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://www.oocities.org/gregsharp.geo

 

English translations by Greg Sharp <gregsharp@oocities.com>

Copyright (C) 2002, 2005

Version 1.1: February 04, 2005

 

Some translations are a bit rough, so please give me your suggestions!

 

======

裸足で走れ

Hadashi de hashire

(Run barefoot)

======

 

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]

 

======

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]

 

======

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]

 

======

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]

 

======

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)

======

 

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]

 

======

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]

 

======

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 Masa. The pebble represents a child becoming an adult.

(7) Literally 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.