ROCKAROLLICA II
黒い Boogie
Black BoogieLyrics by Kiyoshi
Translation by w_b
This body steeped in the smell of metal (1)
Is in a dangerously low tailspin
With a kick I scatter the sparks pouring over me
It's a Boogie about how I'll keep on living life my way
I'm flying above black clouds
Wow wow wow woo woo
Wow wow wow woo woo woo
Wow wow wow woo woo Black boogie
Body agitated by a techno rhythm,
Its streamlined form starts to slip into the deep of the night
Believing I'll be able to go anywhere this way;
That's my own personal Boogie
I lose my way in black clouds
Wow wow wow woo woo
Wow wow wow woo woo woo
Wow wow wow woo woo Black boogie
Wow wow wow woo woo
Wow wow wow woo woo woo
Wow wow wow woo woo Black boogie
This body's breaking apart,
Clad in ominous black
I've got the Blues stuck my head
God's the monster here; I've got my Boogie
I'm falling beneath black clouds
Wow wow wow woo woo
Wow wow wow woo woo woo
Wow wow wow woo woo Black boogie
Wow wow wow woo woo
Wow wow wow woo woo woo
Wow wow wow woo woo Black boogie x2
Notes: This translation was edited October 10, 2013.
1. The word 'body' (in katakana), can be used to refer to objects such as an airplane or a car, as well as to a human or animal body.
Brandnew day
Lyrics by Kiyoshi
Translation by w_b
In the plasma throughout my body awakens a Venus
She swallows everything up and I'm mesmerized
My eardrums vibrate with an Electric planet party
A frenzied Showtime, forget everything and go!
I offer you a sky that marks the world's end
It's my hallelujah to you
It's Brandnew day
Around the world, a virus transmitted through plasma
Forced its way in and consumed everything
On the back of my retina I see an Electric planet party
A delightful Slow dance, it's my last chance to dance in this life
I offer you a future that lightning will see you off to
It's my hallelujah to you
It's Brandnew day Yes Brandnew dead
It's Brandnew day Yes Brandnew dead
It's Brandnew day Yes Brandnew dead
It's Brandnew
day x2
Yes Brandnew dead
A sky that marks the world's end
A future that lightning will see you off to
The pain a chrysalis feels as it becomes a butterfly
Are my hallelujah to you
It's Brandnew day Yes Brandnew dead
It's Brandnew day Yes Brandnew dead
It's Brandnew day Yes Brandnew dead
It's Brandnew
day x3
Notes: This translation was edited October 16, 2013.
9days Wonder
Lyrics by Imai Hisashi
Translation by Lola
Was it sink or swim for you? Is that why you quit? Why you stopped?
Or was it that you'd rather disappear than stay as things were?
You laughed as night fell
It is not the end but, no one waits for you now
Baby, don't let go
Hold fast, grab on to me, and squeeze tight
Come on, I'll take you all along
To the very ends of the world, to infinity (1)
all shining everyone come on
love and life around the clock
nine days wonder
Did you pray to God? Or beseech the Devil?
Or was it that maybe you felt so trapped, that this was your last resort?
The rain lifted as night fell
And I hoped to spot just one, just one single star
Baby, don't let go
Hold fast, grab on to me, and squeeze tight
Baby, don't let go
Hold fast, grab on to me, and squeeze tight
Come on, I'll take you all along
To the very ends of the world, to infinity
all shining everyone come on
love and life around the clock
nine days wonder
Boys and Girls
love and life
come and go
too young to die
life is short,
so fall in love,
young girls and boys
Boys and Girls
love and life
come and go
too young to die
life is short,
so fall in love,
young girls and boys
Come on, I'll take you all along
To the very ends of the world, to infinity
all shining everyone come on
love and life around the clock
nine days wonder
Come on, I'll take you all along
To the very ends of the world, to infinity
all shining everyone come on
love and life around the clock
all shining everyone come on
Gather ye rosebuds while you may (2)
nine days wonder (3)
Notes: Edited February 13, 2014.
(1) I had to invert the first two lines in this stanza.
(2) The line in Japanese is, "命短し恋せよ乙女", which can be literally translated as, "Girls, life is short so fall in love". However, it is also translated into the English idiom, "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may" and since the literal translation did not include boys, while in the rest of the song Imai does implore both boys and girls to love, I thought this fit best. The meaning behind it being of course, to enjoy life while you can before it is too late.
(3) To refer to someone as a "nine days wonder" implies that they were essentially a great phenomenon that incited a lot of interest but sadly, only for a short duration. After which, they were either ignored or forgotten.
ピラニア
PiranhaLyrics by Kiyoshi
Translation by w_b
Swaying, you're in a swamp
Slowly swimming in circles
Swaying, you're in a swamp
Slowly you creep about
You slither into hiding deep beneath the tropical sky
You're lovely It's you're lovely
Yesterday you wanted to throw love and old dreams away
You're deep at the bottom of pale waters
You're lovely It's you're lovely
Burrow your way shrewdly into a dark red world (1)
You've become a piranha biting at a yellow world
Go on with you fish frenzy (2)
You start darting out to tear at black bellies (3)
You're lovely It's you're lovely
Tomorrow you'll give yourself over to a chimera's dream
You lose yourself in it, gulping down bitter water
You're lovely It's you're lovely
At an instant's notice, tear into the new world
You've become a piranha biting at your prey's lips
It's just a fish frenzy
Swaying, you're in a swamp
Slowly swimming in circles
Swaying, you're in a swamp
Slowly you creep about
Circle and bite, join together and be part of the sacrifice
Swaying, you're in a swamp
Slowly swimming in circles
Swaying, you're in a swamp
Slowly you creep about
You're lovely You're lovely You're lovely
You're lovely You're lovely You're lovely
You're lovely You're lovely You're lovely
You're lovely You're lovely You're lovely
Notes: This translation was edited October 18, 2013
1. I'm not sure what connotation a dark red colour has here, if any. It might be associated with corruption, greed, pollution...but those are all speculation. I'm also not sure whether the colour yellow has any extra connotations in the following line.
2. This line, as well as a similar line a few stanzas down were so hard to word that I ultimately chose to convey the image rather than the literal translation. Word for word, the original line reads, 'you just mingle together and intertwine' (majiriau karamaru dake). Translated that way however, it loses all impact and sounds somewhat strange in the context of fish, doesn't it?
3. In Japanese, when you say that someone's belly is black (hara ga kuroi), it means that they have an evil/black heart.
One wish
Lyrics by Kiyoshi
Translation by w_b
It feels like the boundless, transparent sky has closed up
My wish wasn't granted, it wasn't granted, my wish unfulfilled I'm starting to come apart
For you One wish
It flows from me and I reach out; it pushes through the clouds towards the edge of the sky
My wish wasn't granted, it wasn't granted, my wish unfulfilled I'm starting to come apart
For you One wish Oh Yeah One wish
Hey, this pointless fervor pierces through the meandering clouds and turns into a falling star
It feels like the boundless, transparent sky has closed up
My wish wasn't granted, it wasn't granted, my wish unfulfilled I'm starting to come apart
For you One wish Oh Yeah One wish wish wish
The impact of your hanging pierces the moment you turn to falling ash, to the sound of a star falling
Oh Yeah one wish Oh Yeah one wish wish
Oh Yeah one wish Oh Yeah one wish wish Yeeahhh!!!
It flows from me and I reach out; it pushes through the clouds towards the edge of the sky
My wish wasn't granted, it wasn't granted, my wish unfulfilled I'm starting to come apart
For you One wish Oh Yeah One wish wish wish
Hey, to this pointless fervor that comes and goes
To the impact of your hanging, when you turned to ash and fell
I'm bidding farewell, I'm bidding farewell, at the sound of a star falling I bid farewell
Oh Yeah one wish Oh Yeah one wish wish
Oh Yeah one wish Oh Yeah one wish wish Yeah!
Oh Yeah one wish Oh Yeah one wish
One wish
Notes: This translation was edited October 11, 2013.
SHOT GUN MARY
Lyrics: Imai Hisashi
Translation: Lola
Burning spirits drained in one shot
Seem to burn in my side
You seem entirely like a god
The tip of a spear pokes up with one stroke
My side is aching
And you seem entirely like a god
Sweet pleasure BITTERS AND SWEETS
Make the dizziness spread
CLIMAX, VIBES, HIGH
Again like a god
Thrust up, thrust up, it makes me point up too so thrust up
Flushed Mary, indiscriminate shot gun Mary
Without leaving a trace, Mary
You seem to just keep going and going like a god
Flushed Mary is in ecstasy shot gun Mary
Without leaving a trace, Mary
You seem to just keep going and going like a god
Sweet pleasure BITTERS AND SWEETS
You're my whole world
I don't know up from down and again you're like a god
Thrust up, thrust up, it makes me point up too so thrust up
Sweet pleasure BITTERS AND SWEETS
Make the dizziness spread
CLIMAX, VIBES, HIGH
Again like a god
Sweet pleasure BITTERS AND SWEETS
You're my whole world
I don't know up from down and again you're like a god
Thrust up, thrust up, it makes me point up too so thrust up
Thrust up, thrust up, it makes me point up too so thrust up
ハイエナの夜
Night of the HyenaLyrics: Imai Hisashi
Translation: Lola
Tiptoeing with stealthy steps to the end of the darkness to more darkness
good evening miss moonlight
Licking my lips, perhaps I can get some tonight
A raven in the dark night, a crane in the snow, the remains for the hyena
Good, Tasty, Buono, Delicious
Very good, perhaps I can get some of that tonight
Greedily I devour, tearing off pieces at the edge of the darkness to more darkness
I'll teach you how to find your way in the darkness of the night, to the edge of the darkness
Maybe I'll go this way after all or maybe I'll just eat you
Maybe I'll go this way after all or maybe I'll devour you completely
You dance by waterside and spin under the sky
I am the hyena that tempts you into the darkness of the night
You dance by waterside and spin under the sky
I am the hyena that tempts you into the darkness of the night YEAH!
Tiptoeing with stealthy steps to the end of the darkness to more darkness
good evening miss moonlight
Licking my lips, perhaps I can get some tonight
A raven in the dark night, a crane in the snow, the remains for the hyena
Good, Tasty, Buono, Delicious
Very good, perhaps I can get some of that tonight
Greedily I devour, tearing off pieces at the edge of the darkness to more darkness
I'll teach you how to find your way in the darkness of the night, to the edge of the darkness
Maybe I'll go this way after all or maybe I'll just eat you
Maybe I'll go this way after all or maybe I'll devour you completely
You dance by waterside and spin under the sky
I am the hyena that tempts you into the darkness of the night
You dance by waterside and spin under the sky
I am the hyena that tempts you into the darkness of the night YEAH!
Maybe I'll go this way after all or maybe I'll just eat you
Maybe I'll go this way after all or maybe I'll devour you completely
ROCK'N'ROLL INTERCEPTER -Making of Lucy-
Lyrics: Imai Hisashi
Translation: Lola
The beginning is just what I wanted
Covered with noise that is all too familiar
And amazing as it coils around my leg and makes it Shake
But I still won't say it's the end until
I feel I've really found it
Actually, it was pretty sudden wasn't it?
I wonder where
I got this great feeling from?
Considerably sharp
ROCK'N'ROLL INTERCEPTER
Without letting go of what is tasteful
Considerably sharp
ROCK'N'ROLL INTERCEPTER
Without letting go of what is tasteful
The beginning is just what I wanted
To put it simply, it hits you hard
It's amazing how it eats into you, making you crack and Shake
But I still won't say it's the end until
I feel I've really found it
Actually, it was pretty sudden wasn't it?
I wonder where
I got this great feeling from?
Considerably sharp
ROCK'N'ROLL INTERCEPTER
Without letting go of what is tasteful
Considerably sharp
ROCK'N'ROLL INTERCEPTER
Without letting go of what is tasteful
I really want it to hit people hard but
Isn't it always the way that I can't?
So, I end up thoroughly Shaken* but
The musical concept is really simple
"Now if it's fun" then that isn't art
But I'm just drinking alcohol like an idiot
So, I end up thoroughly Shaken* but
The musical concept is always simple
Considerably sharp
ROCK'N'ROLL INTERCEPTER
Without letting go of what is tasteful
Considerably sharp
ROCK'N'ROLL INTERCEPTER
Without letting go of what is tasteful
It's quite sharp
ROCK'N'ROLL INTERCEPTER
I'll only accept what is tasteful
It's quite sharp
ROCK'N'ROLL INTERCEPTER
I'll only accept what is tasteful
Notes: *Changed to 'Shaken' for English coherency.
Lucifer A GO GO
Lyrics: Imai Hisashi
Translation: Lola
Angel of the kingdom of depravity
Your name is Lucifer, bearer of light
The angel of hell BABY
In Babylon BABY BABY
With your favorite six legged horse, you gallop through the forest of repentance
High in the sky an angel blows his trumpet in lament
Lucifer, the charismatic prince
In the paradise lost with Lilith
The angel of hell BABY
In Babylon BABY BABY
The incarnation of the dragon of dawn, taking your first flight to the tower of insurrection
Your trump card the one tempted pair of Sodom and Gomorrah, futility and idleness
Heaven strikes with a pillar of fire or with the frozen spear of a pillar of ice
I see, it's an illusion, I can hear the sound of the waves
This is the land of the foolish but I can hear the forbidden song too
I see, it's an illusion, the sound of the waves erases the song
Angel of the abyss
He is almighty
The angel of hell BABY
In Babylon BABY BABY
Our name is The Angel Lucifer, a shining being stronger than anyone else
Who crawls up from the valley of the fallen angel and bites into the apple in Eden
Heaven strikes with a pillar of fire or with the frozen spear of a pillar of ice
I see, it's an illusion, I can hear the sound of the waves
This is the land of the foolish but I can hear the forbidden song too
I see, it's an illusion, the sound of the waves erases the song
I bit into the apple
I bit into the apple
I bit into the apple
I bit into the apple, now I'll feel the endless cycle of rebirth
I bit into the apple, now I'll feel the endless cycle of rebirth
I bit into the apple, now I'll feel the endless cycle of rebirth
I bit into the apple, now I'll feel the endless cycle of rebirth
I bit into the apple
I bit into the apple
Now I'll feel the endless cycle of rebirth
Drive the Lucy
Lyrics: Imai Hisashi
Translation: Lola
Tulu tu tulu bop the tulu yeah Tulu tu bop the yeah yeah
A lightning shower echoes
How many times can it echo?
The orange zigzags wind to an end
Smoothly riding the head wind
You blew through like lightning
Were you able to hear the speed of light? Take my hand, it's there
Shout Speed Shake your It,
Gonna Rise, Go Ahead
Drive the Lucy
Let me go Let me go Let me go come now let's leave
Shout Speed Shake your It,
Gonna Rise, Go Ahead
Drive the Lucy
Let me go Let me go Let me go come now let's leave
It burns inside you
And that burn makes me shiver a little
But if that one in the frozen night sky
Is yours then it's pretty
If there is one thing that remains unchanged
I think surely it's this, take my hand, it's there
Shout Speed Shake your It,
Gonna Rise, Go Ahead
Drive the Lucy
Let me go Let me go Let me go come now let's leave
Shout Speed Shake your It,
Gonna Rise, Go Ahead
Drive the Lucy
Let me go Let me go Let me go come now let's leave
Tulu tu tulu bop the tulu yeah Tulu tu bop the yeah yeah
You blew through like lightning
Were you able to hear the speed of light? Take my hand, it's there
Shout Speed Shake your It,
Gonna Rise, Go Ahead
Drive the Lucy
Let me go Let me go Let me go come now let's leave
Shout Speed Shake your It,
Gonna Rise, Go Ahead
Drive the Lucy
Let me go Let me go Let me go come now let's leave
Shout Speed Shake your It,
Gonna Rise, Go Ahead
Drive the Lucy
Let me go Let me go Let me go come now let's leave
Shout Speed Shake your It,
Gonna Rise, Go Ahead
Drive the Lucy
Let me go Let me go Let me go come now let's leave
Tulu tu tulu bop the tulu yeah
新しい世界
A New WorldLyrics by Kiyoshi
Translation by w_b
The frigidly cold season was dragging on
Nights when silvery rain
Keeps falling quietly, softly
Are the ones I wish to spend talking with you
When the rain stops, I'll go deep into that forest
To look for the flower that blooms but once
The blue sky is dazzling, and I've missed the smell of the wind
And I'm sure if I hold my hands straight up, up to the sky
You will be there once more, in a new world
The scorching season passed without a trace
Colourful fish flash by
As they swim on in the deep blue of the waters
There I wish we could sleep in each other's embrace
I walked with you beneath that summer's setting sun
I won't forget that time, when we seemed nervous around each other (1)
The blue sky is dazzling, and I've missed the smell of the wind
And I'm sure if I hold my hands straight up, up to the sky
You will be there once more, in a new world
And I'm sure if take your hand and never let go
Stars will twinkle, there, in a new world
Atop that hill a miracle will occur
If we can find our way there, we'll meet again
The blue sky is dazzling, and I've missed the smell of the wind
And I'm sure if I hold my hands straight up, up to the sky
You will be there once more, in a new world
And I'm sure if take your hand and never let go
Stars will twinkle, there, in a new world
It's a new world
It's a new world
Notes: This translation was edited October 19, 2013.
1. Literally, this line reads, "I won't forget that time that is like thin ice." However, there is also the expression 'hakuhyou wo fumu', which means to tread on eggshells, and I thought that meaning might be more fitting given the context.
バリウム・ピルス
Valium PillsLyrics by Shinya Ohe
Translation by w_b
Years pass and seasons change
The dose of valium pills goes up
And the guys standing around on street corners
Day by day turn a more ghastly pale
The shrink calls on you,
"Let's get on with the questions.
What are you eating every day?
What do you dream of?
Please draw a picture in the Braun tube."
What they call a psychotherapist
Is group therapy at the new hospital
They take full advantage of electronics
Treating you with a frozen heart
You've been a bit off lately
If you think something's not quite right
TELEPHONE 3685
And we'll diagnose you
It's a dependency phenomenon, a stupor
A psychological abnormality with a touch of paranoia
ALL YOUR BAD DREAMS DIVING IN
HOW LONG DID YOU WATCH T.V.
YESTERDAY
ALL YOUR GOOD DREAMS FADE AWAY
HOW LONG DID YOU WATCH T.V.
YESTERDAY
Pills pills pills
Pills pills pills
... ... ... ... ... ...
Notes: This translation was edited October 17, 2013.
This song makes me think of a conversation I had with a friend recently where she mentionned how in Japan people with simple mental problems tend to be overmedicated. As a result, you'll find kids with nothing more than depression being treated with severe antipsychotic medication, which will lead to even more pills to counteract the sideffects.