Study Japanese From Song - 《僕が死のうと思ったのは》

This article was partially machine translated

Introduction

Is there a a way to study language listening without feeling like you’re studying, sometimes you can listen to repeatedly and try shadowing? Isn’t that music!

I thought about that I only understand part of songs I listen to. If I analyze and understand the lyrics more deeply, maybe I can really treat it as language practice.

I’ll start with the first song, which, although a little heavy, has accompanied me for most of my time. It’s a song I can listen to over and over again without getting tired of it.

Music Video

Lyrics

僕が死のうと思ったのは ウミネコが桟橋で鳴いたから
桟橋: さんばし

I thought of ending my life because a black-tailed gull cried on the pier

波の随意に浮かんで消える 過去も啄ばんで飛んでいけ
啄ばむ: ついばむ

Drifting at the whim of the waves, disappearing and carrying away the past as they fly

僕が死のうと思ったのは 誕生日に杏の花が咲いたから
杏: あんず

I thought of ending my life because the apricot blossoms bloomed on my birthday

その木漏れ日でうたた寝したら 虫の死骸と土になれるかな
木漏れ日: こもれび 死骸: しがい 土: つち

If I take a nap under the sunlight filtering through the trees, will I become a corpse and return to the soil?

薄荷飴 漁港の灯台 錆びたアーチ橋 捨てた自転車
薄荷: はっか 漁港: ぎょこう 灯台: とうだい 錆びる: さびる

Mint candy, the lighthouse at the fishing port, a rusty arch bridge, and an abandoned bicycle

木造の駅のストーブの前で どこにも旅立てない心
旅立つ: たびだつ

In front of the stove at the wooden station, a heart unable to set out anywhere

今日はまるで昨日みたいだ 明日を変えるなら今日を変えなきゃ

Today feels just like yesterday. If you want to change tomorrow, you have to change today

分かってる 分かってる けれど

I know, I understand, but…

僕が死のうと思ったのは 心が空っぽになったから

I thought of ending my life because my heart felt completely empty

満たされないと泣いているのは きっと満たされたいと願うから

Crying over emptiness, because deep down, you wish to be fulfilled


僕が死のうと思ったのは 靴紐が解けたから
靴紐: くつひも 解ける: ほどける

I thought of ending my life because my shoelace came undone

結びなおすのは苦手なんだよ 人との繋がりもまた然り
然り: しかり

I’m not good at tying them again, and the same goes for building connections with others

僕が死のうと思ったのは 少年が僕を見つめていたから

I thought of ending my life because a boy was staring at me

ベッドの上で土下座してるよ あの日の僕にごめんなさいと

He’s prostrating on the bed, apologizing to me from that day

パソコンの薄明かり 上階の部屋の生活音
薄上がり: うすあがり

The faint light from the computer, the sounds of life from the room upstairs

インターフォンのチャイムの音 耳を塞ぐ鳥かごの少年
鳥かご: とりかご

The sound of the intercom chime, the boy in the bridcage covering his ears

見えない敵と戦ってる 六畳一間のドンキホーテ
一間: ひとま

Fighting with an invisible enemy, in a six-tatami mat room, a Don Quixote

ゴールはどうせ醜いものさ
醜い: みにくい

The goal is inevitably an ugly thing

僕が死のうと思ったのは 冷たい人と言われたから

I thought of ending my life because I was called a cold person

愛されたいと泣いているのは 人の温もりを知ってしまったから
温もり: ぬくもり

Crying because I want to be loved, as I’ve already known the warmth of others


僕が死のうと思ったのは あなたが奇麗に笑うから

I thought of ending my life because you smile so beautifully

死ぬことばかり考えてしまうのは きっと生きる事に真面目すぎるから

The reason I keep thinking about dying is probably I take life too seriously

僕が死のうと思ったのは まだあなたに出会ってなかったから

I thought of ending my life because I hadn’t met you yet

あなたのような人が生まれた 世界を少し好きになったよ

Because of people like you being born, I started to like this world a little

あなたのような人が生きてる 世界に少し期待するよ

Because of people like you living, I started to look forward to this world a little

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