Made In Japan

No, really -  I'm not racist. 

 

 

 

My transistor radio comes from far away

And when it′s night over here, over there it's breakin′ day

I remember all the good times I had walkin' in the sand

With the beautiful girl that I met made in Japan

The beauty of her face was beyond my wildest dreams

Like cherry blossoms blooming in the mountain in the early spring

As we walked by the river and she softly took hold of my hand

That's when I fell deep in love with the girl made in Japan

In the dark of night we would lay on Tokyo Bay

And the singin′ of the birds woke us up at the break of day

Her smiling eyes always seemed to try to understand

All the love in my heart for the girl made in Japan

My transistor radio comes from far away

And when it′s night over here, over there it's breakin′ day

She cried when she said she'd been promised to another man

That′s when I left my heart with the girl made in Japan

Yes, my heart will always be with the girl made in Japan

 

I've encountered a couple of people who think this fabulous lyric, written by Bob and Faye Morris, is in one way or another disrespectful.  I just can't see it that way.  It does come from a time when the phrase "made in Japan" was used as a pejorative, but I think the song is taking ownership of the phrase; it's declaring it proudly.  It might seem that it objectifies her to think of her as being "made" like objects are made, but that play on words is the hook of the lyric.  

 

It's the metaphor, and metaphors are usually what makes great lyrics great.

 

The line about cherry blossoms is a nod to the beauty of the land, she's "beyond my wildest dreams", he's "deep in love",  his "heart will always be with" her... he's clearly head over heels in love with this girl.  So maybe everybody around him is saying "made in Japan" as a way to condescend, but he knows they don't know what they're talking about.  He's saying "You use this phrase to dismiss things. I use it to name the best thing that ever happened to me." 

 

There - now I just called her a "thing."  You see - you kind of have to have to roll with it a little.  Or I'm a racist.