Zatoichi

Some of my favourite moments from the original series of Zatoichi films are not fights but songs.

This from Zatoichi's Cane Sword (1967)

The lyrics are:

Maybe you wear rags, but your heart is more beautiful than any flower.

It is young once so enjoy it.

If you're a man, do something that nobody else would.

A man hides his tears and forced himself to smile, but some women

do not know.

You say you're in love, but there's nothing to say.

If you're a

man, catching a smile

I sent you

This is rapidly turning into a blog on musicals!

More on Hong Kong Context of the Wuxia Revival – Riots in 1967

I came across this footage of the unrest in Hong Kong in 1967 on Youtube:

It was linked to a clip from a musical, Hong Kong Noctune, from the same year, which starred Cheng Pei-Pei. Cheng was at the time also becoming the #1 swordswoman of the wuxia revival, starring in (for example) King Hu's ravishing Come Drink with Me (1966) and Chang Cheh's Golden Swallow (1968).

(For those more familiar with more recent films, she also plays a role as the embittered Jade Fox in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000).)

Cheng is the one in the blue dress in the second number, and who sings third in the first. How should we take the words she sings?

Cheng: "Even when your woes are great

Tears are bitter sweet

Everyone has his heart's desire

May all wishes be fulfilled"

chorus: "Hold you head high and strive on

Let no barriers stop your advance

New dancers and singers must arise

Let the world ring with music"

Does this work as a soundtrack to the first video, too?