ENGLISH
Galaxy Express AKA Milky Way Railroad
The train window clatters
Taking me from the town where I lived
Away from the town of the people who bid me farewell, and my absent self
We grow farther apart
Scenery that is familiar
And scenery that is strange
As if to deceive me
At some point
Change places
My body was still
But going over two hundred kilometers per hour
It's an unthinkably
Ridiculous idea
Because I was still
I just couldn't keep quiet
About something so strange
But as soon as the idea struck me
I realized
That I was all alone
Everybody came and bought
Their own individual tickets
With their own stories up til the present
Packed away in their suitcases
A stuffed bear with a ribbon came rolling
Though I was lost, I picked it up
As the same time, a girl rushed over
Looked at me, and grew fearful
She snatched the bear from the regretful me
And ran off without even saying thanks
That's enough, I'll just go to sleep
So I put down my seat
But then I hear the sound of chewing from behind me
I pretend I can't hear it
And try to endure it
I try to shut my eyes
But it bothers me
And I can't sleep
Everybody came and bought
Their own individual tickets
They came up to the baggage claim
Desperately to protect themselves
As people grow older
They approach the end
Even if it looks like you aren't moving
You are definitely moving forward
People riding bikes and waving their hands
Must want to see somebody off
If you're thinking of the one you love, then quit it
It's too embarassing
My body was still
Taking me further from those bicycles
Truthfully, I was very envious
Because I was still
It's not useful
It's a nuisance
I tried to shut my eyes
But it was too painful
So I opened them
A bright red candy was being offered to me
I was shocked, but took it anyway
The laughing girl went back to her seat
And I cried without anyone noticing
The train window clatters
Taking me from the town where I live
Away from the town of the people who come to greet me, and my absent self
We grow farther apart
Everybody came and bought
Their own individual tickets
With their own stories up til the present
Packed away in their suitcases
They came up to the baggage claim
Desperately to protect themselves
They came to find what sort of story they would see
In their dreams from now on
As people grow older
They stray farther from the beginning
I thought it was if they were not moving
But it was me, myself, moving forward
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JAPANESE
銀河鉄道
電車の窓はガタガタ鳴く
生きた街を遠ざける
見送る人も居なかった僕の
生きた街を遠ざける
知っている景色と
知らない景色が
僕を騙すように
いつの間にか
入れ替わる
僕の体は止まったままで
時速200kmを越えている
考える程に
可笑しな話だ
僕は止まったままなのに
こんなに可笑しな事
黙っちゃいられない
そう思って間もなく
ひとりだったって
思い出す
誰もがそれぞれの
切符を買ってきたのだろう
今までの物語を
鞄に詰めてきたのだろう
リボン付きのクマが転がって来る
迷ったけど拾ってやる
同時に女の子が駆け寄って来る
僕を見て怖じ気付く
後悔した僕からクマを奪うと
礼も言わず逃げていく
もういいや寝ようかな
シートを倒す
後ろから舌打ちが聴こえる
聞こえない振りをして
保たれかかって
目を閉じてみたけど
気になるから
眠れない
誰もがそれぞれの
切符を買ってきたのだろう
荷物の置き場所を
必死で守ってきたのだろう
人は年を取る度
終わりに近付いていく
動いていない様に見えても
確かに進んでいる
自転車を漕いで手を振る人
見送りたい人が居るのだろう
相手を想うならやめてやれよ
ちょっと恥ずかし過ぎるだろう
僕の体は止まったままで
あの自転車を遠ざける
本当はとても羨ましかった
僕は止まったままだから
役には立てないし
邪魔はしちゃうし
目を閉じてみたけど
辛くなるから
目を開けた
真っ赤なキャンディーが差し出されている
驚いたけど貰ってみる
笑った女の子が席に戻る
誰にも知られず僕が泣く
電車の窓はガタガタ鳴く
生きる街を近付ける
出迎える人も居ないであろう僕の
生きる街を近付ける
誰もが
それぞれの
切符を買ってきたのだろう
今までの物語を
鞄に詰めてきたのだろう
荷物の置き場所を
必死で守ってきたのだろう
これからの物語を
夢に見てきたのだろう
人は年を取る度
始まりから離れていく
動いていないように思えていた
僕だって進んでいる
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OPINION
What a song. I love how they incorporate the sound of a train crossing and the feeling of being on a train so perfectly. The title can be translated as "Milky Way Railroad" or "Galaxy Express" (there is an anime of the same name but I don't think there's a connection.) I don't think there's a connection between the two, but it's possible since the band members do like anime. This song feels a lot like a dream. It's not clear where he's going or why, and the language reverses at the end. People come to greet him at the town where he lives, instead of seeing him off from where he used to live. But in both cases, he says he is "absent" or "not there." When a child he doesn't know shows him kindness, it moves him. You get the feeling it's a contemplative person's inner thoughts or monologue with a lot of BUMP OF CHICKEN's songs, and especially this one. The person may be alone or lost or both, but I don't feel like these songs are oppressive or pessimistic... There is always a positive or hopeful upturn in the mood at the end as the storyteller finds their resolution.
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