for the drama “Ano Natsu ni Dakaretai.” The lyrics, written by Osami Okamoto, are said to be based on his real experiences, and you can feel the authenticity that comes from scenes he actually witnessed.

The gentle, deliberate delivery makes it easy to sing, and it’s important to cherish the words and perform them with care.

After the FestivalTakuro Yoshida

After the Festival - Takuro Yoshida (Yoshida Takuro)

This song sings about the loneliness and emptiness that arrive after a big wave of excitement—a kind of festival—has ended.

It was included on the 1972 album “Genki Desu,” and later appeared as the B-side to the single “Rakuyō.” It’s often described as depicting the atmosphere after the decline of the student movement, evoking an image of turning inward and facing one’s own heart precisely because the major upheaval has passed.

To convey the passage of time and emphasize the loneliness, the key is to sing in a relaxed manner.

With a gentle tempo and a conversational feel, it should be a relatively approachable song to perform.

Poem of ImagesTakuro Yoshida

Poem of Images

This song, which marked Takuro Yoshida’s debut, portrays reflections on society and on one’s own existence.

It was also included on the omnibus album released under the name Hiroshima Folk Village, for which Yoshida served as village chief, titled “It’s Not the Old Sailors Who Can Move the Old Ship Now,” helping to spread Hiroshima’s folk music.

The light, overlapping acoustic guitars leave a strong impression, and the simplicity of the arrangement lets the lyrics come through clearly.

The gentle rhythm and repeated phrases make it easy to sing, but it takes skill to capture the extra-syllabic phrasing—one of Yoshida’s trademarks.