Abigail Washburn - Alabaster Rose
“Saboten No Hana” is to many the best known song in Kazuo Zaitsu’s celebrated catalog. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is reminded of his lost lover by a cactus plant she left him that starts to bloom. Nashville based Abigail Washburn pays tribute to this theme while incorporating Americana imagery and sounds in the haunting “Alabaster Rose”. |
Lyrics
Alabaster Rose
(English Lyrics by Abigail Washburn)
Come close, let me see your face dear
Your eyes they shine like diamonds in the sky
Winter winds whip round, round my pillow
This dream can only last a little while
Like an alabaster rose you vanish in the falling snow
While the morning dove she flies pine to pine
She mourns for her true love just like I long for you love
I should have held you close when the snows came
Shadows linger like ghosts here
I locked the door I thought I heard you say goodbye
It's just the winds whistling, whistling thru the old vines
You hung so high the day we moved in
Like a Star-of-Bethlehem blooming at the winter's end
Turning, slowly turning toward the sun
I mourn for my true love and hope for a new dove
To sing of the spring in the pines
Like an alabaster rose you vanish in the falling snow
While the morning dove she flies pine to pine
I mourn for my true love and hope for a new dove
To sing of the spring in the pines
Original Japanese Lyrics Translation
Cactus Flower
(Music and Lyrics by Kazuo Zaitsu)
It was such a little thing
But it hurt you
You ran out of the room
Under the winter sky
Half-knit mittens
And half-washed laundry
The soap bubbles shimmered
Your fragrance wafted through the air
I should have loved you
Like snow
That never stops falling
But our love drifted away
Like the snow
Falling against the window
I'll leave this place
So full of memories
When I locked the door
For some reason tears spilled down my face
The cactus you planted
Had a small flower
It was almost spring
But our love was over now
Before this long winter is over
I'll find something to live for
I'll find something to believe in
Before winter is over
Before this long winter is over
I'll find something to live for
I'll find something to believe in
Before winter is over
Click to hear original Japanese song
Click to view original Japanese song lyrics
Credits
Alabaster Rose feat. Abigail Washburn
Music produced by Dave Liang for Undercover Culture Music
Video produced by Jamahl Richardson for 7DayVisa
Inspired by "Saboten No Hana"
Music and Original Lyrics by Kazuo Zaitsu
English Lyrics by Abigail Washburn
Recorded in Nashville, TN (USA)
Engineered by Kevin Dailey
Mixing by Dave Liang
Mastered by Emil Karol
Vocals, banjo, and clogging: Abigail Washburn
Drums: Jamie Dick
All other instrumentation & programming: Dave Liang
