There are a lot of kouta which sets at Fukagawa. Most of them sing about Tomioka Hachiman Shrine. Songs like Tatsumi-no-hidariduma and Adanasake-Hachimanmatsuri are in this group. But there are some kouta set at Fukagawa district. I am going to introduce one of them; Itsushikani.
The lyrics are written below.
いつしかに
Itsushikani
Although I did not noticed,
縁は深川馴れ染めて
En wa fukagawa naresomete
Our deep relationship started in Fukagawa
堰けば逢いたし
Sekeba aitashi
Even someone made us keep apart
逢えばまた
Aeba mata
If we meet again,
浮名立つかや遣瀬なや
Ukina tatsukaya yarisenaya
It might become a scandal, causing dejection
それが苦界じゃないかいな
Sorega kukai jyanaikaina
This is the world of suffering, I think,
兎角浮世は色と酒
Tonikaku ukiyowa iroto sake
Since this fleeting and grieving life is made out of love affairs and sake
浮名立つともままの皮
Ukina tatsutomo mamano kawa
Even if it becomes a scandal, I am ready to date him.
浮いた世界じゃないかいな。
Uita sekai jyanaikaina
I think this is frivolous world.
This song does not have a seasonal words.
In 1855, there was a earthquake and most of the buildings in Yoshiwara burned. Moreover, in 1862, there was a large fire at Yoshiwara and temporary dwellings were built in Fukagawa. The meaning of the Kouta is, a female prostitute liked a man who were just a customer, and their relationship started to go further that the owner of a brothel separated them. Because of this, the woman is sighing over her circumstances. The kanji “深” is used as a meaning of “deep” and name of a place, “Fukagawa.”
Ukina Tatsu means that their relationship will become a rumor in the brothel.
The word “浮世” is referring to 憂き世, which means world of grief and 浮世, which means fleeting world. She decided in this song to date with her love even though it may become a scandal or the owner of the brothel separates them. “Mama no kawa” is a word that people in Edo say when they are desperate. In addition, the word “kawa” connects to the word river.
This song even appears at a play by Nakamura Kichiemon that is called “Hachiman-Matsuri-yomiyano-nigiwai.”
Sources
mak, 投稿者: “深川と歌舞伎.” 深川と歌舞伎 | | 東京小唄・清元・三味線教室 生徒さんブログ, kiyuumi.com/seito/archives/2017/07/151856-2.php.
“中村 吉右衛門 (初代).” 歌舞伎俳優名鑑 想い出の名優篇 「初代中村吉右衛門」, www.kabuki.ne.jp/meikandb/omoide/actor/364.
“小唄「いつしかに」のご紹介。 | 芝恋の三味線・小唄教室.” RSS, rensi26.com/734.
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