A Song about Soba

Iya is famous for its buckwheat noodles, known as soba, and for a song that women used to sing while grinding the grains into powder. Iya soba is pretty tasty. Perhaps it has something to do with this tune?

Iya no kazurabasha, kumo no yu no gotoku
Kaze mo fukan noni yurayura to
Fukan noni fukan noni kaze mo
Kaze mo fukan noni yurayura to

The vine bridge in Iya, like a spider's web
Sways even though the wind doesn't blow
The wind doesn't blow, the wind doesn't blow
It sways even though the wind doesn't blow

The vine bridge in Iya sways
But don't be afraid, your husband's hand will steady it
Your husband's hand, your husband's hand
Don't be afraid, your husband's hand will steady it

I work hard, I keep on milling
But still the grains are too coarse
Too coarse, too coarse
Still the grains are too coarse

How old are you, milling woman?
As old as my grinding rod
My grinding rod, my grinding rod
As old as my grinding rod