Cherry Blossom - The Fantastic Flying Frogs

Love/Suicide ballads were a popular musical genre in feudal Japan, and continue to be so to this day. This song takes the old Child Ballad “the Daemon Lover,” a.k.a. “The House Carpenter” made popular by Bob Dylan and others, and flips it on its head, where the demon comes as the dead wife of a lonely samurai, tempting him to jump off a cliff to his doom. I wrote this song in 1995 or 1996 while a student at Earlham College where I took a music of Japan course as part of my major in music. It was also inspired by The Beach Boys songs Sumahama and Somewhere Near Japan.

I originally began recording this version with my friend Chad Evans in 2012, intending it to be an acoustic guitar driven, sparse haunting version of the song, but my job moved me and I never completed it. A friend made me promise to “do something” with the song, so I dug out the old recording and finished it off, Beach Boy style.

If you are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts call 1-800-633-3446 or 1-800-273-8255 today.

With Special Guest Drummer Chad Evans
Words and Music: Willy Minnix
Copyright 1997 WillyMinnix

Cherry Blossom
Words and Music: Willy Minnix

G Em
Cherry blossom floating gently by
Em
A fragile flower dying in the breeze
G Em
Take me with you a young man replied
Em
Take me and we’ll travel to the sea

C G
I still hear her heart softly beating
C G
Words of love still in my head repeating
Em C D
Lovely voice as if the wind was singing to me

No one’s left here since my love has died
There’s no reason why I should stay
I’m so lonely the young man cried
Let your waters take me to my grave

Come my darling lay here by my side
Let me hold you in my arms tonight
Let the soothing waters be your guide to me

Cherry blossom floating gently by
A fragile flower dying in the breeze