Refugee of Time¹

Words By ISSAY

Music By HIKARU

Japanese

昨日からの亡命者¹ レンガの壁見つめてる
凍りついた記憶を 右腕のタトゥーに刻み込む

ピアノの音 安ワイン 地下酒場のアルペジオ
老いぼれの道化師は 予言者のコトバを弄ぶ

時の移りに揺られて 失う物ばかり
どこまでも落ちてゆくのか
深く蒼いこの闇の底

懐かしい胸に 脈打つ孤独の音聞いて
愛しい人よ 眠ってるあなた探す

明後日からの亡命者 滑り落ちたノスタルジー
未来からの記憶は 異邦人の歌を奏でてる

時の移り変わりさえ 忘れてしまうなら
どこまでも逃げてゆこう
二度とあなたを失いたくない

懐かしい胸に 脈打つ孤独の音聞いて
愛しい人よ そばにいて眠っておくれ

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Kinou kara no boumeisha Renga no kabe mitsumeteru
Kouritsuita kioku no Migiude no tatuu ni kizami komu

Piano no oto Yasu wain Chika sakaba no arupejio
Oibore no doukeshi wa Yogensha no kotoba wo moteasobu

Toki no utsuri ni yurarete ushinau mono bakari
Doko made mo ochite yuku no ka
Fukaku aoi kono yami no soko

Natsukashii mune ni Myakuutsu kodoku no oto kiite
Itoshii hito yo Nemutteru anata sagasu

Asatte kara no boumeisha Suberi ochita nosutarujii
Mirai kara no kioku wa Ihoujin no uta wo kanadeteru

Toki no utsuri kawari sae Wasureteshimau nara
Doko made mo nigete yukou
Nido to anata wo ushinai takunai

Natsukashii mune ni Myakuutsu kodoku no oto kiite
Itoshii hito yo Soba ni ite nemutte okure

English

By: Yoshiyuki

Refugee from yesterday Staring at the brick wall
Frozen memories Carved into the tattoos on his right arm

Piano music Cheap wine The arpeggio of an underground bar
The senile old jester toys with the prophet’s words²

Swayed by the passage of time All we have are things to lose
How far will we fall
Down into the depths of this deep azure darkness

Hearing the lonely pulse in your sentimental chest
Oh, my beloved I search for your sleeping form

Refugee from the day after tomorrow Nostalgia that has slipped away
Memories from the future Playing the song of the auslander

If I forget even the change and passage of time
We’ll run away even to the ends of the world
I don’t ever want to lose you again

Hearing the lonely pulse in your sentimental chest
Oh, my beloved Let me stay by your side and sleep with you

Words by ISSAY

Music by Arranged by DER ZIBET

Japanese

眠りを忘れた時代さ
痛みを隠してる時代さ
      Hey ねぼけちゃいない
テレビ・モニターの幻覚さ
安易な希望の幻覚さ
      Hey 笑いとばそう
好きな事ははじめから知ってる
教えられなくてもやってけるさ

A11 right 何も気にする事はない
Baby, it’s all right 一人きりでもいい タフに生きよう

無謀に見えるのは知ってる
間抜けに見えるのは知ってる
      Hey どうって事ない
愚か者の歌が聞こえてる
ろくでなしの歌が聞こえてる
      Hey 大好きな歌さ
安っぽい共感はいらない
パラドックスで瓦榛の山さ

A11 right 何もひきずる物はない
Baby, it’s all right 一人きりでもいい タフに生きよう

安っぽい夢ならいらない
パラドックスで瓦篠の山さ

A11 right 何も気にする事はない
Baby, it’s all right 全部捨て去ってもいい
Yes it’s all right 何もひきずる物はない
Baby, it’s all right 一人きりでもいい タフに生きよう

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Nemuri wo wasureta jidai sa
Itami wo kakushiteru jidai sa
      Hey nebokecha inai
Terebi monitaa no genkaku sa
An’ina kibou no genkaku sa
      Hey warai tobasou
Sukina koto wa hajime kara shitteru
Oshie rarenakute mo yattekeru sa

A11 right nani mo ki ni suru koto wa nai
Baby, it’s all right hitori kiri de mo ii tafu ni ikiyou

Mubou ni mieru no wa shitteru
Manuke ni mieru no wa shitteru
      Hey doutte koto nai
Orokamono no uta ga kikoeteru
Roku de nashi no uta ga kikoeteru
      Hey daisuki na uta sa
Yasuppoi kyoukan wa iranai
Paradokkusu de gareki no yama sa

A11 right nani mo hikezuru mono wa nai
Baby, it’s all right hitori kiri de mo ii tafu ni ikiyou

Yasuppoi yume nara iranai
Paradokkusu de gareki no yama sa

A11 right nani mo ki ni suru koto wa nai
Baby, it’s all right zenbu sute satte mo ii
Yes it’s all right nani mo hikezuru mono wa nai
Baby, it’s all right hitori kiri de mo ii tafu ni ikiyou

English

By: Yoshiyuki

These are times when sleep is forgotten
These are times when pain is hidden
      Hey I’m not half-asleep
It’s the illusion from the TV monitor
It’s the illusion of a laid-back hope
      Hey Let’s laugh away
I know what I like from the start
I can do it even if no one teaches me

All right There’s nothing to worry about
Baby, it’s all right It’s okay even if you’re all alone Let’s live tough

I know that I look reckless
I know that I look stupid
      Hey It’s no big deal
I can hear the simpleton’s song
I can hear the good-for-nothing’s song
      Hey That’s my favourite song
I don’t need cheap sympathy
It’s a mountain of rubble in paradox

All right There’s nothing dragging me down
Baby, it’s all right It’s okay even if you’re all alone Let’s live tough

I don’t need cheap dreams
It’s a mountain of rubble in paradox

All right There’s nothing to worry about
Baby, it’s all right It’s okay to throw it all away
All right There’s nothing dragging me down
Baby, it’s all right It’s okay even if you’re all alone Let’s live tough

Words by ISSAY

Music & Arranged by DER ZIBET

Japanese

頬を撫でて風が通り過ぎた
風に乗って雲が揺られてゆく
気がつくと一人きりで立っていた
空気の香りが少し変わっていた
      遠い日々におきざりにされた
      忘れ物が見つからないんだ
Summer days’  どこへ行けばいいのさ
Summer days’  光にあふれた時間
Summer days’  どこへ行けば会える?
Summer days’  永遠に熱い夏

メリーゴーランドが色あせている
木のベンチが少しだけ冷たい
空の上舟が遠く出てゆく
子供達が手をふって別れていった
      胸の奥が少し震えた
      僕は又　歩きはじめた

Summer days’  どこへ行けばいいのさ
Summer days’  光にあふれた時間
Summer days’  どこへ行けば会える?
Summer days’  僕の手の中にはまだある

Summer days’  どこへ行けばいいのさ
Summer days’  光にあふれた時間
Summer days’  どこへ行けば会える?
Summer days’  ……
Summer days’  永遠に熱い夏

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Hoho wo nadete kaze ga toorisugita
Kaze ni notte kumo ga yurarete yuku
Ki ga tsuku to hitori kiri de tatteita
Kuuki no kaori ga sukoshi kawatteita
      Tooi hibi ni okizari ni sareta
      Waresuremono ga mitsukaranainda
Summer days’  Doko e ikeba ii no sa
Summer days’  Hikari ni afureta jikan
Summer days’  Doko e ikeba aeru?
Summer days’  Eien ni atsui natsu

Merii goo rando ga iro aseteiru
Ki no benchi ga sukoshi dake tsumetai
Sora no ue fune ga tooku dete yuku
Kodomo tachi ga te wo futte wakareteitta
      Mune no oku ga sukoshi furueta
      Boku wa mata  Aruki hajimeta

Summer days’  Doko e ikeba ii no sa
Summer days’  Hikari ni afureta jikan
Summer days’  Doko e ikeba aeru?
Summer days’  Boku no te no naka ni wa mada aru

Summer days’  Doko e ikeba ii no sa
Summer days’  Hikari ni afureta jikan
Summer days’  Doko e ikeba aeru?
Summer days’  ……
Summer days’  Eien ni atsui natsu

English

By: Yoshiyuki

The wind blew past, stroking my cheek
The clouds roll by, riding the wind
Without realising it, I found myself standing alone
The scent of the air has changed a little
      Abandoned by the far off days
      I can’t find what I’ve forgotten
Summer days’  Where should I go?
Summer days’  A time flooded in light
Summer days’  Where will I find you?¹
Summer days’  An endless blistering² summer

The colours of the merry-go-round are fading
The wooden bench is slightly cold to the touch
Up in the sky, the boat departs into the distance
The children waved goodbye as they left
      Deep in my chest, I felt a slight tremble
      Once again, I started to walk

Summer days’  Where should I go?
Summer days’  A time flooded in light
Summer days’  Where will I find you?
Summer days’  In my hand, they remain

Summer days’  Where should I go?
Summer days’  A time flooded in light
Summer days’  Where will I find you?
Summer days’  ……
Summer days’  An endless blistering summer

Words by ISSAY

Music by HAL

Japanese

聞こえてるのは雨音 …聞こえる雨音…
ポリリズムを刻んでる …ポリリズム刻む…
寝つけない夜 何度も寝返る
寝つけない夜 何度も寝返る
明日は何を着ていこう

エアコンは静かに動いてる …寡黙なエアコンディショナー…
風のストリングス奏でる …風のストリングス…
寝つけない夜 新聞配達の足音
寝つけない夜 明日は何時に起きようか

医者にもらった錠剤は 記憶を無くしてしまうのさ
In the Stony Room 時計だけが動いてる
The Stoned room at inn 夢と現のはざまで

ベッドに熱が溜まってく …熱の溜まったシーツの上…
今は昨日なのか今日なのか …今は夜なのか…
寝つけない夜 青い部屋の中ひとり
寝つけない夜 お前の顔が浮かんで消える

医者にもらった錠剤で 明日の朝は頭痛とめまい
In the Stony Room お前だけがいない
The Stoned room at inn 声だけがこだまする
In the Stony Room 時計だけが動いてる
The Stoned room at inn…
In the Stony Room

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Kikoeteru no wa amaoto … Kikoeru amaoto…
Netsukenai yoru nando mo negaeru
Netsukenai yoru nando mo negaeru
Ashita wa nani wo kite ikou

Eakon wa shizuka ni ugoiteru … Kamokuna eakondishonaa…
Kaze no sutoringusu kanaderu … Kaze no sutoringusu…
Netsukenai yoru shinbunhai tachi no ashioto
Netsukenai yoru ashita wa nanji ni okiyou ka

Isha ni moratta jouzai wa kioku wo nakushite shimau no sa
In the Stony Room tokei dake ga ugoiteru
The Stoned room at inn yume to utsutsu no hazama de

Beddo ni netsu ga tamatteku … Netsu no tamatta shiitsu no ue…
Ima wa kinou nano ka kyou nano ka … Ima wa yoru nano ka…
Netsukenai yoru aoi heya no naka hitori
Netsukenai yoru omae no kao ga ukande kieru

Isha ni moratta jouzai de Ashita no asa wa zutsuu to memai
In the Stony Room omae dake ga inai
The Stoned room at inn koe dake ga kodamasuru
In the Stony Room tokei dake ga ugoiteru
The Stoned room at inn…
In the Stony Room

English

By: Yoshiyuki

All I can hear is the rain … I can hear the rain…
Pattering¹ out a polyrhythm … Pattering¹ a polyrhythm…
Sleepless nights Tossing and turning over and over
Sleepless nights Tossing and turning over and over
What should I wear tomorrow

The aircon is working quietly … A taciturn² air conditioner…
Strumming³ the strings of the wind … Strings of the wind…
Sleepless nights Footsteps of the paperboy⁴
Sleepless nights What time should I wake up tomorrow

The pills the doctor prescribed erases memories
In the Stony Room Only the clock is ticking
The Stoned room at inn Between dreams and reality

Heat⁵ is building in the bed … On the warmed⁵ sheets…
Is it yesterday now, or is it today … Is it night now…
Sleepless nights Alone in a blue room
Sleepless nights Your face comes to mind

The pills the doctor prescribed gives me headaches and dizziness the next morning
In the Stony Room Only you’re not here
The Stoned room at inn Only voices echo in the background
In the Stony Room Only the clock is ticking
The Stoned room at inn…
In the Stony Room

Notes:

¹ 刻む (kizamu) usually means “to engrave/carve”. In this line, it is to imply that the sound of the rain is “carving” it’s rhythm into the narrator’s mind. That’s a little bit too much information to put in that one line so I went with “pattering” since this word creates the sound once read, effectively “carving” it into the reader’s mind.

² “Taciturn” was used to describe the air conditioner precisely because 寡黙な (kamoku na) is typically used to describe a person of few words. Take it as a personification of the aircon.

³ 奏でる (kanaderu) is the verb for playing string instruments. I could use a generic “playing” instead of “strumming” but since the lyrics itself mentions strings, I went with “strumming”. Although, one could argue that “plucking” can be a valid choice too.

⁴ 新聞配達 (shinbun haitatsu) literally means “newspaper delivery”. If you’ve read Issay’s February 1994 interview with Rockin’ on Japan, you’d know that he once did newspaper delivery as a job. The mention of “footsteps” leads me to assume that it’s a door-to-door delivery service which would be done by a paperboy as he once was. Thus, the choice of translation.

⁵ At first read, I thought 熱 (netsu) was implying a fever since it’s the same word. I’ve ended up translating it as “heat” and “warmed” because those are typical phrases anyway, but considering the mention of doctors and pills, I just get the feeling that he actually did mean to imply a fever.

Words by ISSAY

Music by HAL, Arranged by DER ZIBET

Japanese

Song Bird  歌って
星へのレクイエム  声を探す子供達に

蜃気楼追いかけ  砂漠の放浪者
暑さにひび割れた唇

かき消されたシグナル
枯れ葉色の地平線

Sing me a song  別れの歌を
言葉を翼に乗せて羽ばたいて
Sing me a song  至福の歌を
帰りたい  帰れない  流れる砂の中で

Song Bird  伝えて
死に絶えた街から  乗り遅れた子供達へ

時は急ぎ足  見て見ぬ振りばかり
悲しみさえ  乾いて行く

G線上でさえずる
微睡みのアリアを

Sing me a song  別れの歌を
言葉を翼に乗せて羽ばたいて
Sing me a song  至福の歌を
帰りたい  帰れない  流れる砂の中で

Sing me a song  Sing in the blue
Sing out for me  I sing out for you…
…Good-bye, Song Bird

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Song Bird  Utatte
Hoshi e no rekuiemu  Koe wo sagasu kodomotachi ni

Shinkirou oikake  Sabaku no hourousha
Atsusa ni hibiwareta kuchibiru

Kakikesareta shigunaru
Kareha iro no chiheisen

Sing me a song  Wakare no uta wo
Kotoba wo tsubasa ni nosete habataite
Sing me a song  Shifuku no uta wo
Kaeritai  Kaerenai  Nagareru tsuna no naka de

Song Bird  Tsutaete
Shinitaeta machi kara  Noriokureta kodomotachi e

Toki wa isogi ashi  Miteminu furi bakari
Kanashimi sae  Kawaite yuku

G sen jou de saezuru
Madoromi no aria wo

Sing me a song  Wakare no uta wo
Kotoba wo tsubasa ni nosete habataite
Sing me a song  Shifuku no uta wo
Kaeritai  Kaerenai  Nagareru tsuna no naka de

Sing me a song  Sing in the blue
Sing out for me  I sing out for you…
…Good-bye, Song Bird

English

By: Yoshiyuki

Sing, Song Bird
A requiem to the stars for the children searching for a voice

Desert nomad chasing mirages
With lips cracked from the heat

A drowned out signal
The dead leaf-coloured vista

Sing me a song, a song of farewells
Lay the words on your wings and spread them
Sing me a song, a song of bliss
I want to go home but can’t in these flowing sands

Convey it, Song Bird
From the deadened city to the children who missed their ride

Time rushes by in a hurry, simply turning a blind eye
Even grief has dried up

Chirping on the G String¹
Singing a sleepy aria¹

Sing me a song, a song of farewells
Lay the words on your wings and spread them
Sing me a song, a song of bliss
I want to go home but can’t in these flowing sands

Sing me a song  Sing in the blue
Sing out for me  I sing out for you…
…Good-bye, Song Bird

Deep-sea fish

Words by ISSAY

Music by HIKARU & ISSAY, Arranged by DER ZIBET

Japanese

アルカロイドの夢を見て
      バスタブの中で目が醒めた
            今日はどこまで 飛んで行こう
ニュース･ショウのブラウン管から
      青いバナナ･フィッシュが飛び出す
            何匹目だ？ 数えきれない
電子回路の迷路ぬけて
      発情した都市がゆれる
            いい気分だ ステキな所
アスファルトの遺跡の上
      新しいピラミッドが光る
            霧にかすんで 今日もきれいだ

くずれる街のLustful Illusion
欲望から生まれたFinal Illusion
      ここは最高の遊び場さ

ブラインドおろした部屋は
      深海魚になった気分
            外に出よう 泳いで行こう
ハロウィン･ジャックのたまり場は
      サーチ･ライトに照らされたビル
            ドーパミンが あふれる所

今欲しいのはBad Stimulation
人間達のLustful Solution
            ここは最高の遊び場さ

Slap-Bang Wild Child
どこにいるんだい?
Slap-Bang Wild Child
誰といるんだい?
Slap-Bang Wild Child
楽しんでるかい?
Slap-Bang Wild Child

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Arukaroido no yume o mite
      Basutabu no nakade me ga sameta
              Kyou wa doko made tonde ikou
Nyuu shou no buraunkan kara
      Aoi banana fisshu ga tobidasu
            Nanbiki me da? Kazoe kirenai
Denshi kairo no meiro nukete
      Hatsujou shita toshi ga yureru
            Ii kibun da suteki na tokoro
Asufaruto no iseki no ue
      Atarashii piramiddo ga hikaru
            Kiri ni kasunde kyou mo kirei da

Kuzureru machi no Lustful Illusion
Yokubou kara umareta Final Illusion
      Koko wa saikou no asobiba sa

Buraindo oroshita heya wa
      Shinkaigyo ni natta kibun
            Soto ni deyou oyoide ikou
Harowin jakku no tamariba wa
      Saachi raito ni terasareta biru
            Doopamin ga afureru tokoro

Ima hoshii no wa Bad Stimulation
Ningen tachi no Lustful Solution
            Koko wa saikou no asobiba sa

Slap-Bang Wild Child
Doko ni irun dai?
Slap-Bang Wild Child
Dare to irun dai?
Slap-Bang Wild Child
Tanoshin deru kai?
Slap-Bang Wild Child

English

By: Yoshiyuki

Dreaming alkaloid¹ dreams
      I wake up in the bathtub
            How far will we fly today
From the cathode-ray tube’s² news program
      Blue banana fish come flying out
            How many are there? They’re countless
Coming out of the maze of electrical circuits
      A city in heat quivers
            It’s a wondrous feeling, a lovely place
On the ruins of the asphalt
      A new pyramid gleams
            Shrouded in fog, it’s beautiful as always

The Lustful Illusion of the crumbling city
The Final Illusion born of desire
      This is the best playground there is

In a room with the blinds pulled down
      I feel like I’ve become a deep-sea fish
            Let’s go out, let’s go swimming
Halloween Jack’s³ haunt
      Is a building lit by searchlights
            A place overflowing with Dopamine

Bad Stimulation is what I desire now
The Lustful Solution of humans
            This is the best playground there is

Slap-Bang Wild Child
Where are you?
Slap-Bang Wild Child
Who are you with?
Slap-Bang Wild Child
Are you having fun?
Slap-Bang Wild Child

Into the Mirage

Words by ISSAY

Music By HIKARU

Japanese

風に晒されて今 砂の城が崩れる
安らぎも悲しみも 何もかも飲み込んで
君の瞳の奥 銀河が流れていた
天使達の涙 地平線の彼方へ

サラサラとこぼれる 幸福な時代

星降る蜃気楼へ 僕たちは落ちて行く
ホルスの眼に射抜かれて 時間の砂漠の中で
儚い夢に凍えてた

想い出の化石は 切ない声を上げた
水銀のような月 あの日を反射してる

確かなものなんて 何もなかったのさ

星降る蜃気楼へ 僕たちは落ちて行く
ホルスの眼に射抜かれて 時間の砂漠の中で
懐かしい夢を見ていた

星降る蜃気楼へ 僕たちは落ちて行く
ホルスの眼に射抜かれて 時間の砂漠の中で
儚い夢に震えてた

Fall in the Mirage Future in fossil
We’re in a desert Freeze in dream

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Kaze ni sasarete ima Suna no shiro ga kuzureru
Yasuragi mo kanashimi mo Nanimo kamo nomi konde
Kimi no hitomi no oku Ginga ga nagarete ita
Tenshi tachi no namida Chiheisen no kanata e

Sarasara to koboreru Koufuku na jidai

Hoshifuru shinkirou e Bokutachi wa ochite yuku
Horusu no me ni inuka rete Jikan no sabaku no naka de
Hakanai yume ni kogoeteta

Omoide no kaseki wa Setsunai koe wo ageta
Suigin no you na tsuki Ano hi wo hansha shiiteru

Tashikana mono nante Nani mo nakatta no sa

Hoshifuru shinkirou e Bokutachi wa ochite yuku
Horusu no me ni inuka rete Jikan no sabaku no naka de
Natsukashii yume wo mite ita

Hoshifuru shinkirou e Bokutachi wa ochite yuku
Horusu no me ni inuka rete Jikan no sabaku no naka de
Hakanai yume ni furueteta

Fall in the Mirage Future in fossil
We’re in a desert Freeze in dream

English

By: Yoshiyuki

Now exposed to the wind, the sand castle collapses
Swallowing everything down, be it tranquility, be it sorrow
The Milky Way flows in the depths of your eyes
While the tears of the angels flow away, beyond the horizon

Happy times trickle away, scattering, rustling*

Into a star-filled mirage we fall
Piercing through the Eye of Horus in the desert of time
Frozen by an ephemeral dream

Heartrending voices rise from the fossils of my memories
As that day reflects on the moon like liquid silver**

For there is no such thing as absolute certainty

Into a star-filled mirage we fall
Piercing through the Eye of Horus in the desert of time
I dreamt a dream of nostalgia

Into a star-filled mirage we fall
Piercing through the Eye of Horus in the desert of time
Shaken by a fading dream***

Fall in the Mirage Future in fossil
We’re in a desert Freeze in dream