Let's go to Tokyo - Koichi Domoto (SHOCK) lyrics
Please find the lyrics of 'Let's go to Tokyo' below. This is a song which has been performed in Koichi's musical SHOCK series from 2000-2004. It was originally written in English by legendary Broadway composer and lyricist Charles Strouse, so this is not my translation or a translation at all. I did not have access to any official lyric sheets however, and found some differences between what I found online and what I heard, which I have noted below where relevant. Please see the notes at the bottom of the post.
This song was not released on any of the SHOCK soundtracks, but it was included in the 2003 VHS and DVD release 'Koichi Domoto SHOCK' which was a recording of a 2002 performance of SHOCK titled 'SHOW劇・SHOCK' (Shogeki Shock)*. It appeared twice in Act II, in the following scenes: on stage and finale. It's these versions which I have based the lyrics below upon.
*SHOW劇・SHOCK (Shogeki Shock) is part of what became the Endless SHOCK series. SHOW劇 is pronounced 'shougeki' which is also written in Japanese as 衝撃, which means 'shock'. It's a pun, on Show and shock... so Shock Shock, Show Shock. XD (Johnny-san also used this in the Playzone series of musicals as well... Playzone btw is pronounced as 'pre-zone' cos... Johnny-san liked to play with language.)
Please see at the bottom of the post as I've written a bit more about this song and the context of Johnny's musicals in which it has appeared if you are interested.
Koichi Domoto (SHOW劇・SHOCK) - Let's go to Tokyo
Lyrics: Charles Strouse
Composition: Charles Strouse
Arrangement:
Release: 2003/01/16
VHS and DVD: Koichi Domoto SHOCK
English Original
Onstage
Let's go to Tokyo, where I belong!
I left it once, but Tokyo's calling strong
And that is where I got to sing my song!
My clock is saying now it won't be long
'Till I see
The old three
There'll be cherry blossoms falling
Listen man, you hear, Japan is calling me
Let's go to Tokyo
Let's go to Tokyo
Let's go to Tokyo
Let's go to Tokyo
Finale
Let's go to Tokyo, it's you and me!
Been to New York, seen all there is to see
And nothing new in London or Paris
Let's get free
Let's go to Tokyo
Let's go to Tokyo
Let's go to Tokyo, where I belong!
I left it once, but Tokyo's calling strong
And that is where I got to sing my song!
My clock is saying now it won't be long
'Till I see
The old three
Back to doing our songs and dancing
And the fans to cheer us, like it used to be!
I can't wait
There'll be cherry blossoms falling
Listen man, you hear, Japan is calling me!
Let's go to Tokyo
Let's go to Tokyo
Let's go to Tokyo
Let's go to Tokyo
A little bit about the history of this song and Johnny's musicals
This is not the first time 'Let's go to Tokyo' has been performed and if you're a Johnny's butai fan, you may already know this, however I'm sharing because it's a bit of a long history and there isn't a whole lot of information out there about it in the English-speaking fandom. (I was also very curious.)
The song was written and composed by Charles Strouse, the legendary Broadway musical lyricist and composer, specifically for Johnny's as he was a friend of Johnny-san's.
The first appearance of this song was, I believe, in Shontentai's Playzone'90 SHOW劇 MASK (仮面), or rather, I believe that's the first recorded release - it was on the soundtrack of the same name. It may have appeared in earlier instances of Playzone, I'm afraid I haven't been able to check setlists for Playzone.
It was also performed in SHOW劇 '99 MASK which starred Kochan.
The song also appeared for 5 years in Kochan's SHOCK series from 2000's MILLENIUM SHOCK up until 2005's Endless SHOCK which is when Kochan took over a more active creative and executive role overseeing the script, music, and direction of the series and when a large number of changes were made to the story and song list (including the removal of this song). The musical has been called Endless SHOCK since 2005 to this present day although it continues to evolve and change even between performances, in true Johnny-san style. (Of course now there's also the spin-off which takes place 3 years later, and was a response to performing theatre during the pandemic crisis, called Endless SHOCK Eternal.)
'Let's go to Tokyo' has also been included in the Johnny's World series of musicals (2012-on going) since 2016 and was still being performed as of 2023. (side note: Koichi Domoto took over direction of Johnny's World along with Noriyuki Higashiyama and Yoshihiko Inohara (Inocchi) from the 2023 production.)
The lyrics and composition of 'Let's go to Tokyo' are credited to Strouse on the sountrack release for Playzone'90 MASK. I have not been able to find any credits for either the lyrics, music, or arrangement for the version which was recorded on the VHS and DVD for SHOCK 2002, so I have credited Charles Strouse for the lyrics and music, but left the arrangement blank below. The lyrics for the version in Kochan's Shock (2002) is slightly different to the version released on Playzone'90's soundtrack. There are some lyrics which did not appear in the Playzone version. I am not sure if Charles Strouse also wrote these, or where they came from, unfortunately. Some of these 'new' lyrics are also in Johnny's World, as of 2019-2020 as per a recording that I've listened to.
The song was also mentioned and referenced on Music Station's ULTRAFES 2018 (aired 17 September 2018) in a segment with Higashiyama, King & Prince, and Johnny's Jr. for the Johnny's musical 'JOHNNYS' mini IsLAND'. The song was introduced by King & Prince who mentioned Charles Strouse and his words often mentioned to their predecessor. A young Jr then gave those same words in English, which I have quoted here (assuming it may be what Strouse may have said in English):
"The place where you create your future is not here in the United States, that place is Tokyo."
Please note:
I did quite a bit of research and digging here, but I can't say I found everything to satisfy me, so if you have further information please do let me know! (For example, I haven't been able to see the music credits for the song in Shock (2002) beyond just a mention that Charles Strouse was one of those credited for the music in all of the butai (from the pamphlets). I also haven't seen the Shonentai soundtrack lyric booklet for Playzone'90 SHOW劇 MASK either or checked the setlist for previous Playzone musicals.)
Additionally, out of interest:
Kochan and KinKi fans will likely already know that Kochan's sister had him watch Playzone'89 Again and Playzone'90 MASK as it was mentioned on his Johnny's application. Playzone'90 MASK, Playzone'91 SHOCK and Koichi's SHOW劇'99 MASK are considered the origin to what became the SHOCK series that we know today. SHOW劇'99 MASK was Kochan's first chairman (座長）/ lead role in a (Johnny's) musical.
Notes on orthography and lyrics:
Dropping g's
I did not see an official lyric sheet so I can not be certain if this is the official casing and style used in the English. I have seen some versions in which all the 'g's have been dropped on present participles* (a type of -ing verbs), so 'Tokyo's callin' me' etc. I have kept the 'g's as you can see above.
*I also saw it dropped in one version on 'nothing' as 'nothin'' and again, I kept the g's.
I also added a dropped 'd' in the line 'It's you an' me!' again because I feel it makes it more legible, but it's of course a stylistic choice. Without access to an official lyric sheet, I have just taken my own liberties.
Discrepancies between what I hear and maybe what the official lyrics are?
In a few cases, I heard something slightly different than what I saw in some versions of the lyrics. In most cases these are minor, but I find they read better. I've decided to write it in a modern style since I can't be sure which is the right version. Some notable changes I've made/seen:
'Paris' written as 'Paree'
Paree is probably trying to phonetically capture the way 'Paris' sounds when said in French. the 's' is not pronounced, and sometimes English speakers also do this. 'Paree' would rhyme better in the lyrics here, but in all the versions I've heard of this song, the Johnnys pronounce the 's', so I've gone with 'Paris' as it's not only the way the city is spelled both in English and in French, but it just may confuse less people, but did want to note it.
'And nothing new in London or Paris'
I've seen 'Ain't nothing new in London or Paree', but I really hear 'and' rather than 'ain't' and so I used 'and' here.
'And the fans to cheer us, like it used to be!'
I've seen 'And our fans'll cheer us, like it used to be' but I just hear 'And the fans to cheer us' instead, so.