Archive for the Song Translations Category

[It should go without saying, but it seems not to. If you are going to post my translations somewhere else, please feel free, but come on, please leave my name on it, and a link back to my blog. And whatever you do, don’t pass it off as your own work. That is just not nice.]

Lyrics and music: Masamune Kusano
English translation: Andrew Hamilton <awh@awh.org>

緑のトンネル抜けて 朝の光に洗われるような
わずかな微笑みさえも 残らずみんな分けあえるような
可愛い歳月を 君と暮らせたら

I emerge from the tunnel of greenery, and the morning sun
is somehow cleansing. Although I only give a faint smile,
I share it with everyone. If I could live with you in these
lovely times…

ジグザグこだましながら 声が遠くまで届いていきそうな
見上げれば 雲の流れに 今いる場所を忘れちゃいそうな
寂しいあの街で 君と暮らせたら

My voice seems as though it could reach into eternity as it
echoes back and forth. If I look up at the movement of the clouds,
I can almost forget the place I’m standing right now. If I could
live with you in that lonely little town….

可愛い歳月を 君と暮らせたら

If I could live with you in these lovely times…

十五の頃の スキだらけの 僕に笑われて
今日も眠りの世界へと すべり落ちていく

Being laughed at by my 15-year-old, unguarded self,
I slip off into the world of sleep…

[It should go without saying, but it seems not to. If you are going to post my translations somewhere else, please feel free, but come on, please leave my name on it, and a link back to my blog. And whatever you do, don't pass it off as your own work. That is just not nice.]

Lyrics and music: Ken Hirai
English translation: Andrew Hamilton <awh@awh.org>

Translator’s note: The “just your shell” in the first line is literally
translated as “your discarded skin is beside me”, what an insect might leave
behind after a metamorphosis. The idea is that the girl, although physically
present, has already moved on past the relationship to a different stage in
life — her soul isn’t there anymore. However, though insect carcasses may
have their place in Japanese torch songs, I don’t think they belong in English
ones, so I’ve translated it a bit more liberally. Thanks to Ryo and Hideki
for their ideas about the symbolism here.

朝目覚める度に 君の抜け殻が横にいる
ぬくもりを感じた いつもの背中が冷たい
苦笑いをやめて 重いカーテンを開けよう
眩しすぎる朝日 僕と毎日の追いかけっこだ

Every time I open my eyes in the morning, the body that’s beside me is just your shell,
and your back, where I always felt warmth, is now cold.
I stop my bitter smiling and throw open the heavy curtain
to the over-brilliant morning sun that chases me down each day.

あの日 見せた泣き顔
涙照らす夕陽 肩のぬくもり
消し去ろうと願う度に
心が 体が 君を覚えている
Your love forever

The tear-stained face that you showed me that day, shining in the sunset,
and the warmth of your shoulder –
whenever I wish for these memories to disappear,
my heart and body suddenly remember you.
Your love forever

瞳を閉じて 君を描くよ それだけでいい
たとえ季節が 僕の心を 置き去りにしても

Closing my eyes and seeing you; that alone is enough
even if the seasons leave my heart deserted.

いつかは君のこと なにも感じなくなるのかな
今の痛み抱いて 眠る方がまだ いいかな

I suppose that sometime in the future, I may feel nothing for you.
It’s better to go to sleep embracing my current pain, isn’t it?

あの日 見てた星空
願いかけて 二人探した光は
瞬く間に消えてくのに
心は 体は 君で輝いてる
I wish forever

Even though the light that we wished on and searched for
as we looked at the starry sky that night has been extinguished,
my heart and body still sparkle because of you.
I wish forever

瞳をとじて 君を描くよ それしか出来ない
たとえ世界が 僕を残して 過ぎ去ろうとしても

Closing my eyes and seeing you; I can’t do any more that that
even if the world passes me by and leaves me.

Your love forever
瞳をとじて 君を描くよ それだけでいい
たとえ季節が 僕を残して 色を変えようとも
記憶の中に君を探すよ それだけでいい
なくしたものを 越える強さを 君がくれたから
君がくれたから

Your love forever
Closing my eyes and seeing you; that alone is enough
even if the seasons pass me by and all the colours change.
I shall search for you in my memory; that alone is sufficient
because you gave me strength that overcomes what I lost.
Because you gave me that.