Translation of Bonnou no Blues

Original Japanese | Romanji Reading | English Translation | Translation Annotations

I’m probably going to be accused of as lazy since it’s been two weeks since I last translated a song, and this one is only one minute long. Yeah? So? I’ve been working on studying for my JLPT II, which also means I have been working on my blog, JLPT Blues.

In any case, enjoy this video of the song as a means of making amends!

The tatami in that room makes very happy for no reason at all. Also, got to love those toothy grins at the end!

煩悩のブルーズ
モンゴル８００
ディニエル

ときめく花弁は　一夜限りの夢
手招く甘い　蜜の香りに誘われて

愛は陽炎　ゆらゆら揺れる
恋は翔らう　瞬きもせず
十六夜の月も笑ってる

迷いなさい　苦しみなさい
千切れるほど　悩めなさい
繰り返す　煩悩のブルーズ

僕といつまでも
君といつまでも

煩悩のブルーズ

Bonnou no BURUUZU
MONGORU Happyaku
Deinieru

Tokimeku hanabira Ichiya kagiri no yume
Temaneku amai Mitsu no kaori ni sasowarete

Ai ha kagerou Yurayura yureru
Koi ha kakerau Matatakimosezu
Hizayoi no tsuki waratteiru

Mayoinasai Kurushiminasai
Chigireru hodo Nayamenasai
Kurikaesu Bonnou no BURUUZU

Boku to itsumademo
Kimi to itsumademo

Bonnou no BURUUZU

The Wordly Desires Blues
MONGOL800
Daniel

Within one night, I dreamt of fluttering petals
It has this beckoning smell of honey that invited me

Love is a heatwave, and it ripple sluggishly (1)
Romance soars without even blinking
A sixteen day old moon is laughing.

Get lost (3), be bitter,
Worry so much you tear it into a thousand pieces
It keeps on repeating, this Worldly Desires (Klesha) blues(2)

Always with me,
Always with you

This Wordly Desires Blues

Translation Annotations:

1. 1.     Yureru usually mans to sway, but I think in this case, it supposed to describe the waves of heat one see on a hot day, so I thought ripple was better.
2. 2.     Bonnou is a Buddhist word that translates as Klesha. I’m no expert on Buddhism, so this is going to be rather simple. It means the worldly desires, and affliction. It’s not something you want to have if you want to reach enlightenment, essentially.

Happy Birthday Retranslation

Original Lyrics | Japanese Translation | Retranslation

This song makes me far too happy. I've never heard anyone be so excited about becoming an old man before.


Happy Birthday
MONGOL800
Go On As You Are

I like birthday. I’ll become old man.

And yet I like birthday.

I like birthday. Because you celebrate

Happy Happy Happy Birthday.

I’m looking forward to so Happy day.

What will you present for me?

Please hold on me.

I’d like you to do nothing for me.

So hold on me. Please give me your love.

I like birthday. I’ll become old man.

And yet I like birth day.

I like birthday. Because you celebrate

Happy Happy Happy Birthday.

Japanese Translation

誕生日が大好き

年をとるけど

それでも大好き

誕生日が大好き

あなたが祝ってくれるから

僕は最高に幸せな日が気持ちどおしい

あなたは何をくれるかな？

抱きしめてちょーだい！

僕のために何もしなくていいから

だからだきしめてください

あなたの愛を下し

Translation of Translation

I like my birthdays,

Though it makes me older,

But even so, I like  birthdays

I like birthdays

Because you celebrate them with me

I wonder what you will give me?

I want you to hold me!

It’s ok that you don’t do anything for me

So, please hold me

Please give me your love

SAYONARA DOLL Translation

Original Lyrics | Romanji Readings | English Translation | Translation Annotations

This song reminds me of feelings I've never had, and it engages me in ways I don't know how to comprehend. It's such a simple song, yet it has a great beauty to it enhanced by the imagery of the lyrics and the nostalgic background vocals.

SAYONARA DOLL
MONGOL800
ETC Works 2

夢を見ていた
長い長い夢を
昔々この島で
君と出会い恋に落ちた

まるでロミオとジュリエット
許されない恋
二人は愛を育む
争いをよそに

不条理な現実
言葉も国境も
壁という壁を
愛は越えた

争いは金を生み
悲しみや憎しみだけが残る
弱い者を盾に槍をつく
平和を餌に蠅が集る

忘れないでこの島を　この海を
いつの世も　いついつまでも

忘れないであの唄を　約束を
いつかまた出会える日まで
いつの世も　いついつ　いつまでも

夢を見ていた
長い長い夢を


SAYONARA DOLL
Mongoru Happyaku
ETC Works 2

Yume wo miteita
Nagai nagai yume wo
Mukashi mukashi kono shima de
Kimi to deai koi ni ochita

Marude ROMIO to JURIETTO
Yurusarenai koi
Futari ha ai wo hakugumu
Arasoi wo yoso ni

Fujorin na genjitsu
Kotobo mo kokkyou mo
Kabe to iu kabe wo
Ai ha koeta

Arasoi ha kane wo umi
Kanashimi ya nikushimi dake ga nokoru

Yowaii mono wo tate ni yari wo tsuku
Heiwa wo e ni hae ga takaru

Wasurenai de kono shima wo Kono umi wo
Itsu no yo mo Itsuitsu mademo

Wasurenaide ano uta wo Yakusoku wo
Itsu ka mada deaeru hi made
Itsu no yo mo Itsuitsu Itsumademo

Yume wo miteita
Nagai nagai yume wo

SAYONARA DOLL
MONGOL800
ETC Works 2

I’m dreaming
a long, long dream
of that far away time on that island
where I met you and fell in love.

We’re like Romeo and Juliet,
Our love could not be allowed
We let our love grow (1)
we’ll be indifferent to the struggle (2).

This absurd reality
of words and borders.
That wall,
our love climbed.
We struggled to get money,
and all we were left was sadness and hatred.
The weak take up their spear and shield,
and peace baits flies.
Don’t forget this island, or this sea
never, until the end of time (3)
Don’t forget this song, or our promise
until that day we can meet again
don’t ever forget, ever(4)
I dreamed a dream
It was a long, long dream.


Translation Annotations:

1. Hakugumu means to raise something, or cultivate like one cultivates talent, or a plant. I had trouble finding an English equivalent for some reason.
2. I’m not so sure of this one. I mean, I know that arasoi means struggle, but the yoso worries me. Since I not familiar with the word, I think I may have made a mistake in the translation. It is that, or it’s an Okinawan word that I do not know.
1. Ok… this doesn’t translate well, so I’ll explain it. He is trying to emphasize at what point it’s okay to forget the island and whatnot, but we don't really have words for itsumademo. The first line translates something like… never in this generation, and never until an unspecified that time that is far off. Not really beautiful, eh?
3. Same words as 1, I just translated them different to get the point across.

More from ETC Works 2

I'm not really sure why I didn't notice before, but MONGOL800 do a cover of the famous Nadasousou!

If you're curious, here is the original, sung by Rimi Natsukawa.

She is a famous Okinawan singer who I absolutely love. It is one of my many regrets not picking up one of her albums while I lived in Japan. If you're curious about her stuff, which is largely more traditional than Nadasousou, I went to the trouble of making you a short playlist of my favorites here.

This is MONGOL800's cover of the song, and as you can tell, they changed it pretty significantly.



Who are The Majestics that MONGOL800 are playing with? I have yet to find out. All I know is that I'm relatively sure it's not these guys.

Anata ni Translation

Original Lyrics | Romanji Reading | English Translation | Translation Annotations

Maybe the boy in Anata ni is dreaming of Lily from the Momo album.

I actually started translating this song a long time ago... Maybe four years ago? But it was a bit too high level for me. Actually, in a weird way, it's a still a bit high level for me. I guess that's what studying is for, huh?

I have the most poignant memory of singing this song in my red Toyata Corsa, not too soon after I was forced to scrap my white Toyota Corsa, with my ex-boyfriend (before he was my boyfriend) on my way to see Kamikouchi.

So, sadly, this makes song makes me both angry, and a little nostalgic/sad all the same time.

Also, another translation can be found here. We obviously disagree on some translations....


あなたに
モンゴル８００

メセージ

人にやさしくされた時　自分の小ささを知りました
あなた疑う心恥て　信じましょう心から
流れゆく日々その中で　変わりゆく物多すぎて
揺るがないものただ一つ　あなたへの思いは変わらない
泣かないで愛しい人よ　悩める喜び感じよう
気がつけば悩んだ倍　あなたを大切に思う
ほら　元どおり以上だよ　気がつけばもう僕の腕の中

あなたに　逢いたくて　逢いたくて
あなたに　逢いたくて　逢いたくて
眠れない夜　夢で逢えたら考えすぎで　眠れない夜
夢で逢えたら　どこへ行こうか？
あなたがいれば　どこでもいいよ

あなたに　逢いたくて　逢いたくて
あなたに　逢いたくて　逢いたくて
流れゆく日々　季節は変わる　花咲き散れば元にもどるの
こんな世の中　誰を信じて歩いてゆこう
手を取ってくれますか？


Anata ni
Mongoru Happyaku

MESEEJI

Hito ni yasashiku sareta toki jibun no chiisasa wo shirimashita
Anata utagau kokoro haji te shinjimashou kokoro kara
Nagareyuku hibi sono naka de kawariyuku mono oo sugite
Yuruganai mono tada hitotsu anata he no omoi ha kawaranai
Nakanaide itoshiihito yo nayameru korokobi kanjiyou
Ki ga tsukeba nayanda bai anata wo taisetsu ni omou
Hora motodoori ijou dayo ki ga tsukeba mou boku no ude no naka

Anata ni aitakute aitakute
Anata ni aitakute aitakute
Nemurenai yoru yume de aetara kangaesugi de nemurenai yoru
Yume de aetara doko e yukouka?
Anata ga ireba dokodemo ii yo

Anata ni aitakute aitakute
Anata ni aitakute aitakute
Nagareyuku hibi kitsetsu wa kawaru hana saki chireba moto ni modoru no
Konna yo no naka dare o shinjite aruiteyukou
Te o tottekuremasuka?

To You
Mongol 800

Message

I know how small I am when people are being nice to me
You were ashamed of your doubting heart, so let’s believe with all our hearts!
As the days pass, the things that change become too much
There is but one thing that does not waver, and that is my thoughts of you.
Don’t cry, beloved one. Let’s feel the joy of worrying.
If you’ll notice, the pain will double, and I will be thinking of you. (1)
Look, it’s no more than it was before, and if you’ll notice, you’re still in my arms.


I wanna see(2), wanna see you (3)
I wanna see, wanna see you
Sleepless nights, if I think too much about meeting you in my dreams, I can’t sleep
If I meet you in this dream, where shall we go?
As long as you’re there, anywhere is fine.

I wanna see, wanna see you
I wanna see, wanna see you
These passing days, the seasons change, if the blossoming flowers scatter, I’ll put them back together
In the middle of this world, who will you believe, and go walk with?
Will you take my hand?

Translation Annotations:

(1) It is way more than possible that I translated this incorrectly.

(2) This is probably better translated as “I miss you”. The Japanese don’t have a verb was we do for missing something, and even their adjective is a bit off when you try to translate. So, the best way to say “I miss you” is “I want to see you” and this largely because there is no present or future tense in Japanese. So, knowing that it may be in the future tense, can lend it a sort of feeling of longing.

(3) I choose to translate it like this because the way it’s sung, you can barely hear half the syllables. It sort of sounds like “aitate” as opposed to “aitakute”. Also, the better translations is probably, “I miss you”… but that didn’t fit very well. Also, the lyric’s kanji has deliberately chosen the old version of how to write this verb (逢うas opposed to会う). I suppose this is to make the meaning more beautiful.

Okinawa Festival in Hawai'i

Hey! There is a Okinawa Festival in Hawai'i! Looks like a brilliant time.

Shame I can't find any in the continental United States.

Lilly Translation

Japanse Lyrics | Romanji Reading | English Translation | Translation Annotations

リリー

モンゴル８００
百々

色の無い世界　言葉の無い世界
あなたは何を見つめているの

僕の言葉を優しく拾い
頷き笑う　色褪せぬ日々

繋ぐための手　抱くための腕
正義を語る拳はいるぬ

悲しみの雨　喜びの虹
儚き人の夢　我泡沫人

Oh my love, sleep tight Lily.
Sweet dreams, I remember you.
Close your eyes, sleep tight Lily.
Sweet dreams, I’ll never forget your love.
Your love is all.

偽りのない瞳で　何を見てるの
あなたの目が写す鏡のようで
だから。。。


RIRII
Mongoru Happyaku

Momo

Iro no nai sekai kotoba no nai sekai
Anata ha nani wo mitsumetiruno

Boku no kotoba wo yasashiku hiroi
Unazukiwarau iro aserunu hibi

Sunagu tame no te daku tame no ude
Seiji wo katoru kobushi ha irunu

Kanashimi no ame Yorokobi no niji
Hakanaki hito no yume wa utakata hito

Oh my love, sleep tight Lily.
Sweet dreams, I remember you.
Close your eyes, sleep tight Lily.
Sweet dreams, I’ll never forget your love.
Your love is all.
Ituswari no nai hitome de Nani wo miteruno
Anata no me ga boku wo utsusu kagami no you de
Dakara …


Lily
MONGOL 800

Peach

Is it a world without color? A world without words?
What is it that you are staring at?

The kindness gathered in my words
nod and smile in these days that won’t fade

The hand is meant for binding, and the arms are meant to embrace
It’s the fist that talks of justice that we don’t need.

The rain of sadness and the rainbow of happiness
And in the dreams of our fleeting lives, I am a transient being. (1)

Oh my love, sleep tight Lily.
Sweet dreams, I remember you.
Close your eyes, sleep tight Lily.
Sweet dreams, I’ll never forget your love.
Your love is all. (2)

What are you looking at with your eyes that can't deceive me?
Because your eyes are like the one’s I see in the mirror (3)


Translation Annotations:

(1) Hatanaki is one of the more beautiful words in the Japanese language. It means transience, or fleeting. To say someone has died, one can say hatanaki ni naru which means “they have become transient”. It’s usually a word that describes life. The next sentence, he basically says the same thing in the style of a Chinese four-character word.

Also, translating this bit word for word makes it very awkward and not very beautiful. So, I took some poetic license (but not enough to match the beauty of the original lyrics.

(2) This is sort of a common mistake Japanese people make when speaking English since we don’t really have a very good rule of when you should use “all” instead of “everything.” What he probably meant to say is that “your love is everything (to me)”.

(3) There are too ways the sentence can be translated… the most grammatically accurate if one is doing it word by word is the one posted above. That being said though, I really think it should be translated as “What are you look at with your undeceiving eyes? You can’t deceive me because your eyes are the same eyes I see in the mirror”. However, Japanese is deliberately vague, so it’s hard to guess which is the best translation.