Dedicate to You

As you can probably tell from the fact that I didn’t jump right into a translation marathon as soon as I got my hands on the scans, I must admit, I’m not really feeling it for this album. The two Nachi songs, Pictures in Decay, and Blow Us Apart are the only ones I’m really loving. It sucks that there’s no Itori this time around too, due to a death in the family if I recall.

★ Title: DEDICATE TO YOU
☆ Album: PHOTOGRAPHIC DESTINATIONS
★ Album Artist: ZYTOKINE
☆ Vocals: Nachi Sakaue (坂上なち)
★ Arrangement and lyrics: Linjin (隣人)
☆ Original Title: Wind Circulation ~ Wind Tour (風の循環 ～ Wind Tour)
★ Website: http://zytokine-web.com/

その目で　見ないでよ　優しく　しないでよ
一人で　歩いてく　勇気が　揺らぐよ
今はただ　その手の　優しさが　痛くて
もう一度　もう一度　抱きしめて　あげたかったよ

sono me de minai de yo yasashiku shinai de yo
hitori de aruite ku yuuki ga yuragu yo
ima wa tada sono te no yasashisa ga itakute
mou ichido mou ichido daki shimete agetakatta yo

Don’t look at me with those eyes, don’t be so kind to me
My courage to walk on alone wavers
Right now the gentleness of your hand only hurts
Once more, just once more, I wanted to give you a hug

Happiness calls, but I let you down
I always remember everlasting love
失った影　追いかけた　夕暮れ　沈む　歯車

Happiness calls, but I let you down
I always remember everlasting love
ushinatta kage oi kaketa yuugure shizumu haguruma

Happiness calls, but I let you down
I always remember everlasting love
I chased after the lost shadows, the gears sinking into sunset

Happiness calls, but I let you down
I always remember I always remember
優しさに　傷つき　傷つけては　揺れる　蜃気楼

Happiness calls, but I let you down
I always remember I always remember
yasashisa ni kizutsuki kizutsukete wa yureru shinkirou

Happiness calls, but I let you down
I always remember I always remember
Getting hurt by the kindness and giving pain was a swaying mirage

照らされてた　大きな愛の光　なのに
守られてた　大きな　愛の歌に　なのに

terasareteta ooki na ai no hikari nanoni
mamorareteta ooki na ai no uta ni nanoni

Despite having been shined upon by love’s large light
Despite having been protected by a love’s large song

振り向いた　瞬間を　切り取る frame
笑顔の　意味を　照らしてた　独りきり
指差した　景色を　切り取る frame
歌い続ける　この Melody I will dedicate to you

furi muita shunkan o kiro toru frame
egao no imi o terashiteta hitori kiri
yubi sashita keshiki o kiri toru frame
utai tsudzukeru kono Melody I will dedicate to you

The frame cropping the moment you looked back
had lit up the meaning of your smile, all alone
The frame cropping the scene you pointed at
I will continue to sing, this melody I will dedicate to you

この目で　見たいけど　優しく　したいけど
一人で　歩いてく　勇気が　揺らぐよ
今はもう　遠くて　だけど　近すぎて
もう一度　もう一度　抱きしめて　欲しかったよ

kono me de mitai kedo yasashiku shitai kedo
hitori de aruite ku yuuki ga yuragu yo
ima wa mou tookute dakedo chika sugite
mou ichido mou ichido daki shimete hoshikatta yo

Though I want to look with my eyes, though I want to treat you nicely
my courage to walk on alone wavers
It’s far off by now, but it’s still too close
Once more, just once more, I wanted to you to hug me

Happiness calls, but I let you down
I always remember everlasting love
失った声　探し続けていた　小さな　祈り

Happiness calls, but I let you down
I always remember everlasting love
ushinatta koe sagashi tsudzuketeita chiisa na inori

Happiness calls, but I let you down
I always remember everlasting love
My lost voice had continued to search for a small prayer

Happiness calls, but I let you down
I always remember I always remember
優しさに　傷つき　傷つけては　滲む　蜃気楼

Happiness calls, but I let you down
I always remember I always remember
yasashisa ni kizutsuki kizutsukete wa nijimu shinkirou

Happiness calls, but I let you down
I always remember I always remember
Getting hurt by the kindness and giving pain was a blurring mirage

許されてた　儚い愛の光　なのに
救われてた　儚い愛の歌に　なのに

yurusareteta hakanai ai no hikari nanoni
sukuwareteta hakanai ai no uta ni nanoni

Despite having been forgiven by a faint light of love
Despite having been rescued by a faint song of love

眩しいストロボに　浮かぶ frame
色褪せた　夢　照らしてたあの日へと
未来へ続いてる　愛しい frame
歌い続ける　この Melody I will dedicate to you

mabushii sutorobo ni ukabu frame
iro aseta yume terashiteta ano hi e to
mirai e tsudzuiteru itoshii frame
utai tsudzukeru kono Melody I will dedicate to you

The frame suspended in the bright strobe
had lit up my discoloured dream, to that day
Continuing toward the future, this lovely frame
I will continue to sing, this melody I will dedicate to you

Pictures in Decay

Requested by Kappashiro, another one of my favourites from the album, and a bit more liberal of a translation than usual at some points. Linjin had a lot of fun with しまう and trailing しまえばs here. The lines in (brackets) were transcribed by ear, and are also the lines heard in the background.

Darn, I’m tired. Work hard to keep your sleep schedule in check, or you’ll regret it.

Unnecessary notes: Was kind of unsure whether I should take the first stanza as one big sentence or multiple, but I figured it would probably sound strange to be telling yourself “don’t wake up like this” after I thought about it. The interpretation of telling someone else not to wake up is out the window too, with the final stanza, as the たい form can only be used when referring to oneself or asking someone else (if they want to ____).　Would have to be たがる if it was someone else. There’s some Amen logic for you out there, if you’ve ever wondered about my thought process through things like this, though it’s not much.

★ Title: PICTURES IN DECAY
☆ Album: PHOTOGRAPHIC DESTINATIONS
★ Album Artist: ZYTOKINE
☆ Vocals: aki
★ Arrangement and lyrics: Linjin (隣人)
☆ Original Title: Sleepless Night of the Eastern Country (東の国の眠れない夜)
★ Website: http://zytokine-web.com/

このまま　目覚めないで　このまま　溶けてしまって
消えてしまえば　色褪せてしまえば

kono mama mezamenai de kono mama tokete shimatte
kiete shimaeba iro asete shimaeba

If only I were to disappear, to lose all colour
melting away as is, without waking up like this

このまま　起こさないで　このまま　沈めておいて
揺れてしまえば　思い出してしまうから

kono mama okosanai de kono mama shizumete oite
yurete shimaeba omoi dashite shimau kara

Keep me submerged as is, without waking me up like this
If I stir I’ll end up remembering after all

そっと触れて　崩れ落ちて
あの日の影　あの日の色

sotto furete kuzure ochite
ano hi no kage ano hi no iro

Touching gently, toppling down
The shadows of that day, the colours of that day

ひとつふたつ　思い出して
優しい夢を　優しい嘘を

hitotsu futatsu omoi dashite
yasashii yume o yasashii uso o

One, two, I remember
The sweet dream, the sweet lie

誰かのために　灯されていた　今もあるかな　ドアの向こう側
戻りたいけど　戻りたくない　美しい夢

dare ka no tame ni tomosareteita ima mo aru kana doa no mukou gawa
modoritai kedo modoritakunai utsukushii yume

Lit up for somebody’s sake, I wonder if they’re there, even now, beyond the door
I want to go back, but I don’t want to return, to that beautiful dream

愛してしまうから　愛してしまったから
傷つけたいけど　色褪せてしまえば
懐かしさに沈み　やがて空へと昇り
光る星へと　心は凪いでいく
さあ行こう　手を　繋いで　長い旅路　手を　繋いで

aishite shimau kara aishite shimatta kara
kizutsuketai kedo iro asete shimaeba
natsukashisa ni shizumi yagate sora e to nobori
hikaru hoshi e to kokoro wa naide yuku
saa ikou te o tsunaide nagai tabiji te o tsunaide

Because I’ll fall in love, because I fell in love
I want to get back at you, though if it means losing colour
sinking into nostalgia, before long rising up to the sky
towards the shining stars, my heart will calm down
Come now, let’s go, take hold of my hand, it’s a long journey, take my hand

(希望笑い合ってた夢)
(奇跡信じ合ってた夢)
(願いを許し合ってた夢)
(奇跡通じ合ってた夢)

(kibou warai atteta yume)
(kiseki shinjiatteta yume)
(negai o yurushiatteta yume)
(kiseki tsuujiatteta yume)

(A dream where we smiled about our hopes)
(A dream where we believed in miracles)
(A dream where we allowed our wishes)
(A dream where we understood miracles)

そっと揺れて　風に乗って
誰かの影　誰かの声

sotto yurete kaze ni notte
dare ka no kage dare ka no koe

Gently swaying, riding the wind
Someone’s shadow, someone’s voice

ひとつふたつ　思い出して
哀しい夢を　哀しい嘘を

hitotsu futatsu omoi dashite
kanashii yume o kanashii uso o

One, two, I remember
The sad dream, the sad lie

誰かのために　許されていた　景色に映る　愛の向こう側
汚したいけど　汚したくない　美しい夢

dare ka no tame ni yurusareteita keshiki ni utsuru ai no mukou gawa
yogoshitai kedo yogoshitakunai utsukushii yume

Forgiven for somebody’s sake, reflected in the scenery, beyond the love
I want to dirty it, but I don’t want to spoil it, the beautiful dream

壊してしまうから　壊してしまったなら
夢見ていたいけど　目覚めてしまうから
独り　歩き初めて　強くなれた気がして
だけど　遠くて　何も　愛せないままで

kowashite shimau kara kowashite shimatta nara
yume miteitai kedo mezamete shimau kara
hitori aruki hajimete tsuyoku nareta ki ga shite
dakedo tookute nani mo aisenai mama de

Because I’ll accidentally ruin it, if I accidentally ruined it
I want to keep dreaming, but I’ll end up waking up after all
It’s my first time walking alone, I felt like I had become stronger
however I’m still far, as I can’t love anything

(希望笑い合ってた夢)
(奇跡信じ合ってた夢)
(願いを許し合ってた夢)
(奇跡通じ合ってた夢)

(kibou warai atteta yume)
(kiseki shinji atteta yume)
(negai o yurushi atteta yume)
(kiseki tsuuji atteta yume)

(A dream where we smiled about our hopes)
(A dream where we believed in miracles)
(A dream where we allowed our wishes)
(A dream where we understood miracles)

このまま　目覚めないで　このまま　溶けてしまって
消えてしまいたい　色褪せてしまいたい
このまま　起こさないで　このまま　沈めておいて
遠い旅路で　思い出してしまうなら
そうさ　手を　繋いで　長い旅路　手を　繋いで

kono mama mezamenai de kono mama tokete shimatte
kiete shimaitai iro asete shimaitai
kono mama okosanai de kono mama shizumete oite
tooi tabiji de omoi dashite shimau nara
sou sa te o tsunaide nagai tabiji te o tsunaide

Without waking up like this, melting away as is
I want to completely disappear, I want to lose all colour
Keep me submerged as is, without waking me up like this
if I’ll end up recalling on this far journey
That’s right, take hold of my hand, it’s a long journey, take my hand

(希望笑い合ってた夢)
(奇跡信じ合ってた夢)
(願いを許し合ってた夢)
(奇跡通じ合ってた夢)

(kibou warai atteta yume)
(kiseki shinji atteta yume)
(negai o yurushi atteta yume)
(kiseki tsuuji atteta yume)

(A dream where we smiled about our hopes)
(A dream where we believed in miracles)
(A dream where we allowed our wishes)
(A dream where we understood miracles)

Blow Us Apart

I love these kinds of Nana Takahashi songs, the ones like “Dead Souls,” and “Raising False Hopes.” I like to call Haruka the master of depressing lyrics, but Linjin can do a pretty amazing job too. Honestly, I feel a small lack of satisfaction with this translation, not because I think it’s inaccurate or a poor job or anything, but I just don’t think it’s possible to capture the beauty of the masterly crafted original Japanese here. The same can be said of a lot of RD songs as well, of course.

★ Title: BLOW US APART
☆ Album: PHOTOGRAPHIC DESTINATIONS
★ Album Artist: ZYTOKINE
☆ Vocals: cold kiss (Nana Takahashi (高橋 菜々))
★ Arrangement and lyrics: Linjin (隣人)
☆ Original Title: Wind God Girl (風神少女)
★ Website: http://zytokine-web.com/

哀しさを抱えて　　寂しさに揺られて
空しさに抱かれて　宙に舞う　金色
矛盾だらけ　夢の果て　憎んではまた信じて

kanashisa o kakaete samishisa ni yurarete
munashisa ni dakarete chuu ni mau kin iro
mujun darake yume no hate nikunde wa mata shinjite

Bearing my sorrow, being shaken by the loneliness
being embraced by the emptiness, colours of gold dance in the air
At the end of a dream riddled with paradox, hatred breeds faith again

触れて信じて壊して許して歪んで夢見て信じて忘れて

furete shinjite kowashite yurushite yugande yume mite shinjite wasurete

Touch, believe, destroy, forgive, twist, dream, believe, forget

忘れたはずの　崩れた Melody
ああ　バラバラ　粉々　砕け散った頃に　またきっと思い出す

wasureta hazu no kuzureta Melody
aa barabara konagona kudake chitta koro ni mata kitto omoi dasu

I thought I left it in the dust, the crumbled down Melody
Ah, piece by piece, bit by bit, when it’s all shattered up, I’m sure I’ll remember it again

独り夢見ている　　言の葉に舞う夢
正しさは　ただ無常　胸を刺す　銀色
矛盾だらけ　成れの果て　信じてはまた憎んで

hitori yume miteiru koto no ha ni mau yume
tadashisa wa tada mujou mune o sasu gin iro
mujun darake nare no hate shinjite wa mata nikunde

All alone I have a dream, a dream dancing in words
Righteousness is plain ever-changing, colours of silver pierce my heart
A shell of my former self riddled with paradox, faith breeds hatred again

触れて信じて壊して許して歪んで夢見て信じて忘れて

furete shinjite kowashite yurushite yugande yume mite shinjite wasurete

Touch, believe, destroy, forgive, twist, dream, believe, forget

忘れたはずの　崩れた涙
ああ　キラキラ　ゆらゆら　砕け散った頃に　またきっと思い出す

wasureta hazu no kuzureta namida
aa kirakira yurayura kudake chitta koro ni mata kitto omoi dasu

I thought I left them in the dust, all the tears that crumbled down
Ah, twinkle twinkle, shaking shaking, when it’s all shattered up, I’m sure I’ll remember again

哀しさを砕いて　吹く風に砕いて

kanashisa o kudaite fuku kaze ni kudaite

Crushing the sorrow, crushing it in the blowing wind

忘れたはずの　崩れた Melody
ああ　バラバラ　粉々　砕け散った頃に　またきっと思い出す

wasureta hazu no kuzureta Melody
aa barabara konagona kudake chitta koro ni mata kitto omoi dasu

I thought I left it in the dust, the collapsed Melody
Ah, piece by piece, bit by bit, when it’s all shattered up, I’m sure I’ll remember it again

死に際に　空を飛んだ鳥の夢
いまだ掴めないままで
独り　鳴いていた鳥が　落ちて　朽ちていく

shinigiwa ni sora o tonda tori no yume
imada tsukamenai mama de
hitori naiteita tori ga ochite kuchite iku

As of yet I remain unable to grasp the dream of a bird
A bird that flew through the sky on the brink of death
Resembling the figure of the falling and perishing bird

姿に似ていて

sugata ni niteite

that had been singing alone

美しくて

utsukushikute

it’s beautiful