words and music by Henry Clay Work
Japanese adaptation by Kougo Hotomi
sung by Wild Vox
from the Wild Vox album, “yasei no kaze”
ooki na nopponno furu dokei ojiisan no tokei
hyaku nen itsumo ugoteita gojiman no tokei sa
ojiisan ga umareta asa ni katte kita tokei sa
ima wa mou ugokanai sono tokei
nandemo shitteru furu dokei ojiisan no tokei
kirei hanayome yatte kita sono hi mo ugoiteta
ureshii koto mo kanashii koto mo mina shitteru tokei sa
ima wa mo ugokanai sono tokei
hyaku nen yasumasu ni chikutaku chikutaku
ojiisan to issho ni chiku taku chiku taku
ima ha mou ugokanai sono tokei
mayonaka ni buru ga natta ojiisan no tokei
owakare no ji ga kita no wo minna ni oshieta no sa
tengoku e noboru ojiisan tokei to mo owakare
ima wa mou ugokanai sona tokei
hyaku nen yasumasu ni chikutaku chikutaku
ojiisan to issho ni chiku taku chiku taku
ima ha mou ugokanai sono tokei
translation by Alinda Sue…
Grandfather’s clock was a very big and tall clock
For a hundred years he could boast that it was always moving
On the morning Grandfather was born, the clock was bought
Now that clock, it doesn’t move
The old clock, Grandfather’s clock, knew everything
When his beautiful bride came, that day also the clock moved
His happy things and sad things, that clock knew them all
Now that clock, it doesn’t move
After a hundred years it rests Tick tock Tick Tock
Along with Grandfather Tick Tock Tick Tock
Now that clock, it doesn’t move
Deep in the night, Grandfather’s clock chimed
Telling everyone of the separation of the hours
When Grandpa rose up to heaven, The clock with him also departed
Now that clock, it doesn’t move
After a hundred years it rests Tick tock Tick Tock
Along with Grandfather Tick Tock Tick Tock
Now that clock, it doesn’t move
When I first heard this song, I was surprised. I knew this song! My children and I sing it all the time - in English, of course. Just for fun, here's the original English words that we sing. It's fun comparing it to the Japanese adaptation!
My grandfather’s clock was too tall for the shelf
So it stood 90 years on the floor
It was taller by half than the old man himself
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more
It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born
And was always his pleasure and pride
But it stopped short - never to go again - when the old man died.
Ninety years without slumbering Tick Tock Tick Tock
His life seconds numbering Tick Tock Tick Tock
But it stopped short, never to go again when the old man died
In watching its pendulum swing to and fro
Many hours he had spent while a boy
And in childhood and manhood, the clock seemed to know
And to share both his grief and his joy
For it struck twenty four when he came in through the door
With his blooming and beautiful bride
But it stopped short - never to go again - when the old man died.
Ninety years without slumbering Tick Tock Tick Tock
His life seconds numbering Tick Tock Tick Tock
But it stopped short, never to go again when the old man died
My grandfather said that of those he could hire,
Not a servant so faithful he’s found
For it wasted no time and but had one desire -
At the close of each week to be wound
And it kept to it’s place – not a frown upon its face
And its hands never hung by its side
Bit it stopped short – never to go again – when the old man died.
Ninety years without slumbering Tick Tock Tick Tock
His life seconds numbering Tick Tock Tick Tock
But it stopped short, never to go again when the old man died
