1 (edited by jets60 2009-02-23 02:56:57)

Topic: Okaeri or Welcome Home

So, this song comes from my wife really, who's Japanese. She left a note welcoming our daughter home today from a visit to her boyfriend in Florida, which is her getting ready to move in down there but that was what She’s Gone was about. Seeing the Japanese word Okaeri, which translates into welcome back or welcome home, written down just reminded me how much our family says it just as an everyday phrase and how sometimes we take it for granted. So I decided to use it in a song about my son who’s in the army and how we want him back for good as well. It’s a bit of a tear jerker but I’m sure you all can hold ‘em in. Now the important part: Okaeri, is pronounced like this - O is oh, is kae is like kai in a Kaiser roll, ri is a little tough, it like dee but a soft d. I know you're all saying, "Huh?" So  you can say it like D the chord and get away with it, unless you're Japanese of course. Again, you’ll all hear for yourself once I figure out my recording sw. It’s sung kind of country folk-ish and I hope you all like it.

Okaeri or Welcome Home by Jeff Gilpin


March 30, 2007




Chorus


Okae[C]ri, welcome [G]home, Okae[F]ri


Okae[C]ri, welcome [G]home, Okae[F]ri


[C]You’ve been gone [G]far too long


It’s [F]good to have you [D]safely home


Okae[C]re, welcome [G]home, Okae[F]ri[C]




Verse 1


[C]We remember [F]when you [C]went away


Our [G]tears were [F]flowing like [C]rain


[C]Oh how we [F]wanted you to[C]stay


It’s [G]good to [F]have you home a[C]gain




Chorus


Okae[C]ri, welcome [G]home, Okae[F]ri


Okae[C]ri, welcome [G]home, Okae[F]ri


[C]You’ve been gone [G]far too long


It’s [F]good to have you [D]safely home


[C]Okaeri, welcome [G]home, Okae[F]ri[C] [D]




Key change




Verse 2


[D]You went to a [G]far away [D]land


To [A]do what you [G]thought was [D]right


You [D]wanted to [G]help make a [D]stand


You [A]believed in with [G]all of your [D]might




Chorus


Okae[D]ri, welcome [A]home, Okae[G]ri


Okae[D]ri, welcome [A]home, Okae[G]ri



[D]You’ve been gone [A]far too long


It’s [G]good to have you [E]safely home


[D]Okaeri, welcome [A]home, Okae[G]ri[D]




Verse 3


[D]Now you’re [G]home safe and [D]sound


But your [A]journey’s [G]not at an [D]end


[D]Looks like [G]you’ll have to turn [D]around


And [A]go back to the [G]desert a[D]gain




Chorus


Okae[D]ri, welcome [A]home, Okae[G]ri


Okae[D]ri, welcome [A]home, Okae[G]ri


[D]You’ve been gone [A]far too long


It’s [G]good to have you [E]safely home


[D]Okaeri, welcome [A]home, Okae[G]ri[D] [C]




Key change back




Verse 4


[C]Now we [F]wait for the [C]day


When [G]you [F]no longer [C]serve


[C]Then you’ll [F]come home to [C]stay


And [G]rest as you [F]truly de[C]serve




Chorus


Okae[C]ri, welcome [G]home, Okae[F]ri


Okae[C]ri, welcome [G]home, Okae[F]ri


[C]You’ve been gone [G]far too long


It’s [F]good to have you [D]safely home


[C]Okaeri, welcome [G]home, Okae[F]ri[C]




© Jeff Gilpin 2009

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

Re: Okaeri or Welcome Home

Hi Jeff,


I hope you are going to record this and send it to Tim as I am sure he will love it (although I am also sure that he already knows how you feel).


Lovely lyrics and chord sequence and a nifty key change in the middle make this another fine offering from you.


Well done and thank you,


Roger


PS


I am working 12 hour days at the moment and I am finding it impossible to comment on every song that is posted as, the way I do it, each one takes me at least an hour. Everyone, please accept my apologies if I have not been able to comment on your song.

"Do, or do not; there is no try"

Re: Okaeri or Welcome Home

Thanks Roger, I do plan on recording this one and no need to apoligize. I'm kind of writing a lot now anyway right now so I do not mind not getting reviewed.

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

Re: Okaeri or Welcome Home

Jeff, this is a real sparkler with elegantly simple structure and full of meaning - beautufully crafted.  Hope to hear you sing it.  James

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

Re: Okaeri or Welcome Home

Thanks James. I'm glad you like it. I need some time with my computer and I'll hopefully be able to work it all out.

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C