1. Haru koro no hana no en Meguru sakazuki kagesashite Chiyo no matsu ga e wakeideshi Mukashi no hikari Ima izuko Mukashi no hikari Ima izuko
2. Aki jinei no schimo no iro Nakiyuku kari no kazu misete Uuru tsurugi ni terisoishi Mukashi no hikari ima izuko
3. Ima kojo no yowa no tsuki Kawaranu hikari ta ga tame zo Kaki ni nokoru wa tada kazura Matsu ni uto wa tada arashi
4. Tenjokage wa kawaranedo Eiko wa utsuru yo no sugata Utsusan toteka ima mo nao Ah! Kojo no yowa no tsuki
Translation ( The Japanese of the Lyric is old and poetic. The next in order is my interpretation.)
1. A banquet was held in the splendid castle in the season of the cherry blossom. Where is the light now, that shadowed the glasses and flew through the old pines?
2. (The second verse is difficult. There are many interpretations of the text.) The encampment was covered with frost in the autumn. Where is the light now, that shone on the swords like plants, that were as numerous as the cackling wild geese, that flew ?
3. Now there is the moon over the desolate castle. Whom is it shining for without change? Only tendrils remain on the walls. Only the storm sings between branches of the pines.
4. The shadow of the sky doesn't change. But the moon is reflecting it as before, changing for better to worse? Ah! The moon over the desolate castle!