Pandora

Here to gush about song lyrics. Will sometimes post my translation attempt of Japanese songs I love. ニコの歌詞を翻訳してみる。よろしく！

[stratoironomachi]

NICO Touches the Walls - Heim

ただのあなたが　そこにいてくれた から 正直じゃないとこ　よく泣くとこ 僕は歌うんだろう

いつかさよなら　お互い他人のまま けど惹かれ合ったり　離れたり キリがないこと 歌を　いつまでも

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Just by having you there by my side When I can't be honest, when I keep crying I sing

One day we'll say goodbye, strangers to each other But meeting and parting There is no end to them I'll sing on

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Okay first of all, why is there no good synonym for "sing" that doesn't use "i" vowel :'( And how come there are so many "ing" as the last syllables. I couldn't seem to find a good way to word the translation. Also the lyrics is so simple that it ends up being difficult to translate instead... Micchan whyyy...

All in all, not quite happy with my translation, especially since I really love the song. I should come back to this one day and hopefully can find a better way to translate it, preferrably one which goes well with the melody.

[stratoironomachi]

谷川俊太郎 - 夫が妻へ (Tanikawa Shuntaro - From Husband To Wife)

おまえを見つめていると 私は男らしさを取り戻す お前の手は ひびがきれ お前のくちびるの脇には 小さなしわが刻まれている お前の心は日々の重みに 少し歪んでるかもしれない けれど お前を見つめていると 私はやさしさを取り戻す 一日の新鮮さを取り戻す お前を見つめていると お前を守らずにいられない あらゆる暴力から あらゆる不幸から お前を守り こんなにも女らしいお前を こんなにも豊かなお前を 私は愛さずにはいられない

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During today's class sensei shared about this poem (we were talking about grammar, lol). Her student from another class translated it to Chinese, so I thought why not try translating it to English haha. Anyway, here goes.

Tanikawa Shuntaro - From Husband To Wife

When I meet you I regain my manliness

Your chapped skin The wrinkles engraved at the corner of your lips

Heavy might your heart be from the weight of the days Still,

When I look at you I regain my kindness My day is made

When I look at you I can't help protecting you

Protecting you from any mayhem and misfortune

A lady so exquisite like you I can't help loving you

---

First impression after I finished it: it's waaay faster than translating song lyrics (or just NICO's lyrics? lol). Although to be fair, it's quite short and simple. Second thing came to mind was how I'm still unsure about how much creative liberty I can take (more literal vs more natural translation). Some word choices I'm still quite iffy too. But overall, I'm quite happy about it, I guess, haha. Especially considering how long I haven't translated anything.

Anyways, first post in a while and it's pretty random. Might go back to translating song lyrics some time soon if I'm in the mood for it lol.

[stratoironomachi]

Opened Youtube after some time only to find all (most of?) NICO’s songs are available worldwide on their official channel now o.o

First Spotify, now Youtube too!? I’m happy really, so grateful that they (or more like Sony? A-Sketch?) stopped locking their content within Japan, but also kinda hoped that this happened slightly earlier, like, you know, maybe before they disband so that they can see how many people are enjoying their music overseas too :’)

But anyways, if anyone reading this, go give them a listen. They’re on Spotify too. Listen to their acoustic album, while you’re at it. Still can’t believe the acoustic album is basically free, they recorded 20 songs and put them as the bonus for purchasing the EPs and album, sheeshh.. Anyway, yeah, give them a listen.

[stratoironomachi]

NICO Touches the Walls - Even If I Turn 30 (僕は30になるけれど) (live ver.)

It hasn’t really been all that long  Still, how are you doing? But we’ve known each other for so long,  that I would be able to tell with just a glance

The gentle lies  on gloomy days The loud ones  this merry day The pleasant views  in bright mornings The sweet dances  in dark nights

I really can never be apart from you We exist within you Please don’t come to hate me  Please don’t come to hate me I can never be apart from you!

[stratoironomachi]

NICO Touches the Walls - 僕は30になるけれど (live ver.)

ご無沙汰しちゃいないですが、そちらの調子はどう？ かれこれ長らくの仲だから　目を見りゃ大体わかるけど

ヘコんだ日には　優しいウソを 目出度い今日は　やかましいヤツを 明るい朝は　楽しい景色を 暗い夜は　甘いダンスを

とても君と離れらんないよ 君の中で　俺ら生きてる 嫌わないで　嫌わないで 俺は君と離れらんないよ！

[stratoironomachi]

NICO Touches the Walls - A-Kyuu License (エーキューライセンス)

Nemurenai kimi o nosete   Shiranai machi kara machi e Ashiato ga michishirube   Doko e datte ikeru no sa

Kudarizaka   Amaeteita koro ni wa   Wakare uta utawanakucha Dubidubida   Hashiridasenai Noborizaka hodo kurushii mono yo to   Kimi ga iu kara Sono ki ni naru kurai wa amanojaku

Fukurettsura kojiraseteiru no wa   Boku no sei kamo Susume   Tomare   Susume! Ima wa akuseru fumikonde

Nemurenai kimi o nosete   Yoake o tsukamaetai Hitasura sokudo agete   Kuchizusanda haiwei sutaa

Tonari de kimi ga ki ni shidasu no wa   Touchaku yotei jikoku ka Koutsugou na seiza uranai Taikutsu sou na kimi no yokogao   Hokorobaseruyouna Wadai hyaku pataan wa youi shitokanakya

Demo terekusakute nantonaku ienai   Honne ga arundayo Zutto kimi no soba de   Handoru nigitteitaitte

Manuke na boku o nosete   Kyou mo chikyuu wa mawaru Migi mo hidari mo nakereba   Atomodori mo shinakute Boku wa konya mo imetore   Shiranai kimi o shiritai Ashiato no michishirube   Doko e datte ikeru no sa

Kono hoshi wa boku o nosete   Akiru koto naku mawaru Itsuka tomaru sono hi made   Akiru koto naku mawaru

Dakara

Nemurenai kimi o nosete   Yoake o tsukamaetai Hitasura sokudo agete   Boku wa kimi no haiwei sutaa Kurikaesu no sa imetore   Shiranai machi kara machi e Ashiato ga michishirube   Nani mo shinpai shinaide ne Kimi ni totte yuuitsumuni no   A kyuu de itai dake

[stratoironomachi]

NICO Touches the Walls - Étranger (エトランジェ)

(Translation here)

Hyururira doko miteru Mado ni wa koreppochi no kizu datte miataranai Kyuu ni nigoridashita sora

Soto ni wa ao sabi mamire no hakoniwa Neboketa kao de damatte nagameteta Doushite furubite shimatta

Toki no mahou ni wa sakaraenakatta

Sore ijou tooku e ikanaide to Sugita hibi ga karamaru you Osanai koro no merodi ga Ima mo mada wasurarenu

Mayoikonda kono machi de kaze wa utau dake Namida nijinda kako nante hana de waratte Nureta kokoro satorarenai you ni Nigeteitta sora

Toki no mahou ni yorisottatte Mou mitsukaranai Chigiresou ni naru made Te o nobashite mitanda

Sore ijou o itsumo hoshigaru hodo Yume wa me no mae toorisugitetta Tokai no sumi ni chiisana Kamitsure ga yureteiru

Itsuka kono kokoro kujikesou ni natta toki wa Mou ichido ano uta kikasete okure Kagerou no saki no machi made ato sukoshi

Mou dakara kore ijou tooku e ikanaide to Furueta kimi o dakishimete Samayou boku wa kienai kaze ni naru Asu o matsu

Mayoikonda kono machi de kaze wa utau dake Nemurisou na kono machi de yume o mitai dake

[stratoironomachi]

NICO Touches the Walls - Étranger (エトランジェ)

(Romaji lyrics here)

The wind blows, where are you looking at Not even the slightest scratch can be found on the window All of a sudden the sky gets murky

Half asleep, I fall silent and gaze outside At the mini garden stained green with rust Why does it look so old

The magic of time couldn’t be resisted

“Please don’t go any further” It’s as if the days past are intertwined Even now, I still can’t forget The melody from my youth

In this town where I lost my way, the wind merely hums I laugh scornfully at my tear-stained past I can no longer understand my drenched heart The sky is getting away

Even though the magic of time was right beside me I can no longer find it I tried reaching my hand out Until I’m torn into pieces

My dreams kept passing right before my eyes To the point that I keep wanting more Somewhere in the corner of the city A small chamomile is swaying

Let me hear that song once more From when my heart was crushed It’s just a bit more until the town behind the heat haze

“So please don’t go any further” I embrace your trembling figure My wandering self becomes a wind that won’t vanish Waiting for tomorrow

In this town where I lost my way, the wind merely hums In this sleepy town, I only want to dream

[stratoironomachi]

David Cook - Lie

You whispered that you were getting tired, Got a look in your eye, Looks a lot like goodbye. Hold on to your secrets tonight. Don't want to know I'm ok with this silence It's truth that I don't want to hear You're hiding regret in your smile There's a storm in your eyes I've seen coming for awhile Hang on to the past tense tonight Don't say a word, I'm ok with the quiet. The truth is gonna change everything. So lie to me and tell me that it's gonna be alright So lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the night I don't mind if you wait before you tear me apart, Look me in the eye, And lie, lie, lie. Lie, lie, lie. I know that there's no turning back. If we put too much light on this we'll see through all the cracks. Let's stay in the dark one more night. Don't want to know I'm ok with the silence. It's truth that I don't want to hear. So lie to me and tell me that it's gonna be alright So lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the night I don't mind if you wait before you tear me apart, Look me in the eye, And lie, lie, lie. Don't want to believe in this ending Let the cameras roll on, Keep pretending Tomorrow's all wrong if you walk away Just stay So lie to me and tell me that it's gonna be alright So lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the night I don't mind if you wait before you tear me apart, Look me in the eye, And lie, lie, lie. So lie to me and tell me that we're gonna be ok So lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the day I don't mind if you wait before you tear me apart Look me in the eye, And lie, lie, lie. 

Lyrics:  Zac Maloy, David Cook, Espen Lind, Amund Bjorklund

Whenever I hear this song, I’m always in awe of the great word plays here.

My number one favorite bit is definitely this part on the chorus:

Look me in the eye, And lie, lie, lie.

When you tell other people to look you in the eye, you’d normally want to hear the truth. After all, the eyes are the windows to the soul, so you’d be able to tell right away if someone’s lying. But in this song, the singer knows what the truth is, but he refuses to accept it. So much so that he’ll take a lie over the truth. So much so that he begs his partner to tell him a lie as convincingly as possible, while looking at him in the eye. As if it’s the truth.

Bonus point: It rhymes nicely.

Next favorite is this part just after the chorus:

If we put too much light on this we'll see through all the cracks. Let's stay in the dark one more night.

These two sentences are a metaphorical expression of how the singer would rather continue pretending everything is ok over facing the truth. While the second sentence alone could deliver the message, the first sentence gives a more concrete image to it. So when I hear “Let’s stay in the dark”, a scene where light starts filtering in comes to my mind. But at the same time, I know it’s actually about its metaphorical meaning to remain ignorant of their unsalvageable relationship. I really, really love this. I think it’s such a smart writing.

Other bits that I love, but can’t quite put my finger on why.

Got a look in your eye, Looks a lot like goodbye.

Hang on to the past tense tonight 

Don't want to believe in this ending Let the cameras roll on, Keep pretending

And honestly just the whole chorus in general:

So lie to me and tell me that we're gonna be ok So lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the day I don't mind if you wait before you tear me apart Look me in the eye, And lie, lie, lie.

Don’t we all just love a good heart-wrenching lyrics sometimes? I know I do.

For extra heart-wrenchingness (that’s not a word, I know), listen to the first chorus here where David Cook sings unaccompanied. Chills.

[stratoironomachi]

I love gushing about how cool a line is in my head but I have no one to talk to about that, lol.

Well, I think it’s gonna be a good practice for me to write it out, so here I am. Though I’ll have to say my vocab diminish significantly when I’m getting excited, ha.