私を待ってください

私を待ってください
“Watashi o matte kudasai”

I

f your browser is unable to display the original Japanese characters, here is a picture of the text:

matte_kudasai

The above translates into something like “Please wait for me”, though I was told by a Japanese friend of mine, that it is not just “Matte Kudasai”, like I thought.

He tried to explain to me all the subtleties of the “Please” form in the Japanese language and culture, which of course I could not entirely follow, being myself just a rude European.
I only remember that he could mention at least 8 different ways to say “Please”, depending on who asks whom, in which situation, what is the general context of the request, and so on…

Despite the linguistic digressions, “Matte Kudasai” remains an excellent track by King Crimson (from their 1981 album Discipline).
Short song (not even remotely reminiscent of the great suites of “In the Court of Crimson King” or “In the Wake of Poseidon”) but still, a very gentle portrait, almost like a musical “haiku”.

The rock purists (the all-lower case is intentionally uncomplimentary) will probably never listen to the late Crimson’s records, but this would be a big mistake.

As long as Robert Fripp is there… you just listen.
Period.

You can enjoy this melancholic song here below:

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