Translation of the song 船頭小唄 artist Chieko Baishō

俺は河原の枯れススキ

I'm only a withered grass on the riverside

同じお前も枯れススキ

You are also a withered grass.

どうせ二人はこの世では

And we will never be in flowers in this world,

花の咲かない　枯れススキ

Because we are just a pair of withered grasses.

死ぬも生きるもねえお前

Whether we live or die, my dear,

水の流れに何変わろ

The river will go on flowing all the same.

俺もお前も利根川の

Let's live together the rest of our lives,

船の船頭で暮らそうよ

As ferrymen on the Tone river.

枯れたマコモに照らしてる

The moon shines

潮来出島のお月さん

On the withered grasses on the Itako marsh,

わたしゃこれから利根川の

Oh I will live the rest of my life,

船の船頭で暮らすのよ

As a ferryman on the Tone river.