Mēdē ka
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"Mēdē ka" (Japanese: メーデー歌, lit. 'May Day Song'), also known by its opening line "Kike bankoku no rōdōsha" (Japanese: 聞け万国の労働者, lit. 'Listen, workers of the world') is a Japanese work song composed by Uichi Kuribayashi with lyrics written by Isamu Ōba. It was released in May 1922.
Background[edit]
The melody of Mēdē ka goes back to Shōnanko, a gunka composed by Kenshi Nagai in 1899. Shōnanko's melody then was borrowed by the dormitory song Amūru gawa no ryūketsu ya in 1901, which was then borrowed by gunka Hohei no honryō in 1911.
In the 3rd May Day in 1922, Mēdē ka was announced. The melody of Hohei no honryō was adapted for Mēdē ka, and the lyrics were written by Isamu Ōba, who was an employee and union member of Ikegai Iron Works.
JASRAC considers Uichi Kuribayashi to be composer of the song, as he was thought to be the composer of Amūru gawa no ryūketsu ya and Hohei no honryō. However, there are accounts that claimed both Kuribayashi and Nagai were the composers of both Amūru gawa no ryūketsu ya and Hohei no honryō.[1]
Recently, Mēdē ka is still played in every May Day and because of its melody, it is more popular than The Internationale in Japan.
In North Korea, it is covered by the State Merited Chorus of the Korean People's Army as "Medega" (Korean: 메데가, lit. 'May Day Song') in the Korean language.
Lyrics[edit]
Japanese lyrics[edit]
| Kyūjitai | Shinjitai | Rōmaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 聞け萬國の勞働者
轟き渡るメーデーの 示威者に起る足取りと 未來を吿ぐる鬨の聲 |
Kike bankoku no rōdōsha
Todoroki wataru mēdē no Jīsha ni okoru ashidori to Mirai o tsuguru tokinokoe |
Listen, workers of the world
To the furor of May Day This is the march of the protestors and This is the war cry for the future | |
| 汝の部署を放棄せよ
汝の價値に目醒むべし 全一日の休業は 社會の虛僞を打つ物ぞ |
社会の虚偽を打つ物ぞ |
Nanji no busho o hōki seyo
Nanji no kachi ni meza mube shi Zen ichi nichi no kyūgyō wa Shakai no kyogi o utsu monozo |
Abandon your departments
Awaken your true worth within Strike for a whole day Break the contradictions of society |
| 永き搾取に惱みたる
無產の民よ決起せよ 今や二十四時閒の 階級戰は來たりたり |
Nagaki sakushu ni nayamitaru
Musan no tamiyo kekki Seyo Imaya nijūyo jikan no Kaikyūsen wa kitari tari |
Angered by long-term exploitation
Will bring the rise of the Proletariat Twenty-fours from now Fight the war of class | |
| 起て勞働者奮い起て
奪い去られし生產を 正義の手もて取り返せ 彼らの力何物ぞ |
Tate rōdōsha furuitate
Ubai sarareshi seisan o Seigi no te mote torikaese Karera no chikara nani monozo |
Rise up, workers, rise up
Seize the means of production With the hand of justice Why fear their power | |
| 我等が步武の先頭に
揭げられたる自由旗を 守れメーデー勞働者 守れメーデー勞働者 |
Warera ga hobu no sentō ni
Kakageraretaru jiyūki o Mamore mēdē rōdōsha Mamore mēdē rōdōsha |
In the front of our march
The flag of liberty is hoisted Defend it, workers of May Day Defend it, workers of May Day |
Korean lyrics[edit]
| Hanja | Chosŏn'gŭl | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 들어라 萬國의 勞動者
天地를 振動하는 메데를 示威者들맞추는발걸음소리 메데를 告하는 우렁찬 소리 |
들어라 만국의 로동자
천지를 진동하는 메데를 시위자들 맞추는 발걸음소리 메데를 고하는 우렁찬 소리 |
Tŭrŏra man'gugŭi rodongja
Ch'ŏnjirŭl chindonghanŭn mederŭl Shiwijadŭl match'unŭn palgŏrŭmsori Mederŭl kohanŭn urŏngch'an sori |
Listen, workers of the world
May Day is vibrated in the Heavens and Earth This is the sound of the protesters' footsteps This is the loud cry of May Day |
| 工廠門을모조리닫한버리고
모두다 鬥爭에 달려나오라 온하루동안을破業함은 社會의모순을깨뜨림이다 |
공장문을 모조리 닫아버리고
모두다 투쟁에 달려나오라 온 하루 동안을 파업함은 사회의 모순을 깨뜨림이다 |
Kongjangmunŭl mojori tadabŏrigo
Moduda t'ujaenge tallyŏnaora On haru tonganŭl p'aŏp'amŭn Sahoeŭi mosunŭl kkaettŭrimida |
Shut down the factory doors
Everybody comes out to the struggle To strike for a whole day is to break the contradictions of society |
| 기나긴 摘取에 시달려 오던
無産者大衆아 蹶起하여라 오늘 하루 온終日 스물네時間 艱烈한 階戰이 開始作되였다 |
기나긴 착취에 시달려 오던
무산자 대중아 궐기하여라 오늘 하루 온종일 스물네시간 가렬한 계급전이 시작되였다 |
Kinagin ch'akch'wie shidallyŏ odŏn
Musanja taejunga kwŏlgihayŏra Onŭl haru onjongil sŭmulleshigan Karyŏrhan kyegŭpchŏni shijaktoeyŏtta |
In the throes of long-term exploitation
Will bring the rise of the Proletariat All day long, 24 hours A fierce class war has begun |
| 일어나라 勞動者들 분투하여라
빼앗겨 버렸던 모든 生産物 正義의 손으로 도로들 찾자 놈들의 勢力이 그 무엇이냐 |
일어나라 로동자들 분투하여라
빼앗겨 버렸던 모든 생산물 정의의 손으로 도로들 찾자 놈들의 세력이 그 무엇이냐 |
Irŏnara rodongjadŭl punt'uhayŏra
Ppaeatkyŏ pŏryŏttŏn modŭn saengsanmul Chŏngŭiŭi sonŭro torodŭl ch'atcha Nomdŭrŭi seryŏgi kŭ muŏshinya |
Rise up, workers, struggle
Seize the means of production With the hand of justice Why fear their power |
| 우리들의 先頭에 휘날리는 旗
드높이 달려 있는 우리 붉은旗 지켜라 메데의 勞動者 死守하라 메데의 勞動者 |
우리들의 선두에 휘날리는 기
드높이 달려 있는 우리 붉은기 지켜라 메데의 로동자 사수하라 메데의 로동자 |
Uridŭrŭi sŏndue hwinallinŭn ki
Tŭnop'i tallyŏ innŭn uri pulgŭn'gi Chik'yŏra medeŭi rodongja Sasuhara medeŭi rodongja |
Our flag is flying at the head of our march
Our red flag is hoisted up high Defend it, May Day's workers Defend it until death, May Day's workers |
References[edit]
- ↑ October 2, 2009, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, "Bunka Orai"
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