The song '星物 Daddy' by Lord Aethelstan featuring Nyanners delves into the deep emotional distress of a child longing for an absent father. The repeated sentiment 'I miss my dad' underscored by the metaphor of waiting like Hachiko—a famously loyal dog who awaited his master's return—paints a picture of enduring hope and waiting against the odds. The song oscillates between the child's hope for their father's return and the sobering reality of his prolonged absence, capturing the heartache of desertion.
The emotional journey conveyed by '星物 Daddy' is anchored in the sentiment of loss and longing. The song opens with a dialogue that sets a somber tone, suggesting a fractured relationship where communication and understanding are strained. The introduction of Nyanners' chorus, 'I miss my dad', immediately signals an ache for a missing father figure, a longing that feels both intensely personal and universal.
Lord Aethelstan's verses add depth to this longing, articulating the heartache of abandonment without surrendering to despair. Despite the evident pain, there's a restrained composure, as evidenced by the vow not to let tears stain clothes—a metaphor for the determination to remain strong in the face of absence. The mention of the protagonist crying 'in the passenger side' evokes how the presence of a parent is intertwined with life's formative journeys, both literal and metaphorical.
The use of the Hachiko imagery throughout the chorus not only underlines the depth of the protagonist's loyalty and hope but also stresses the passage of time. The dog famously waited for years, and the protagonist mirrors this vigil, with years passing without the father's return. Lord Aethelstan's references to waiting and watching for a father who left to buy cigarettes but never returned encapsulate a familiar narrative of abandonment, one where promises remain unfulfilled.
The song's bilingual element further emphasizes the universality of this experience, crossing language barriers to express a common thread of human emotion. The blend of English and Japanese underscores the concept of 'hoshimono', or treasured belonging, highlighting the irreplaceable role of a father. The bridge's Japanese lyrics speak to the protagonist's own sadness and loneliness, while the repeated English outro serves as a final echo of continued hope and an unresolved desire for reconciliation.
"I'm waiting like Hachiko on the steps"
This is a reference to the famously loyal Japanese dog, Hachiko, who awaited his deceased owner's return at a train station every day for years. It exemplifies enduring faith and loyalty, despite the likelihood of disappointment.
"You went out for cigs and you told you'd be back right here in a jiff"
The cliché of a father going out for cigarettes and never returning is used here to encapsulate the feeling of abandonment and the false hope given by parting words that are not kept.
"Hold back tears, won't stain my clothes"
This metaphor suggests maintaining composure and strength in public despite the internal turmoil caused by an absent father.
"Jibun wo kanashii (Kanashii), Jibun wo samishii"
The Japanese phrase translates to 'I feel sad' and 'I feel lonely', directly expressing the emotional state of the protagonist and the impact of their father's absence on their emotional well-being.