Jigoku Dayū Songtext

Metaphorically and symbolically living in literal purgatory

Sewing in the illustrations:
Endless torture, raging demons
All reside in devil's fire
Underworld: Yomi - "home"
Why is she depicting all the
Scenes of hell and its inflictings
Into her kimono's textures?
Time to see - what's come to be

She has spent her life as a servant of man and their disgusting desires
Metaphorically and symbolically living in literal purgatory

Long ago lived Otoboshi: daughter of a samurai
Father killed, the family fled into the mountains
Ambushed soon
Bandits kidnapped her and sold her to a local brothel
Forced into a life of servitude - a courtesan for all
Naming herself Jigoku - she wrapped herself in scenes of hell Flame and fire - skeletons - this kimono; life: represented
Rising to the highest rank of courtesan she climbed
But skeletons, in bags of flesh - is all we are

Skeletons, in bags of flesh - is all we are
Skeletons, in bags of flesh - is all we are

Soon was sought by a zen priest who wanted to meet this elite
Trading poems and revelations; Jigoku soon tests the monk
Sees him dancing - skeletons; consuming flesh and alcohol
Over the years, finding enlightenment from Ikky¡Ø's teachings
Do not bury me or burn my body when I have died
Throw me in the fields
So that I may feed all the starving dogs
Do not bury me or burn my body when I have died
Throw me in the fields

So that I may feed all the starving dogs
It kills me to see just what they've done
It kills me to see just what she has become
It kills me to see just what they've done
It kills me to see just what she has become
Fell ill, sings a song
The song ends, she dies

It kills me to see just what they've done
It kills me to see just what she has become
Young, but at peace
Life of hell cured by the hypocrite priest
It kills me to see just what they've done
It kills me to see just what she has become