A Piece of Future (song)

A Piece of Future
Writer(s)	Shinji Sato
First known live performance	August 22, 1998 @Kumamoto Django
First studio appearance	宇宙 ベスト・オブ・フィッシュマンズ (1:16)
Most notable live version	宇宙 ベスト・オブ・フィッシュマンズ (10:11)

A Piece of Future is a song written by Shinji Sato which never appeared on any mainline Fishmans release. Instead, it was performed live multiple times, a demo was recorded, and a live recording eventually appeared on compilation 宇宙 ベスト・オブ・フィッシュマンズ. Additionally, the song was expanded upon in the Fishmans+ release A Piece of Future, which compiles six different, modern renditions of the composition. The original Sato composition typically runs about 8-10 minutes in length, while alternate versions by Fishmans+ can stretch upwards of 20 minutes. It is among Sato's longest compositions, being beat by Walking in the Rhythm, ゆらめき in the Air and Long Season, being 12, 13 and 35 minutes respectively.

Appears on

• 記憶の増大 - Track 10. Version is of particularly low quality. Accompanied by video. Recorded on October 10, 1998 @Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall. (8:41)
• Radio Fishmans Night 3 - Track 16. (8:59)
• 宇宙 ベスト・オブ・フィッシュマンズ - Disc 2, track 12. Shortened version of demo. (1:16)
• 宇宙 ベスト・オブ・フィッシュマンズ - Disc 2, track 13. Definitive live recording. Made sometime in 1998. (10:11)
• Unreleased demo tape, comprising of complete demo from 宇宙 compilation. Credited to Shinji Sato, not Fishmans. (6:53)
• 2022.3.2 History of Fishmans @Liquid Room~1995-1998 - Track 1. (9:09)
• 23.10.24 Long Season 2023 - Track 2. (12:20)
• 23.11.01 Long Season 2023 - Track 1. (14:38)
• 23.11.02 Long Season 2023 ~ Audience - Track 2. (12:11)
• History of Fishmans - Disc 1, track 1. (1:19)

Remixes

• Live 2011/5.3 At Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall "A Piece Of Future" - Track 12. Features Fishmans+ equivalent "A Piece of Future 2011". (26:01)
• A Piece of Future - Tracks 1-6. All are different remixes of the original composition, intended to "complete" the piece, one way or another.

Lyrics

Note: English lyrics are obtained via Google Translate, then edited for more accurate comprehension.

Japanese	English
[INTRO] A piece of future A piece of future, a piece of future A piece of future, a piece of future A piece of future, a piece of future [VERSE] テーブルの向こう側で座っていた君は 僕のたったひとつだけの未来のカケラ A piece of future, a piece of future Future Future	[INTRO] A piece of future A piece of future, a piece of future A piece of future, a piece of future A piece of future, a piece of future [VERSE] You were sitting across the table My only piece of future A piece of future, a piece of future Future Future

Lyrics (2011 Version)

Note: English lyrics are obtained via Google Translate / DeepL, then edited for more accurate comprehension.

Japanese

English

[INTRO / POEM (Etsuko)] あーあー 聞こえてますか? 聞こえますか? [Unintelligible] 年三月 [Unintelligible] 日東京都内から [Unintelligible] 年前の化石が発見され ました。 私は今その現場に来ています。 大きな水槽のようなその化石の中には、 小さなたくさんの鱗の反 射が見えます。 ここから四方四百キロメートルほど一帯は全て、 まるで水族館であったかのような様相を呈しています。 それでは最後に未来の天気予報をお伝えします。 晴れ、のち、A PIECE OF FUTURE。 じゃ、またね。 [VERSE 1 (Tavito)] A piece of future, a piece of future A piece of future, a piece of future [VERSE 2 (Bose)] A piece of future 誰もいなくなった深夜 ややこしくなっていくアタマ 固く固く閉じこもっていく身体 様々な人雑な表現 ついつい飲み込まれて共鳴 すかしていなして達観 俯職のつもりがすぐに落下 キャンバスに描かれた抽象画 光るブラウン管の向こう側 大好きな曲のベースライン キックスネアハイハット 掴んだ気がした予感 心が無理なく揺れた瞬間 息を止めて拾い集める言葉 外はまだ真っ暗な空 あることになってたマネー 無料になるはずのハイウェイ かっ飛ばしても見えない終点 未だに克服出来ない弱点 漠然と不安だけあって 釈然としないこの世界で あの日僕は確かに見つけた たったひとつだけの未来のカケラ [BRIDGE] あいのうた あふれて あいにゆく から ふれて [VERSE 3 (Bose)] A piece of future それでも明けてく空 混ざり合う音や言葉 ゆっくり開いてくドア 喉はカラカラ手足バラバラ 大げさじゃなく命からがら 訳があるからここ迄来た 未来はいつだって今 直に焼きつける光景 浮かぶイメージ可能性 世界ひっくり返る発明 そしてどこかで始まってる革命 いかんせん何ひとつ未解決 不完全過ぎるこの世界で 今僕は確かに見つけた たったひとつだけの未来のカケラ [VERSE 4] テーブルの向こう側で座っていた君は 僕のたったひとつだけの未来のカケラ A piece of future, a piece of future Future Future

[INTRO / POEM (Etsuko)] Ah, ah, can you hear me? Can you hear me? [Unintelligible] March [Unintelligible] From Tokyo A fossil dating back [unintelligible] years was discovered. I am now at the scene. Inside that fossil, which looks like a large tank, you can see the reflections of many tiny scales. The entire area, about 400 kilometers in all directions, looks like an aquarium. Finally, here's the weather forecast for tomorrow. Sunny, then, A PIECE OF FUTURE. See you later. [VERSE 1 (Tavito)] A piece of future, a piece of future A piece of future, a piece of future [VERSE 2 (Bose)] A piece of future Late at night when no one's around My mind grows tangled My body locks itself away, tight and tight Various, messy expressions Unintentionally swallowed up and resonating I was trying to act calmly, but I fell right down. Abstract painting on canvas Beyond the glowing CRT The bass line of my favorite song Kick, snare, hi-hat A premonition I thought I grasped The moment my heart swayed effortlessly Holding my breath, I gather the words Outside, the sky is still pitch black Money that was supposed to be Highways that should be free No matter how hard I speed, the end is out of sight A weakness I still can't overcome Only vague unease remains In this world that feels unsettling That day, I definitely found A piece of my one and only future [BRIDGE] Love songs are overflowing To meet you, to touch you [VERSE 3 (Bose)] A piece of future Still, the sky breaks dawn Sounds and words intermingle The door slowly opens My throat is parched, limbs numb No exaggeration—I barely escaped with my life I've come this far for a reason The future is always now Scenes burned directly into my mind Images and possibilities float An invention that turns the world upside down And somewhere, a revolution has begun Unfortunately, nothing is resolved In this world far too imperfect Now, I have certainly found A piece of my one and only future [VERSE 4] You were sitting across the table My only piece of future A piece of future, a piece of future Future Future