Libera - Once (Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence)

Once is Libera’s interpretation of the haunting melody of Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence by the late Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Filmed at Nakano Numabukuro Hikawa Shrine, near where Sakamoto was born and grew up, it represents the coming together of both Western and Japanese musical and cultural influences as the Libera boys learned about the customs of traditional Japanese Shinto shrines.

The dancers representing both the shrine maiden and the goddess exchange and combine Japanese and contemporary Western dance styles as they interact with the tree of life at the centre and the Libera singers at the shrine. The music acts as a bridge between heaven and earth, conveying a prayer for peace across time and space.

Music: Ryuichi Sakamoto
Arranged: Sam Coates
Words: Sam Coates
Melody used with the permission KAB Japan Inc. on behalf of Ryuichi Sakamoto's estate.

Lyrics:

Once upon a dream
I was searching for you
Once upon a dream
I called to you
Once upon a dream
I was lost and lonely
Once upon a dream

Once upon a time
Now there’s only but a
memory of the time
I feel it still
Once upon a time
How I cherish all the
memories of that time

Once upon a place
Where we built our future
There within that place
It haunts me still
Once upon a place
How my life retains the
imprint of that place

Once upon a wish
That we’ll move together
Held within a wish
Eternally
Knowing that a wish
Is enough to hold me
In your loving arms.

Once upon a life
Walking hand in hand through
Moments of our life
For evermore
Once upon a life
Spent together sharing
Every part of life

Once

This song features on our album "Dream"
https://libera.org.uk/music/dream
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Choreography/Dancer: Ayumi Nakaoka
Dancer: Akino Konno
Art direction/Tree of Life: Yuiru
Make-up Artist: Takayuki Tanizaki

Director: Akihiro Sakata (Clutch Inc.)
Producer: Tomoko Fujikane (Pickel Inc.)
Production Manager: Ryouta Teragaki
Production Assistants: Katsuya Itoigawa, Hitomi Yamaguchi (Clutch Inc.)
Director of Photography: Shinji Saito
Cameraman: Mizuki Sonoda (629 Inc.)
1st Camera Assistant: Tadashi Takahashi (629 Inc.)
2nd Camera Assistant: Mizuki Ara (629 Inc.)
Lighting Planner: Tatsuya Ishigaki (Dome)
Drone Operator: Michito Tanaka (Tanaka Aerial Photographer)