Sleep, priestess, lie in peace
Sleep, priestess, lie in peace
If you cry, the boat you'll ride, the last trip to the other side,
Once you get there, sacred marks you'll bear,
They shall be peeled off, should you fail to lie still.
Sleep, priestess, lie in peace
Sleep, priestess, lie in peace
If the priestess wakes from her dream
Perform the rite of stakes, her limbs pinned tight
Lest the doors open wide and suffering unleashed on all.
Go to the other side
Go to the other side
Cast the boat, take a ride, cross the rift to the other side
Further and further to the other side,
It must sail bearing your tattoos and our offering of tears.
Handmaiden's Song


The Handmaiden's song was originally a religious song used in the rituals of the Kuze Shrine. It was later corrupted into a folk lullaby, called "The Sleeping Priestess," which was passed down through villages in the Mutsu Region of Japan. There are three different versions of the lyrics: two versions of "The Sleeping Priestess" as recorded by Akito Kashiwagi, and the Handmaiden's Song, which is the only one heard during the game.
The four Handmaidens sing the song to the Tattooed Priestess in order to soothe her and help her sleep. The song is performed during the Piercing of the Soul and Impalement Ritual. The Handmaidens also sing over the Tattooed Priestess' enshrined skin during The Tearing, and while nailing ink-dyed dolls to the walls of the Doll Altars.[1]
Many victims of the Tattooed Curse hear the Handmaiden's Song in their dreams. Singing or humming the song aloud is one of the curse's symptoms. Rei Kurosawa, Miku Hinasaki, and Kei Amakura all heard the song during their exploration of the Manor of Sleep. Miku, however, is the only one observed singing it aloud. After defeating the vengeful spirit of Reika Kuze, Rei sang the final verse of the Handmaiden's song as she sent Reika and her lover to the Other Shore in a boat.
Also Known As
- The Subduing Song (鎮メ唄, shizume uta[1])[Note 1]
- The Lullaby (子守唄, komoriuta)[2]
- The Sleeping Priestess[3] or Sleeping Shrine Maiden[2] (眠り巫女, nemurimiko)
Lyrics in English
Sleep, child, Go to sleep.
Sleep, child, Go to sleep.
If you cry, the boat you ride
The boat to the other side
Once you get there
The bib you shall wear
And you will be punished
Should you fail to lie still
Sleep, child, Go to sleep
Sleep, child, Go to sleep
If you should wake
From your slumber at night
Great wooden stakes
Shall pin you down tight
Lest the doors open wide
And the others that sleep wake too
Sleep, child, Lie in peace
Sleep, child, Lie in peace
If you cry, the boat you'll ride
The last trip to the other side
Once you get there
Sacred marks you'll bear
They shall be peeled off
Should you fail to lie still
Sleep, child, Lie in peace
Sleep, child, Lie in peace
If the priestess wakes from her dream
Perform the rite of stakes
Her limbs pinned tight
Lest the doors open wide
And suffering unleashed on all
Neiryasayo hatate
Neiryasayo hatate
Nakuko wa kagobune tsui no michi
Ichiwara kisete onmekashi
Neiryasena sakamihagi
Neiryasayo hatate
Neiryasayo hatate
Miko-san awai ni okitsukeba
Shiseigi ugatte imii no gi
Kumon hiraite yasukarazu
Yukinasayo hatate
Yukinasayo hatate
Yukibune yurashite hatate
Kono kishi hiraite hatate
Rourou miwatari ka no kishi ni
Shisei watashite naku ga teage
References
Notes
- ↑ The Japanese name of the Handmaidens is also pronounced shizume, written 鎮女.