Boys Fire the Tricot / ボーイズ、トリコに火を放つ

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of anticipation for a "blessing" that is expected to arrive, but with a foreboding twist: "It will come with sting." This sets up a central tension between hope and dread, where perceived good fortune is inherently linked to pain. The imagery of a "distant cloud" initially suggests something positive, perhaps a sign of rain or change, but the repetition and the eventual qualification with "sting" reveal a more complex, possibly even sinister, expectation. The narrator then adopts the persona of a "sommelier," not of wine, but of "tears in May." This is a striking, almost surreal image that reframes emotional experience as something to be tasted and analyzed. Misfortune is compared to the moon, waxing and waning, implying a cyclical or temporary nature, but it contrasts this with a "red balloon" that doesn't share this fleeting quality. This juxtaposition suggests that while some hardships might pass, there's an enduring, perhaps more volatile, element to the sorrow being experienced. The chorus, "Hey boys, fire the tricot," is the most enigmatic and powerful directive. The act of setting fire to a "tricot" (likely a knitted garment or fabric) and leaving it "by the portico" as a "token on the hill" feels like a ritualistic act of defiance or sacrifice. This action is fueled by "bitter will" and the memory of "winter's chill," suggesting a deep-seated resentment or a response to past suffering. The repeated phrase and the final image of it "flaming still" emphasize the lingering intensity of this destructive or cathartic impulse.