中島みゆき 親愛なる者へ
Nakajima Miyuki - Shinai naru mono he
(Nakajima Miyuki - To my dearest)
A translation of the lyrics of Nakajima Miyuki
http://sites.google.com/site/gregsharp
English translations by Greg Sharp <gregsharp@geocities.com>
Version 1.2: May 8, 2010
Copyright (C) 2002, 2005
Some translations are a bit rough, so please give me your suggestions!
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裸足で走れ
Hadashi de hashire
(Run barefoot)
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黙っているのは 卑怯なことだと
おしゃべり男の 声がする
命があるなら 闘うべきだと
おびえた声がする
It's cowardly to stay quiet
Says the voice of a talkative man
If you have any life in you, you should fight
Says voice of a frightened one
上着を着たまま 話をするのは
生気の沙汰では ないらしい
脱がせた上着を 拾って着るのは
賢いことらしい
Speak while you are fully dressed
And your requests appear irrational
Picking up and putting on your disrobed clothing
Will make you look clever
[Chorus]
一人になるのが 恐いなら
裸足で 裸足で ガラスの荒れ地を
裸足で 突っ走れ
If being alone frightens you
Run barefoot through a field of broken glass
Run barefoot.
裸足はいかがと すすめる奴らに限って
グラスを 投げ捨てる
ささくれひとつも つくらぬ指なら
握手もどんなに 楽だろう
Those who suggest you run barefoot
Only they will cast broken glass before you
Since their fingers don't get splinters
Their handshakes are relaxed
かかとを切り裂く 痛みを指さし
心の熱さと 人は呼ぶ
ここまでおいでと 手を振り手招く
背中へ ガラスを降り注ぐ
Pointing out the pain of your torn up heels
They will call out to you with a warm heart
They will tell you to go to them, waving and beckoning
With broken glass pouring down on your back
[Repeat Chorus x2]
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タクシー ドライバー
Takushii Doraibaa
(Taxi Driver)
======
やけっぱち騒ぎは のどがかれるよね
心の中では どしゃ降りみたい
眠っても眠っても 消えない面影は
ハードロックの波の中に 捨てたかったのにね
I revel in despair, which makes my throat hoarse
Like a pouring rain deep in my heart
I sleep and sleep, but the memory doesn't fade
Though I tried to lose it in the wave of the Hard Rock
笑っているけど みんな本当に幸せで
笑いながら 町の中歩いてゆくんだろうかね
忘れてしまいたい望みを かくすために
バカ騒ぎするのは あたしだけなんだろうかね
Everyone is laughing, are they truly happy?
As they laugh and walk the streets of the city
To hide the desire I wish to forget
Am I the only one drinking and laughing for this?
[Chorus]
タクシー・ドライバー 苦労人とみえて
あたしの泣き顔 見て見ぬふり
天気予報が 今夜もはずれた話と
野球の話ばかり 何度も何度も 繰り返す
Taxi driver, you seem the hard worker
You pretend not to see my crying face
You talk about how tonight's weather report was wrong again
And repeat your talk of baseball over and over
酔っぱらいを乗せるのは 誰だって嫌だよね
こんなふうに道の真ン中で泣いてるのも 迷惑だよね
だけどあたしは もう行くところがない
何をしても 叱ってくれる人も もう いない
Anyone would hate having a drunk in his taxi
What a nuisance, people who cry in the middle of the street like this
But I have no where to go
And whatever I do, no longer will someone complain
[Repeat Chorus]
車のガラスに頭を押しつけて
胸まで酔ってるふりをしてみても
忘れたつもりの あの歌が口をつく
あいつも あたしも 好きだった アローン・アケイン
Pressing my forehead against the taxi window
Even though I pretend I am deeply drunk
The words of that one song I tried to forget come to my lips
He and I were in love, alone again
ゆき先なんて どこにもないわ
ひと晩じゅう 町の中 走りまわっておくれよ
ばかやろうと あいつをけなす声が途切れて
眠ったら そこいらに捨てていってよ
I have no destination
Drive me through the city all night long
If the voice cursing some bastard ceases
If I fall sleep, discard me anywhere
[Repeat Chorus x2]
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泥海の中から
Doroumi no naka kara
(From the middle of a muddy ocean(3))
======
[Verse 1]
ふり返れ 歩きだせ 悔やむだけでは変わらない
許せよと すまないと あやまるだけじゃかわらない
Look over your shoulder and walk away
With only regret nothing will change
Forgive me, I'm sorry
With only apologies nothing will change
[Repeat Verse 1]
おまえが殺した 名もない鳥の亡骸は
おまえを明日へ 連れて飛び続けるだろう
The corpse of the nameless bird that you murdered
Will take you and fly you forward to tomorrow
[Repeat Verse 1]
[Verse 2]
ふり返れ 歩きだせ 忘れられない罪ならば
くり返す その前に あしたは少し ましになれ
Look over your shoulder and walk away
From the crime that cannot be forgiven
Before you repeat it
Make your tomorrow a little better
おまえが壊した 人の心のガラス戸は
おまえの明日を 照らすかけらに変わるだろう
The glass door into someone's heart that you shattered
Becomes a shard that brightens your tomorrow
[Repeat Verse 2]
ふり返れ 歩きだせ 悔やむだけでは変わらない
果てのない 昨日より 明日は少し ましになれ
ふり返れ 歩きだせ 悔やむだけでは変わらない
ふり返れ 歩きだせ 明日は少し ましになれ
明日は少し ましになれ
Look over your shoulder and walk away
With only regret nothing will change
Better than yesterday which did not end
Make your tomorrow a little better
Look over your shoulder and walk away
With only regret nothing will change
Look over your shoulder and walk away
Make your tomorrow a little better
Make your tomorrow a little better
======
信じ難いもの
Shinjigatai mono
(Hard to believe)
**Probably my favorite song. Disturbing lyrics with a tasty banjo lick.
======
十四や十五の 娘でもあるまいに
くり返す嘘が 何故みぬけないの
約束はいつも 成りゆきと知りながら
何故あいつだけを べつだと言えるの
He says he’s not seeing a young girl of fourteen or fifteen
Why can't I see through these repeated lies? (4)
I know that he will keep his promise
How can he tell me that I’m wrong?
[Chorus]
信じ難いもの：愛の言葉 誘い言葉
信じ難いもの：寂しい夜の あたしの耳
It is hard to believe words of love, words of invitation
It is hard to believe my ears on this lonely night
嘘つきはどちら 逃げること戻ること
嘘つきはどちら 泣き虫忘れん坊
いくつになったら 大人になれるだろう
いくつになったら 人になれるだろう
Which is the lie? Leaving me or coming back to me?
Which is the lie? If I can't stop crying or if you forget me? (5)
How long does it take to become an adult?
How long does it take to become human?
[Repeat Chorus]
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根雪
Neyuki
(Snow cover)
======
誰も気にしないで
泣いてなんか いるのじゃないわ
悲しそうに見えるのは
町に流れる 歌のせいよ
Please don't pay attention
I'm not really crying
If it looks like I'm sad
It's because of the song running through town
いやねふるい歌は
やさしすぎて なぐさめすぎて
余計なことと思い出す
誰かあの歌を 誰かやめさせて
The old songs are awful
They're too kind and too comforting
They make me remember too much
Someone please make the songs stop
[Chorus]
いつか時間が経てば
忘れられる あんたなんか
いつか時間が経てば
忘れられる あんたなんか
Time will pass
And I will forget things like you
Time will pass
And I will forget things like you
町は 毎日 冬
どんな服でかくしてみせても
後ろ姿 こごえてる
ひとり歩きは みんな 寒い
The town is winter every day
Whatever clothes I use to hide it
Frozen figures from behind
Walk alone, everyone cold
町は ひとりぼっち
白い雪に かくれ泣いてる
足跡も 車も
そうよ あんたもかくして 降りしきる
The town is lonely
Secretly crying in the white snow
Footprints and cars
Yes, even you are hidden in the endlessly falling snow
[Repeat Chorus]
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片想
Kataomoi
(Unrequited love)
======
目をさませ 早く 甘い夢から
うまい話には 裏がある
目をさませ 早く 甘い夢から
溺れているのはおまえだけ
Wake up quickly from your sweet dream
There is always a dark side to a good story
Wake up quickly from your sweet dream
You are the only one who is infatuated
「一度やそこらのやさしさで
つけあがられるのは とても迷惑なんだ」
目をさませ 早く 甘い夢から
うかれているのはおまえだけ
"Even though he was nice to you once
You shouldn’t give him trouble by being too pushy”
Wake up quickly from your sweet dream
Only you got carried away
手を放せ 早く すがる袖から
振り払うのは うとましい
手を放せ 早く すがる袖から
溺れているのはおまえだけ
Let go quickly of the sleeve that you cling to
Tearing yourself away is painful
Let go quickly of the sleeve that you cling to,
You are the only one who is infatuated
「一度やそこらのやさしさで
つけあがられるのは とても迷惑なんだ」
手を放せ 早く すがる袖から
溺れているのはおまえだけ
手を放せ 早く 甘い夢から
溺れているのはおまえだけ
"Even though he was nice to you once
You shouldn’t give him trouble by being too pushy”
Let go quickly of the sleeve that you cling to
You are the only one who is infatuated
Let go quickly of your sweet dream
You are the only one who is infatuated
======
ダイヤル１１７
Daiyaru 117
(Dial 117)
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手を貸して あなた 今夜眠れないの
笑えないの 歩けないの 大人になれない
Please, lend me a hand, I cannot sleep tonight
I cannot laugh, I cannot walk, I cannot grow up
手を貸して あなた 今夜眠くなるまで
わがままよ 泣き虫よ ひとりの時あたし
Please, lend me a hand, until I get sleepy
I am selfish, I can't stop crying, when I'm alone
あなたもいつか ひとりの夜が
一度はあるなら わかるでしょう
ねえ 切らないで
なにか 答えて
Sometimes, alone at night
If you’ve been alone at night, you know how I feel
Don't hang up
Please say something
人前で泣くのは 女はしちゃいけない
笑いなさい 歩きなさい 涙涸れるまで
Women shouldn't cry in front of others
Laugh! Walk! Until your tears dry up
愚痴を聞くのは 誰も好きじゃない
笑うだけよ 歩くだけよ 女は死ぬ日まで
Anyone would dislike hearing such foolish complaints
Just laugh, just walk, until the day you die
張りつめすぎた ギターの糸が
夜更けに ひとりで そっと切れる
ねえ 切らないで
なにか 答えて
The strained strings of my guitar
Snap when I'm alone in the early morning
Don't hang up
Please say something
[Repeat]
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小石のように
Koishi no you ni
(Like a pebble)
======
山をくだる流れにのせて
まだ見ぬ景色あこがれ焦がれ
転がりだす石は１６
流れはおもい次第
Riding the flow down the mountain
Through the unseen scenery, longing, yearning
A stone tumbles down, 16 years old (6)
According to the heavy procession of the stream
旅をとめる親鳥たちは
かだおうとするその羽根がとうに
ひな鳥には小さすぎると
いつになっても知らない
The mother birds have stopped their travels
But to travel on
The wings of the baby bird are still too small
They don’t know how long it will take
おまえ おまえ 耳をふさいで
さよならを聞いてもくれない
とめどもなく転がりだして
石ははじめて ふりむく
You, you close your ears
You won't even listen to their goodbyes
Tumbling endlessly
The stones look back for the first time
川はいつか幅も広がり
暗く深く小石をけずる
石は砂に砂はよどみに
いまやだれにも見えない
The river became wider somewhere
Darker, deeper, the pebbles are crushed
Stone into sand, sand into silt
Which now no one can see
おまえ おまえ 海まで百里
坐り込むには まだ早い
石は砂に砂はよどみに
いつか青い海原に
You, you, it’s one hundred miles to the sea
It is too early to rest
Stone into sand, sand into silt
In time, to the blue ocean
おまえ おまえ 海まで百里
坐り込むには まだ早い
石は海に海は大空に
そしていつかあの山へ
石は海に海は大空に
そしていつかあの山へ
You, you, it’s one hundred miles to the sea
It is too early to rest
Stone into sea, sea into sky
In time, to return to the mountain
Stone into sea, sea into sky
In time, to return to the mountain
======
狼になりたい
Ookami ni naritai
(I want to become a wolf)
======
夜明け間際の吉野屋では 化粧のはげかけたシティ・ガールと
ベイベィ・フェイスの狼たち 肘をついて眠る
At Yoshinoya, just before dawn
A city girl, her makeup beginning to fade
And the baby-faced wolves (7)
Are leaning on their elbows sleeping
なんとかしようと思ってたのに こんあ日に限って朝が早い
兄ぃ、俺の分はやく作れよ そいつよりこっちのが先だぜ
I wanted to do something special
But today of all days, the morning comes early
Mister, bring me my food now
I was here before that other guy
買ったばかりのアロハは どしゃ降り雨で よれよれ
まぁ いいさ この女の化粧もおなじようなもんだ
The Hawaiian shirt that I just bought
Is shabby from the driving rain
Well, that’s OK
It matches this girl’s makeup
[Chorus]
狼になりたい 狼になりたい ただ一度
I want to be a wolf
I want to be a wolf
Just once
向かいの席のおやじ見苦しいね ひとりぼっちで見苦しいね
ビールをくださいビールをください 胸がやける
The old man sitting across from me is hard to look at
Hard to look at because he is all alone
Give me a beer, give me a beer
My heart is burning
あんたも朝から忙しいんたろ がんばって稼ぎなよ
昼間・俺たち会ったら お互いに「いらっしゃいませ」なんてな
You will be busy in the morning
Good luck, work hard and earn a living
If we meet during the day
We’ll be forced to act like strangers (9)
人形みたいでもいいよな 笑える奴はいいよな
みんな、いいことしてやがんのにな いいことしてやがんのにな
ビールはまだか
A guy who’s like a doll would be good
I want a guy who can laugh
But these losers seem so wonderful (10)
But these losers seem so wonderful
Where is my beer?
[Repeat Chorus]
俺のナナハンで行けるのは 町でも海でもどこでも
ねえ あんた のせてやろうか
どこまでもどこまでもどこまでもどこまでも
I can go anywhere in my 750cc
To the city, to the sea, anywhere
Hey you, won’t you ride with me?
To anywhere, to anywhere
[Repeat Chorus x2]
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断崖 – 親愛なる者へ –
Dangai – Shinai naru mono he –
(The precipice – To my dearest –)
======
風は北向き 心の中じゃ
朝も夜中も いつだって吹雪
だけど 死ぬまで 春の服を着るよ
そうさ 寒いとみんな逃げてしまうものね、みんなそうさ
The wind is from the north in my heart
All morning and all night, always the driving snow
But until I die I will wear the clothes of spring
That’s because when it’s cold out, people always leave me
走り続けていなけりゃ 倒れちまう
自転車みたいな この命転がして
息はきれぎれ それでも走れ
走りやめたら ガラクタと呼ぶだけだ、この世では
If you don’t keep running you will fall
Like a bicycle, life keeps rolling
My breath is tattered and yet I run
If you stop running, this world will call you damaged goods
冷えた身体を 暖めてくれ
すがり寄る町に 住む人とてなく
扉をあけて 出てくる人は
誰も今しも 旅に出る仕度、意気も高く
Please warm my frozen body
In the city I cling to, the people living there
Open their door and come outside
Anyone, at any time, while I’m arranging my trip, spirits are high
生きてゆけよと 扉の外で
手を振りながら 呼んでる声が聞こえる
死んでしまえと ののしっておくれ
窓の中 笑いだす声を聞かすくらいなら、ねぇ、おまえだけは
While I live, they come outside
Wave their hands and call to me
When I die, they will speak ill of me as they send me off
But only you will be heard laughing from behind the window (11)
生きる手だては あざないものと
肩をそらして 風を受けながら
いま 崩れゆく崖の上に立ち
流し目を使う 昔惚れてくれた奴に、なさけないな
The way of life is a twisted thing
So I shrug my shoulders and feel the wind
I am standing at the top of a precipice
I take a sidelong glance at those who loved me long ago, what a pitiful sight
風は北向き 心の中じゃ
朝も夜中も いつだって吹雪
だけど 死ぬまで 春の服を着るよ
そうさ 寒いとみんな逃げてしまうものね
そうさ 死ぬまで 春の服を着るよ
そうさ 寒いとみんな逃げてしまうものね
The wind is from the north in my heart
All morning and all night, always the driving snow
But until I die I will wear the clothes of spring
That’s because when it’s cold out, people always leave me
But until I die I will wear the clothes of spring
That’s because when it’s cold out, people always leave me
======
Notes
======
(3) I think that 泥海 includes the connotation of shame and immorality (e.g. prostitution)
(4) I can think of several ways of interpreting these first two lines, so I just gave it my best shot. Let me know if you think this meaning is wrong.
(5) Literally:
Which is the liar: leaving or returning.
Which is the liar: the crybaby or the one who forgets.
I couldn’t get a smooth translation because my interpretation is that “he” is both halves in the first line while “she” is one half and “he” is the other in the second half.
(6) With help from Katagiri Junya. The pebble represents a child becoming an adult.
(7) Literally 狼 is wolf, but it includes the connotation of a womanizing man
(9) Literally “We’ll say ‘irasshaimase’ to each other.” Irasshaimase means “welcome,” and is what a store worker would say to his customer.
(10) Literally: “Everyone is doing wonderful things”. But here やがん implies that the speaker feels contempt for her subject.
(11) Or possibly: Only you will hear their laughing voices from behind the window.