Kiri's Piano
Harmony Amidst Hardship: Kiri's Piano Tale
Lyrics
Of all of Kiri Ito's joys, the thing she loved the best
Expressing the joys that Kiri Ito cherished in life.
Was to play her prized piano when the sun had gone to rest
Highlighting Kiri's love for playing her cherished piano during the evening.
I used to hear the notes drift down along the silent water
Recalling the sound of Kiri's piano notes drifting over the silent water.
As Kiri played the notes and scales for her dear sons and daughters
Kiri playing music for her children, emphasizing family connections.
Now me I played piano though not as good as Kiri
The narrator also plays the piano but acknowledges Kiri's superior skill.
She went in for that long haired stuff but my she played it pretty
Describing Kiri's preference for classical or intricate music.
The old piano had a tone would set my heart to aching
Expressing the emotional impact of the piano's tone on the narrator.
It always sounded sweetest though when it was Kiri playing
The piano sounds sweetest when played by Kiri, emphasizing her talent.
In December when the seventh fleet was turned to smoke and ashes
Referring to historical events, possibly World War II, and its impact on Kiri's life.
The order came to confiscate their fishing boats and caches
Orders to confiscate belongings, indicating the hardships faced by Japanese-Americans during wartime.
And Kiri's husband forced to go and work in labour camps
Kiri's husband sent to labor camps, leaving her to face challenges alone.
And Kiri left alone to fend and hold the fort as best she can
Kiri's resilience in managing the household in her husband's absence.
But the music did not drift as often from up the cove at Kiri's house
A decline in the frequency of music from Kiri's house, signaling changing circumstances.
And when it did it sounded haunted played with worry played with doubt
The music, when played, reflects Kiri's emotional state—worried and doubtful.
For Kiri knew that soon she too would be compelled to leave
Kiri anticipating her own forced relocation and the emotional impact on her.
And the old upright would stay behind and Kiri she would grieve
The old piano left behind, symbolizing loss and sorrow for Kiri.
I loaded Kiri on the bus with stoic internees
The narrator's involvement in the forced relocation of Kiri and others.
The crime that they were guilty of was that they were not like me
Highlighting the injustice faced by Kiri and others based on their identity.
And if I was ashamed I didn't know it at the time
The narrator's lack of awareness or acknowledgment of shame at the time.
They were flotsam on the wave of war they were no friends of mine
Disassociation from those facing discrimination during the wartime wave.
I went up to Kiri's house to tag all their belongings
Sorting and preparing Kiri's belongings for auction, indicating a lack of empathy.
And set them out for auctioneers who'd claim them in the morning
The act of claiming belongings for auction, detached from the emotional context.
One piece that I thought I'd keep and hold back for myself
The narrator's desire to keep Kiri's piano for personal reasons.
Was that haunting ivory upright that Kiri played so well
Kiri's piano being a significant and haunting piece of her identity.
But Kiri had not left it there for me to take as plunder
Kiri deliberately preventing the narrator from taking her piano as a form of resistance.
She'd rolled it down onto the dock and on into the harbor
Kiri's piano rolled into the harbor, a symbolic act of reclaiming control.
That old upright in strangers' hands was a thought she couldn't bear
Kiri's reluctance to let her piano be possessed by strangers.
So she consigned it to the sea to settle the affair
The piano consigned to the sea, a poignant resolution to Kiri's connection with it.
So many years have come and gone since Kiri's relocation
The passage of time since Kiri's relocation and the reflection on past actions.
I look back now upon that time with shame and resignation
The narrator's acknowledgment of shame and resignation regarding their past behavior.
For Kiri knew what I did not that if we must be free
Kiri's foresight in understanding the importance of sacrifice for freedom and dignity.
Then sometimes we must sacrifice to gain our dignity
Recognizing the necessity of sacrifice for the greater good.
Yes Kiri knew what I did not that if we must be free
Reiteration of Kiri's wisdom about the relationship between freedom and sacrifice.
Then sometimes we must sacrifice to gain our dignity
Final emphasis on the idea that sacrifices are sometimes required to attain dignity and freedom.
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