負け犬

Coward (1)

Lyrics by Michiro Endo
Translation by w_b


Coward! Coward! You breed schizophrenia
Coward! Coward! On a fair night you start to howl (2)

When those damned politicians start to sing
Cursed capitalists burst into laughter
And the magistrates start to rage
They'll be forever wretched!

Coward! Coward! There is nothing you believe in
Coward! Coward! It's enough your feelings get hurt and you're incompetent

You're the outsider when you crash in uninvited
A blind sheep nodding along
Surely someday you'll turn out to be a bakeneko (3)
You'll be forever a fool

Coward! Coward! You're obscene down to the core
Coward! Coward! Hoarding your semen and nothing more

When those damned politicians start to sing
Cursed capitalists burst into laughter
And the magistrates start to rage
They'll be forever wretched!


Notes:
This version is from STOP JAP NAKED.
1. The literal translation of 負け犬 (makeinu) is "losing dog". A makeinu is someone whose entire existence is based on servitude and submission to those he considers his superiors. He will never "bare his fangs" at a superior adversary, preferring instead to give up and run before the start of the fight. His cowardice and submission seem to be the two defining traits - that is why I translated it as 'coward' rather than 'loser'.
I have also seen makeinu translated as 'underdog' but unlike an underdog, makeinu is not seen in a positive light.
2. This line is a twist on the expression (負け)犬の遠吠え, "(make)inu no tooboe". The distant howl of a makeinu. It's a three part saying. First, a weak dog will always wait to be in a safe place before howling with all of his might. Second, a coward will be full of swagger behind other people's backs, and will stab them in the back rather than confront them directly. It's also an expression ridiculing the swagger, excuses and unwillingness to admit defeat of one who finds himself in a losing position.
3. Have a peek at the Wikipedia page for some quick information on the bakeneko.