天国へ行こう (Tengoku He Ikou) (Let's Go To Heaven)

Kikuo's '天国へ行こう (Tengoku He Ikou)' is a hauntingly beautiful song that delves into themes of love, death, and eternal togetherness. The lyrics invite the listener to join the narrator and their beloved on a journey to heaven, a place where they can be together without any interruptions or obstacles. The repeated refrain 'tengoku e ikou' (let's go to heaven) sets a tone of both longing and resolution, suggesting a desire to escape the earthly realm and find solace in an eternal union.

The song employs vivid and somewhat unsettling imagery to convey its message. Lines like 'karadadake ni natta kimi ni wa boku no ude to ashi o ageyou' (to you who have become only a body, I will give my arms and legs) and 'kimi no yubi o tekubi o ude o kata o keshite' (erasing your fingers, wrists, arms, shoulders) evoke a sense of disintegration and merging. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the ultimate sacrifice and unity in love, where individual identities dissolve to form a single, inseparable entity. The idea of a 'futari no kekkonshiki' (wedding ceremony for two) in heaven further emphasizes the theme of eternal togetherness, free from worldly constraints.

Kikuo's musical style often blends whimsical melodies with dark, introspective lyrics, creating a unique and emotionally complex experience. In '天国へ行こう,' this contrast is particularly striking. The song's cheerful, almost childlike melody juxtaposes with its somber and eerie lyrical content, enhancing the overall impact. The final verses, which speak of happiness in heaven despite being unseen, suggest a bittersweet acceptance of their fate. The repeated notion of 'shiawase' (happiness) in heaven underscores a longing for peace and eternal joy, even if it means losing their physical forms and identities.