Some Mistranslations - Momus

The funny mistranslations the funny Japanese

Use to fill cd brochures appeal in the west

To the music lover’s sense of the surreal

For example: «You trade our fear for euphoria»

From my song 'King Solomon’s Song and Mine'

In Japan emerged a much more sinister line:

«You trade our veal for your foamy eye»

Huh-huh, that kills me

But some mistranslations are not so funny

When the U.S. ultimatum came at the end of World War II

The Japanese said: «We need some more time to consider what to do»

But Truman, who already knew what weapon he planned to use

Got the message, loud and clear, as: «We refuse!»

My friend Fumiko’s mother was at school

She’d had the luck to break some rule

And got punished, banished to the cellar

She emerged to find her hometown, Hiroshima, vanished