Firefly
A desire like a firely snuck out from my heart
It started off just trying to escape and became a dream
Of course, I tried to catch it. I tried to reach it and could not
I chased it and it became a story
I'll forget all sorts of scenes
There were times when you laughed and cried and times times when you didn't
Either is fine, but I chased them both
There were so many forks in the road, too, when you were enclosed in pure darkness
When you desperately followed a faint golden color
Though before you knew it you couldn't see it anymore, you kept searching for the way
The trick to life was all already there
With all the difficulties, and besides,
there's no way to ascertain that you're alive
There's no recompense, and you grow unfeeling, but,
You know there is a light that can never vanish
"As long as you don't give up, then surely…" Following those words someone once said to me
I kept going, but then I time came when I had to quit
No matter how hard I tried… the circumstances didn't leave room for trying
I suddenly realized the reason, the rhythm of my breathing
Surrounded by things I did not comprehend, I understood just one thing
The only thing worthy of care, ah
Bearing just one person's pain, standing up though you are broken
Those things you gave up on, resignation made of gold
Your heart was still in pain, and with your body and all your might
You met with a light more beautiful than anything
The story is sill not over, it's cruel but it keeps on going
You turn to the next page, you the protagonist, left behind, empty
You'll forget many of the scenes
The trick to life was just barely there
With all the difficulties, and besides,
there's no way to ascertain that you're alive
There's no recompense, and you grow unfeeling, but,
You know there is a light that can never vanish
Bearing just one person's pain, standing up though you are broken
Those things you gave up on, resignation made of gold
You're still flying somewhere now, taking that yearning with you
And your wounds shine in the same color
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JAPANESE
Firefly
Firefly
蛍みたいな欲望が ハートから抜け出して
逃げるように飛び始めたものが 夢になった
当然捕まえようとして 届きそうで届かなくて
追いかけていたら 物語になった
色んな場面を忘れていく
笑って泣いた頃もあって そうでもない今もあって
どっちでもいいけど どっちでも追いかけていた
分かれ道もたくさんあって 真っ暗に囲まれて
微かな金色に 必死で付いていった
いつの間にか見えなくなっても 行方探している
命の仕掛けは それでもう全部
色々と難しくて 続ける事以外で
生きている事 確かめられない
報われないままでも 感じなくなっても
決して消えない 光を知っている
諦めなければきっとって どこかで聞いた通りに
続けていたら やめなきゃいけない時がきた
頑張ってどうにかしようとして 頑張りの関係ない事態で
ふと呼吸鼓動の 意味を考えた
解らない事ばかりの中 唯一解っていた
大切なものが あぁ
一人だけの痛みに耐えて 壊れてもちゃんと立って
諦めた事 黄金の覚悟
まだ胸は苦しくて 体だけで精一杯
それほど綺麗な 光に会えた
物語はまだ終わらない 残酷でもただ進んでいく
おいてけぼりの空っぽを主役にしたまま 次のページへ
色んな場面を忘れていく
命の仕掛けは わずかで全部
色々と難しくて 続ける事以外で
生きている事 確かめられない
報われないままでも 感じなくなっても
決して消えない 光を知っている
一人だけの痛みに耐えて 壊れてもちゃんと立って
諦めた事 黄金の覚悟
今もどこかを飛ぶ あの憧れと
同じ色に 傷は輝く
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OPINION
This is a very BUMP-ish song, I love it!!! With the intangible dreamlike setting, the emotions and imagery, and above all the bitter and sad narrative that ends with some hope and light. It's sadder than a lot of their songs, but it's still got the light that never goes out.
When translating this kind of song by BUMP it's always a bit difficult to know whether "you" the listener are being addressed or whether the storyteller is telling you about his life experiences. Fujiwara Motou (the songwriter and main singer of BUMP OF CHICKEN) often writes songs that make the listener the main character, but with Japanese you never know since pronouns are used sparingly. In this song in particular, some of the narrator's observations seems personal while others seems directed at "you" as the listener... Maybe it's best to just think of the song as describing a journey you each went on alone but can mutually relate to. It is a song about life, anyway.
Also, if you want to read an interview with the band and hear more about the 「黄金の覚悟」("resignation made of gold") in Japanese you can see the transcript here:
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