The Fire Festival song

*spoilers*

If I'm not mistaken, the festival song was about the shortness (and value) of life itself. When Tadokoro approaches the prisoners, he states that he was wronged for being spared after his duel with Rokurota (it was a tradition to die after losing a duel according to the Bushido code). The song helped Tadokoro to realize that he was spared in respect to his life, not in respect to tradition. Tadokoro then understands that wanting to die after the duel was foolish, and so, he returns a favor to Rokurota and the other prisoners and sets them free.

I hope that helped.

does anyone know the name of the song?

or where i can purchase/get a hold of the exact recording in the movie,,


thanks

The Japanese believe in eternal life through reincarnation. So, what is the life of man? Throw it in the fire. What is the life of an insect? Throw it in the fire. It is the fire festival. In other words, they are humble people and deem it an honor for their life to be consumed in service of their lords.

The following is a literal translation:

Hito-no ichochi-wa hito moyase.
(Burn a human life like a fire)
Mushi-no inochi-wa hi-ni suteyo.
(Throw an insect's life into a fire)
Omoi-omoe-ba Yaminoyoya.
(Think it over. How dark this world is!)
Ukiyo-wa yume-yo. Tada-kurue.
(The floating world is no less than a dream. Just go crazy.)