TANKO-BUSHI
(Coal Miners' Song)

炭坑節





There are many different versions of lyrics in Tanko-bushi.
Then here is one set of lyrics.

***

Tsukiga- deta deta- tsukiga- deta ( a yoi yoi ) Miike Tankoh no- ueni- deta
Anmari entotsuga- takai-node ( a yoisho ) sa-zoya otsukisan- kemuta-karo ( sano yoi yoi )

 <The moon came out, the moon came out, (a yoi yoi) It appeared over Mike Coal Mine.
Chimneys are so tall in the sky, so I guess the moon might have smarting eyes from the smoke>

This lyrics shows how Miike Tanko (Miike Coal Mine) had prospered.


Hitoyama futayama miyama koe ( a yoi yoi ) okuni saitaru- yaetsu-baki
na-m-bo iroyo-ku saita-tote ( a yoisho )samachan-ga kayowanya adano- hana ( sano yoi yoi )

Anataga sonokide yuno-nara ( a yoi yoi ) omoikirima-su wakare-masu
motono musume-no juhachi-ni ( a yoisho ) kaeshite kureta-ra wakare-masu ( sano yoi yoi )

O-mae sakiyama shigoto- nara ( a yoi yoi ) watasha sentan- ondo-tori
kuro- suru hi-to saseru- hi to ( a yoisho ) uta de noroke-te tomoka-segi ( sano yoi yoi )

Mogura- hi no me wa nigate- daga ( a yoi yoi ) yama no oira wa- ikina- mono
tsu-ki ga deru no o machika-nete ( a yoisho ) ka-wai- ano ko- ga sode o- hiku ( sano yoi yoi )

Ha-rete Souhi-ga kuru made wa- ( a yoi yoi ) kokoro hito-tsu mi wa futa-tsu
Ha-nare banare no setsunasa-ni ( a yoisho ) yu-me de samachan-to katarita-i ( sano yoi yoi )


***

①　Dig, dig (right)

②　Dig, dig (left)

Take your right foot a step forward and dig coal out with a shovel twice.

Repeat on the left side twice.
Pause , Tsukiga- deta deta-



③　shoulder

④　shoulder

⑤　go back

⑥　go back


Step your right foot forward and put coal into a basket on your back over your shoulder


The same action with your left foot and hand.


The basket become so heavy, then you go back. Step back your left foot first.  You  still try to put coal into the basket with your right hand.


Step back your right foot. Hold up your left hand.
tsuki ga- deta- a yoi

⑦　push

⑧　push

⑨　open

⑩　You did it !

Chochon-ga-chon


Step your right foot forward and push a coal cart.


Step your left foot forward and push a coal cart.


In order to spread coal on the ground, cross your arms in front of you body and then move them to your sides.  Slightly bend your knees at the same time


Put your feet together and clap your hands twice, pause, then clap once.


original pictures courtesy of Tagawa City