Inori

by Hiroki Tanaka

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about

Inori is based off of the hymn of the same name by Genzo Miwa. I took the harmony and melody of Miwa’s hymn, and wrote about my feelings of helplessness when caregiving for my uncle and grandmother.

The lyrics at the beginning of the song are about the first time I had to take my grandmother to the hospital - the first of many - and it was a real shock to see my grandmother so frail. It was complicated too by this feeling that if she didn’t return from the hospital, that this would be it, that I would lose my grandmother, the house, a lot of my childhood memories.

The word “Inori” means prayer in Japanese, and I think the song captures that feeling of a desperate prayer, when you feel out of control, and it’s all you can do to try and cope with the inevitable.

lyrics

She’s sick on the bed sheets
They’re soaked all way through
I’ll wash it all
Wash it all away
Wash it all
Wash it all

I’m frightened she’s dying
But if I make the call
They’ll take it all
Take it all away
If I break they’ll just take it all away

Why can’t I hold this time in place
My mind might be weak
If at least I believed

There’s nothing I want more
Than to take pain away
I clasp my hands I clasp my hands
For you
And you’ll forget, you’ll forget me too
And you

credits

released August 28, 2020
Hiroki Tanaka - Vocals, Electric Guitar, Piano, Saxophone
Michael Eckert - Pedal Steel
Matthew Bailey - Acoustic Guitar, Omnichord, bass, producer, recording engineer
Zaynab Wilson - Drums

Recorded at Hiroki's family home and The Immergluck Studio
Amy Kathryn Fort - Mixing Engineer
Reuben Ghose - Mastering Engineer

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about

Hiroki Tanaka Toronto, Ontario

Hiroki Tanaka is releasing his debut solo album, Kaigo Kioku Kyoku (which translates into “Caregiving Memory Songs”).

Built from his experience as a caregiver for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s, and uncle with terminal cancer, Kaigo Kioku Kyoku makes music out of meaningful objects, voice recordings of his relatives, and are structured off of hymns and Japanese folk songs. ... more

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