[Surprising!] A children’s song that originated overseas. That familiar nursery rhyme is actually…
Nursery rhymes we often sang as children in kindergarten, nursery school, or elementary school.
Among the ones we still remember as adults, quite a few actually originated overseas.
In this article, we’ll introduce nursery rhymes with roots abroad.
We’ve picked out a variety—from songs that make you think “Come to think of it, that makes sense,” to surprising ones that have you saying, “Wait, that song too?” They’re all familiar across generations, whether it’s something you sang as a child or a song your kids are learning in nursery school.
As you listen, be sure to notice the differences between the versions we often sing and the original tunes!
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[Surprising!] Nursery rhymes of overseas origin. Those familiar nursery rhymes are actually (21–30)
Homesickness on a JourneyAmerika hasshō
Are you familiar with the song “Dreaming of Home and Mother,” which originated in the United States in 1868? This beautiful work, which expresses the feelings of soldiers longing for home after the Civil War, has continued to be loved in Japan under the title “Ryoshū” (“Longing on a Journey”).
Its lyrics poetically convey thoughts of family far away and the nostalgia felt while traveling, and the poignant, wistful melody blends with them in perfect harmony.
It has been used as incidental music in TV dramas and films and is taught and sung in schools as a classic.
It’s a song I’d recommend to anyone who, on an autumn evening, suddenly remembers their hometown or lives apart from their family.
Haze or cloud?Doitsu min’yō
This piece, with its gentle, emotionally rich melody, is a children’s song based on a traditional German folk tune.
The lyrics, which sing of the changing face of nature and the seasons, have the power to bring comfort and nostalgia to listeners, and it is likely this universal beauty that has allowed the song to be loved across generations.
In November 2011, Kawai Publishing released a piano accompaniment arrangement as an “e-score,” making it more accessible for use in concerts and educational settings.
It is perfect for school choir competitions and music school lessons, and is recommended even for those experiencing choral singing for the first time.
In the Japanese translation, care was taken not to diminish the emotional character of the original, resulting in a work that, though a German folk song, resonates deeply with Japanese audiences.
Realm of the Starssanbika
It’s a very interesting discovery that the original source of this song—beloved as a Ministry of Education school song in the Meiji era—was actually the American hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” The work in which Charles C.
Converse set a beautiful melody in 1855 to a poem Joseph Scriven, an Irishman, wrote to comfort his mother, was superbly adapted into Japanese lyrics expressing a yearning for the starry sky by Yosui Sugitani.
Since it was included in Volume 2 of the Integrated Secondary School Songs in 1910, this masterpiece has continued to be sung at school events such as graduation ceremonies and choral competitions.
Gonbe-san’s BabyAmerika hasshō
This is a nursery rhyme depicting Gonbei panicking because his baby has caught a cold.
With its short and simple content, it is also popular as a hand-play song.
Based on the melody of the hymn “Say, Brothers, Will You Meet Us,” it evolved into songs praising John Brown’s achievements in the abolition of slavery, such as “John Brown’s Body” and “The Body of John Brown,” then into the marching song “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and further into the children’s recreation song “John Brown’s Baby,” which is said to have been brought to Japan.
Because of its light and catchy melody, it has been arranged in many ways in Japan as well, including as the theme song for Yodobashi Camera commercials.
Ten thousand feet in the Alpsamerika min’yō
Alps Ichiman-jaku, which depicts climbing in the Alps, is a children’s song that’s also enjoyed as a hand-clapping game.
Because it mentions foreign place names, some might imagine it’s a straightforward translation, but the American original differs greatly in content.
It is said to be based on Yankee Doodle, whose roots are sometimes traced to Europe, yet it is best known in the United States as a patriotic song.
The lyrics mock Europeans and assert the will for American independence, and numerous parodies were reportedly created to suit the circumstances of the time.
In Japan, lyrics evoking the Boy Scouts became established, and the song came to be loved as a nursery rhyme.
In conclusion
We’ve introduced some nursery rhymes that originated overseas—how did you like them? You might have discovered that a song you thought was Japanese actually wasn’t! Since some have different lyrics or a different feel, try enjoying the world of nursery rhymes in a new way.