Fuji-san I'm bored and life's hard: let me run away The master makes me work all day while his sons go to school and learn writing and numbers; and his daughters put on pretty dresses and they play with dolls and flowers - while all day I wash their clothes and sweep the courtyard and collect herbs for the Lady of the House O Fuji-san - you have great power and you watch over all so let me run away And I shall run to Edo And I'll work there at the tea-houses and I'll see fine gentlemen and I'll see pretty ladies and I'll work and earn and save And one day I'll be a gentleman myself So, O Fuji-san let me run away
Clear my way Fuji-san and make it safe and I shall go to Edo and I'll be rich one day and I'll come back here to you Fuji-san and I'll bring you offerings of dumplings and flowers So help me, O mighty Fuji-san Let me run away
poem based on art print by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)