ちいさな愛 ~i~

Lyrics Translation: Prisoner Of Love ~ Utada Hikaru (宇多田ヒカル)

nobody@vox.com(crystalise) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:19:24 +0800

I've been thinking... maybe I should change the title of these posts from "Lyrics Translation" to "Lyrics Localisation" as it has this whole alliteration thing going for it and also seems to be a more accurate description of what I am aiming to achieve with these posts. Hmm...

All this thought was sparked off by a comment I received, one which I am really grateful for since it shows that there are still individuals that are keeping me in check and it also gave me an opportunity to share the process of how I translate these songs, which may sound quite tedious and complicated, though I have to emphasise that it really isn't and doesn't take nearly as much time as my reply may imply, LOL. (^___^")

Nonetheless, I've been a little torn lately since I know that I should really be translating some YUI now. She has already released an album and will be releasing a single tomorrow! But ayaka just released her album last week as well and there are so many awesome tracks on it! ARRGGGHHHH~~~

On top of that, there is this backlog of artists that I really want to introduce to the blog, namely, the funky techno-pop trio, Perfume; the girl with one very massive voice, Miho Fukuhara (福原美穂); and the Tibetan singer that I'm sure could sing to trees and have them sing back, alan... (^___^") So many artists, so little time...

But it's decision time and I have to pick my next song, which is why I know I should be finding something that I could laugh away about after going through a song as heartbreaking as this one... right?

Song information:

Listen to a sample of Prisoner Of Love (~1:30 mins)

Prisoner Of Love (Sample, ~1:30 mins)

Utada Hikaru (宇多田ヒカル)

First appearance:
Track 9 from Hikki's album, HEART STATION (Released 2008/03/19). Note that the CD jacket I used for the above sample is from the single, Prisoner Of Love, which was released after the album. I did it to mix things up a bit... (^__^")

PV availability:
A PV was made available for the song when the single was released. The PV itself doesn't have much of a relationship to the song besides maybe the fact that it shows her in the process of writing Prisoner Of Love... and perhaps the fact that she seemed to be a prisoner of her studio throughout the video. (^___^") Personally, I absolutely loved the parts where she was struggling to finish the song and did tons of random things as a result, including air boxing and falling asleep on the couch. Those snippets reminded me very much of me, except she's an unquantifiable amount of times more awesome than me, LOL.

Theme song:
This song serves as the theme song to the uber-well-received drama, ラスト・フレンズ ("Last Friends").

Alternative versions:
1. Prisoner Of Love -Quiet Version- (Released with the single Prisoner Of Love on 2008/05/21)
If it were up to me, I'd be calling this the "-Deep Depression Version-" as Hikki brings the pain with the help of what seems to be only two instruments - a piano and a violin. Add along with that a slight echo to her vocals as well as a full song in that it doesn't fade off before she sings her final words, and you have yourself a heart-crushing mix of pure emotion that manages to belittle my other depression song of choice, Be My Last, LOL.

Comments:
How do I even begin talking about this song? It's not as if anyone needed to read the lyrics to understand how absolutely heart-wrenching and intensely desperate this song actually is and yet, from the entire song, the only part that depicts how extremely angry she is with him is the very first stanza. From there, the song carries itself along the bittersweet moments that form the highlights of their now broken relationship... As the title succinctly articulates, she's now nothing more than a prisoner of love - sentenced, it would seem, to life.

Musically, this piece is absolutely amazing as the violins clearly depict the sense of disbelief and then sorrow as they deliver their weeping song throughout. The bass drums also form another important part of the song's mood, sharpening the pain as it emphasises the heavy beating of a devastated heart; note how it pauses on the stanza where she recalls her final push to save the relationship - where she believed there was still hope.

As if that wasn't enough to break a million hearts, Hikki perfects this objet d'art with her heart-piercing vocals. Indeed, the song's vocal finale carries its message so powerfully that, even without understanding a single bit of the lyrics that preceded it, the message is instantly comprehensible (I know, because one of my friends heard the tail end of the song and asked if the poor girl was going through heartbreak... LOL).

With that then, let us plunge into the emotional depths within Prisoner Of Love.

Lyrics:
Japanese lyrics are from uta-net.com, with modifications to the end of the song to give me more leeway to write, LOL.

--------------------------------------
日本語:
Prisoner Of Love
--------------------------------------
歌手: 宇多田ヒカル
作詞: Utada Hikaru
作曲: Utada Hikaru
--------------------------------------
平気な顔で嘘をついて
笑って　嫌気がさして
楽ばかりしようとしていた

ないものねだりブルース
皆安らぎを求めている
満ち足りてるのに奪い合う
愛の影を追っている

退屈な毎日が急に輝きだした
あなたが現れたあの日から
孤独でも辛くても平気だと思えた
I'm just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

病める時も健やかなる時も
嵐の日も晴れの日も共に歩もう

I'm gonna tell you the truth
人知れず辛い道を選ぶ
私を応援してくれる
あなただけを友と呼ぶ

強がりや欲張りが無意味になりました
あなたに愛されたあの日から
自由でもヨユウでも一人じゃ虚しいわ
I'm just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

Oh もう少しだよ
Don't you give up
Oh 見捨てない　絶対に

残酷な現実が二人を引き裂けば
より一層強く惹かれ合う
いくらでもいくらでも頑張れる気がした
I'm just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

ありふれた日常が急に輝きだした
心を奪われたあの日から
孤独でも辛くても平気だと思えた
I'm just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

Stay with me, stay with me
My baby, say you love me
Stay with me, stay with me
一人にさせない
Stay with me, stay with me
My baby, say you love me
Stay with me, stay with me
一人にさせない

------------------------------------------------------
romaji:
Prisoner Of Love
-------------------------------------------------------
kashyu: utada hikaru
sakushi: Utada Hikaru
sakkyoku: Utada Hikaru
romaji: crystalise
-------------------------------------------------------
heiki na kao de uso wo tsuite
waratte iyaki ga sashite
raku bakari shiyou to shite ita

nai mono nedari buruusu
minna yasuragi wo motomete iru
michi tariteru no ni ubai au
ai no kage wo otte iru

taikutsu na mainichi ga kyuu ni kagayaki dashita
anata ga arawareta ano hi kara
kodoku de mo tsurakute mo heiki da to omoeta
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

yameru toki mo sukoyaka naru toki mo
arashi no hi mo hare no hi mo tomo ni ayumou

I’m gonna tell you the truth
hito shirezu tsurai michi wo erabu
watashi wo ouen shite kureru
anata dake wo tomo to yobu

tsuyogari ya yokubari ga muimi ni narimashita
anata ni ai sareta ano hi kara
jiyuu de mo yoyuu de mo hitori ja munashii wa
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

Oh mou sukoshi da yo
Don’t you give up
Oh misutenai zettai ni

zankoku na kenjitsu ga futari wo hiki sakeba
yori issou tsuyoku hikare au
ikura de mo ikura de mo ganbareru ki ga shita
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

arifureta hi nichijou ga kyuu ni kagayaki dashita
kokoro wo ubawareta ano hi kara
kodoku de mo tsurakute mo heiki da to omoeta
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

Stay with me, stay with me
My baby, say you love me
Stay with me, stay with me
hitori ni sasenai
Stay with me, stay with me
My baby, say you love me
Stay with me, stay with me
hitori ni sasenai

-------------------------------------------------------
English:
Prisoner Of Love
-------------------------------------------------------
Performed by: Utada Hikaru
Lyricist: Utada Hikaru
Composer: Utada Hikaru
Translated by: crystalise
-------------------------------------------------------
With all the calm on your face, you spill forth your lies...
I can see you’ve grown sick of all the laughter...
It was all simply fun and games to you.

I’ve been gripped by the depression that comes from asking for the impossible,
A request stirred from that basic human drive for security.*
Even in a life so fulfilling, we continue to struggle,
As we keep chasing after the shadow of love.

My colourless everyday routines were suddenly punctuated with brilliance
From the day that you came into my life.**
Whether it’s in loneliness or in adversity, I never doubted that I would be alright.***
It seems that I’m just a prisoner of love,
Just a prisoner of love.

...In sickness and in health,
Through storm and through fair weather, I pledge always to walk on your side...

I’m gonna tell you the truth now,
Though no one knew, I felt that I had committed myself to a rugged road
And at the time, you were there for me...
Making you the only person that I can honestly call my friend.

All my pretences of strength and all my greed crumbled to nothing
From the day you said you loved me.
Whether it’s for freedom or for free time, a life alone seems a life wasted.****
Perhaps you could say I’m just a prisoner of love,
Just a prisoner of love.

“We’re almost there.”
“Don’t you give up.”
“There’s no way you could fail – of that, I’m sure.”

If cruel reality is tearing us apart,
Then let us redouble our efforts to stay as one.
In every possible way, with all possible means, I gave my everything to this.*****
Now, I simply appear a prisoner of love,
A mere prisoner of love.

My mundane days were sparked to life in that instant,
That day when you took my heart captive.******
Whether it’s in loneliness or in adversity, I always thought things would work out;
But I’ve become a prisoner of love,
Nothing more than a prisoner to love.

Stay with me, stay with me...
Baby, say you love me...
Stay with me, stay with me...
Baby, don’t you leave me...
Stay with me...
Tell me you love me!
Stay with me...
Please... don’t walk away from me...

Notes:
*Note 1: Literally, “We are all looking for a sense of security.”

**Note 2: Literally, “From the day you appeared.”

***Note 3: Literally, “Even in loneliness, even in adversity, I thought that it would be fine.”

****Note 4: Literally, “Even if I were to be free or if I were to have time to myself, it’s all meaningless if I am alone.” This struck me as a little odd when I thought about why she decided to take these two themes – “freedom” and “time for oneself”. Well, it soon struck me that these two items are, in fact, the most common arguments for staying single… Hikki seems to be going through extreme prisoner of love syndrome! Somebody help her!!! (^__^”)

*****Note 5: Literally, “In as many ways as possible, in as many ways as possible, I felt that I would keep at it.”

******Note 6: Literally, “From that day when you stole my heart.”

Links:
Utada Hikaru Official Website (maintained by EMI Music Japan)
Purchase HEART STATION online (via YesAsia Global)
Purchase Prisoner Of Love online (via YesAsia Global)

Put Your Music on Love Support : Utada Hikaru

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CG Works: The LOVE SUPPORT Banners

nobody@vox.com(crystalise) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:22:15 +0800

If you read any of my recent translation posts, you may have noticed that I've been putting up banners at the end of them. Hopefully, the message was clear from just glimpsing at them, LOL. (^___^") In general, there are two different sets of banners although both carry the same notion: music should be properly bought.

I was prompted to embark on this endeavour because of the increasingly errant arguments I've recently found myself getting into. Some of my friends don't quite understand why I would waste my money on original copies of games, movies, music and whatever it is that I wish to so have since all these things can readily be attained "for free". Indeed, it got even more confusing for them when they realised that I do download things... and that the things I download are the same things I buy... (^___^") So I guess I can't really blame them for finding my position a little odd, can I?

Nonetheless, arguments can seem somewhat unavoidable as my group and I do sit around talking about theoretical issues every now and then, so it's no surprise that we would launch into discourses on the false premises behind the concept of "copyright", the omni-capital might of corporations, and the propagation of the neoliberal agenda, amongst other things (yes, I really am as boring as I sound). But try as I might, I find it very hard to support their position on this issue.

Don't get me wrong though, I have no love for the entertainment industry's incessant chiming that "downloading is theft", nor do I have any respect for their heavy-handed tactics of taking individuals to court in what amounts to outright corporate bullying. No, it is not because I buy their arguments that I buy originals.

Rather, my commitment to purchasing these items is borne from the reasoning that I ultimately live in a meritocratic society, whether I like it or not. It must be stressed then that in a meritocratic society, people are asked to "vote with their wallets" - and when this becomes the primary means of communicating the public will, the purchase of music inevitably buys an artist credibility and legitimacy; however, it also means the converse is ever truer: not purchasing anything from an artist will effectively amount to a vote of no confidence.

Thus, it is for this reason that I have no qualms about forking out the money to buy my music, among other things. It is not in support of the capitalist machinery, but in support of the artist. Not for EMI, but for Hikki; not for avex, but for Ai-chin; not for Warner, but for ayaka; and certainly, not for Sony, but for YUI.

As mentioned, I'm not trying to say that downloading is a bad thing - in fact, I doubt J-pop could have grown so large without such facilitation but in the end of the day, there aren't many avenues with which I could show my appreciation for the impact their work has on my life; so, fortunately for me, one of these methods is hopping into a store and picking up that disc.

With that then, allow me to move on to address each of the two sets of banners and give a very brief description of what I was trying to convey with the words I used, LOL. (^___^")

The LOVE SUPPORT stream

You may have already figured this out, but "love support" is a play on the compound noun, "life support". The idea is simply to encourage people to support the things they love and, at a time when people seem to be buying less music, it serves as a reminder for us not to inadvertently pull the plug on our music.

The banners that have so far been created under this stream are,

Put Your Music on Love Support : Utada Hikaru

Put Your Music on Love Support : Ai Otsuka

Put Your Music on Love Support : ayaka

Put Your Music on Love Support : YUI

The PASSION stream

I have to admit that although it seems quite simple, I actually put quite a lot of thought into the words, "FUEL YOUR PASSION" - specifically thinking of each word, the direction of their meaning, rhythm, pronunciation and so on. The point of this stream is to raise awareness that we, as individuals, have a responsibility to sustain the things that we truly feel about.

The banners created to date in this stream are,

Fuel Your Passion : Utada Hikaru

Fuel Your Passion : Ai Otsuka

Fuel Your Passion : ayaka

Fuel Your Passion : YUI

Out of Steam

Well, I've run out of steam, so I guess it's time to bring this post to its conclusion. Check back in a day or so as a translation post follows shortly on the heels of this post! LOL (^___^")

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Lyrics Translation: Fight The Blues ~ Utada Hikaru (宇多田ヒカル)

nobody@vox.com(crystalise) — Sat, 24 May 2008 01:20:50 +0800

With this, I can finally give off a very, very long exhale... according to Vox, this post has been sitting on the blog in a hidden state since April 7th... Before I start, please do excuse my writing since I haven't actually written in some time and it would come as no surprise to me if it's a little rusty now... LOL

I have to admit though that I did not realise that I've been gone for so long since day after day I was flooded with so much work that I actually started having nightmares about it as the weeks piled on... (^___^") Forgive me therefore as I went on an unannounced hiatus.

In the period between my last post and now, quite a lot has happened in the world although not much has changed in my own personal life... Indeed, I have changed my theme temporarily as a mark of respect and a sign of mourning for the countless souls that have perished in this past month. My heart has been very heavy in this solemn period; which is why although my workload has lightened somewhat, I still write with a heavy heart.

Still, I am sure that the healthy amount of comments as well as posts that I look forward to catching up on from my community of friends here will help in fighting this bout of the blues. I have been so out of touch with this space that Buttercup had to call me one day to tell me that the number of visits to this page had gone past 10,000... Indeed, I must take time out here to thank you, my Buttercup, for taking each step with me through this extremely hectic time. Thank you baby~~~~~!!! \(^ o ^)/

Nonetheless, the fact that the number of views has gone past 12,000 as of this writing is a very humbling realisation since I placed the counter and map there only as a matter of interest - when I first installed them, I truly believed that it would have been enough of a feat for the counter to reach 100, LOL... Again, I'm deeply humbled and sincerely thankful to everyone for taking the time to read through these rather dull postings and especially to those who have taken the time to comment on them. 心からの感謝を受け取ってください。m(_ _)m

As you may (or may not) be able to tell, I am actually quite a mixed bag of emotions at the moment... It's bizarre because I had wanted so much to return to writing here and replying the comments that I have received. Finally, now there is some time for me to write and post the scores of translations that I've wanted to share... but, with all the tragedies of the world concentrated so closely into one frame of time, it seems so very difficult to express how glad I am to be back.

Perhaps this is why this post is somewhat fitting - a post that encourages us to Fight The Blues and, even if it doesn't teach us how to do it, it gives us the words to do it with...

It's funny though - when I came back today, Vox asked for my login and as I entered my details, my heart quietly whispered, "tadaima"... Strangely, I thought I heard someone returning a warm and receiving "okaeri" as the site began to load. (^__^) はい！みんなさん、ただいま！*

*Ack!! Before editing this, I realised that I mixed up "tadaima" and "okaeri". Not sure where my head was, but I'm blaming it on ayaka for repeatedly singing "okaeri, I'm home"... (@__@) LOL... excuses, excuses... Luckily, no one commented on this yet and I had time to reread this post. (^__^") It goes to show how I haven't touched any Japanese at all while I was chipping away at my own work. Nonetheless, don't worry about this translation since I did it before my hiatus; but sorry for any confusion that the earlier mix up caused... I am not sure how I allowed for that mistake to happen, especially since I use "tadaima" so much in my everyday life.

Song information:

Listen to a sample of Fight The Blues (~1:50 mins)

Fight The Blues (Sample, ~1:50 mins)

Utada Hikaru (宇多田ヒカル)

First appearance:
Track 1 from Hikki's album, HEART STATION (Released 2008/03/19).

PV availability:
There is no PV available for this track at the moment.

Theme song:
This song has not been used as a theme song.

Alternative versions:
There are no alternative versions of the song for now.

Comments:
Fight The Blues is, simply put, a blues-fighting song. Everything about the song, from the lyrics to the title, deliver one strong and consistent message: we have to fight the blues. So, if you ever find yourself in a depressed mood and in need of some blues-fighting energy, turn to Hikki for some heart-mending medication. (^___^")

Nonetheless, although the song is generally quite straightforward, there is one line that requires some context to understand. For those who are unversed in Japanese history, the line "鳴かぬなら鳴かせてみせようホトトギス" ("If the cuckoo bird doesn't sing, I'll make it sing") may seem a little out of place in the lyrics; but it actually has a lot of relevance, because it is quite a popular saying that is meant to represent immense self-confidence.

To understand how that is so, let me first put this in context: the saying refers to the Azuchi-Momoyama period (安土桃山時代) that came around the end of the Sengoku period (戦国時代; also called the "period of warring states") whereby Japan was unified into one country. In the instability wrought by the times, three prominent figures rose to power, each in succession of the other, to shape Japan into the country we know today. These three figures were Nobunaga Oda (織田信長), Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣秀吉), and Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康).

Despite achieving this singularly significant feat, it is said that the three warlords actually had very different personalities and each therefore played a different role in negotiating the character of the Japanese state. The differences in their personalities are taught to Japanese history students today by the use of three senryus (川柳; short Japanese poems), each representing the mindset of a particular warlord.

The first to rise to prominence was Nobunaga Oda, and to him was attributed the senryu, "鳴かぬなら殺してしまえホトトギス" ("If the cuckoo bird doesn't sing, kill it"). Nobunaga, as you could have guessed, is remembered for his ruthlessness as a leader since he never seemed to think twice about the spilling of blood to fulfil his ambitions - in fact, in modern Japanese popular culture, he is sometimes presented as synonymous with Satan himself. Unfortunately for Nobunaga, he only managed to almost unify Japan; the complete unification of Japan fell to his successor, Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

It is Hideyoshi then that Hikki is referring to in her song as to him was attributed the senryu, "鳴かぬなら鳴かせてみせようホトトギス". Instead of killing the poor bird, Hideyoshi would resort to methods that would make it want to sing. He is known for his confidence and resourcefulness since he seemed to consistently prove Adidas' point that impossible is, in fact, nothing. In his story, it is noteworthy that he was born of common blood since that was what made his rise to prominence an achievement of insurmountable odds. From that line then, one could draw a very powerful message that reads, "never give up."

Finally, to close off this historical explanation, I should probably cover Ieyasu too, whose senryu goes, "鳴かぬなら鳴くまで待とうホトトギス" ("If the cuckoo bird doesn't sing, I'll wait for it"). No doubt you've figured out that Ieyasu was known for his extraordinary patience... LOL, but we really don't need to get into that for the purposes of this post.

Anyhow, I do hope that all that delving into history has helped in understanding that one line of the song because it certainly helps to complete the picture that the song conjures. Regardless, you don't really need a full understanding of the lyrics to see the message as the music and vocals deliver it so well that the piece stands out as a powerful battle cry against depression.

Nonetheless, I've spent quite an excessive amount of time here, so let us move on to some actual blues fighting action now, LOL. (^___^")

Lyrics:
Japanese lyrics are still retrieved from the one and only www.uta-net.com. (^___^")

--------------------------------------
日本語:
Fight The Blues
--------------------------------------
歌手: 宇多田ヒカル
作詞: Utada Hikaru
作曲: Utada Hikaru
--------------------------------------
We fight the blues
くよくよしてちゃ敵が喜ぶ
男も女もタフじゃなきゃね

明るいニュース聞かせてあげる
笑う門には福来る

女はみんな女優
か弱いフリして　めっちゃ強い
それでも守られたいんです

We fight the blues
憂鬱に負けそうになった日もある
流した涙は　ぼくの自由
We fight the blues
くよくよしてちゃ敵が喜ぶ
男も女もタフじゃなきゃね

金じゃ買えない
目には見えない
答えはメンタルタフネス

期待をされて　プレッシャーすごい
それでもやるしかないんです

We fight the blues
調子の悪い時は深呼吸
こらえた涙は　ぼくの一部
I hate to lose
鳴かぬなら鳴かせてみせようホトトギス
今宵もファイトのゴングが鳴る

We fight the blues
憂鬱に負けそうになった日もある
流した涙は　ぼくの自由
We fight the blues
くよくよしてちゃ敵が喜ぶ
男も女もタフじゃなきゃね

-------------------------------------------------------
romaji:
Fight The Blues
-------------------------------------------------------
kashyu: utada hikaru
sakushi: Utada Hikaru
sakkyoku: Utada Hikaru
romaji: crystalise
-------------------------------------------------------
We fight the blues
kuyokuyo shite cha teki ga yorokobu
otoko mo onna mo tafu ja nakya ne

akarui nyuusu kikasete ageru
warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru

onna wa minna joyuu
kayowai furi shite   meccha tsuyoi
sore demo mamoraretain desu

We fight the blues
yuutsu ni makesou ni natta hi mo aru
nagashita namida wa   boku no jiyuu
We fight the blues
kuyo kuyo shite cha teki ga yorokobu
otoko mo onna mo tafu ja nakya ne

kane ja kaenai
me ni wa mienai
kotae wa mentaru tafunesu

kitai wo sarete   puresshaa sugoi
sore demo yaru shika nain desu

We fight the blues
choushi no warui toki wa shinkokyuu
koraeta namida wa   boku no ichibu
I hate to lose
nakanu nara nakasete miseyou hototogisu
koyoi mo faito no gongu ga naru

We fight the blues
yuutsu ni makesou ni natta hi mo aru
nagashita namida wa   boku no jiyuu
We fight the blues
kuyo kuyo shite cha teki ga yorokobu
otoko mo onna mo tafu ja nakya ne

-------------------------------------------------------
English:
Fight The Blues
-------------------------------------------------------
Performed by: Utada Hikaru
Lyricist: Utada Hikaru
Composer: Utada Hikaru
Translated by: crystalise
-------------------------------------------------------
We have to fight the blues as
Adversity delights at our worrying.
Regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman, you have to be tough.

Here’s some encouraging news for you:
Fortune favours those who smile.*

Indeed, women are all actresses,
Their fragility is an act, for immense strength lies within them.
Even so, they still truly want to be protected by someone.

We’ve got to fight the blues as
There were certainly days when it felt like I was going to lose to depression.
At those times, the tears I cried became the source of my freedom.**
We have to fight the blues as
Adversity gratifies itself in our troubles.
Whether you’re a man or a woman, you have to stay tough.

This is something that cannot be bought by money,
Nor can it be seen by the eyes,
This can only be unravelled by sheer mental toughness.

Even when much is expected of us and the pressure is intense,
We’re still going to have to finish the job.

We must fight the blues.
When times are bad, take a deep breath.
In those times, the tears I held back became a part of me.***
I hate to lose,
So, little cuckoo bird, if you aren’t going to sing, I’ll make you sing.****
Even tonight, I’ll be sounding the fighting gong.

We’ve got to fight the blues as
There were days when everything seemed at a loss.
It is in these times that the tears I cried had set me free.
We have to keep fighting the blues as
Adversity relishes in our anxieties.
So, regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman, remind yourself to stay strong.

Notes:
*Note 1: Literally, “Luck comes to the laughing door.” This is a Japanese proverb that doesn’t necessarily require too much interpretation to understand, but I have translated it to make it closer to an English proverb of a similar strain.

**Note 2: Literally, “The tears I cried were my freedom.”

***Note 3: Literally, “The tears I held back were a part of me.” Although there is nothing wrong with a more literal translation, I felt that the concept of “became” somehow came closer to the original meaning as it hinted that those tears she held back were ultimately a source of strength. This also seems to carry over to the next line, “I hate to lose,” a lot better than a more literal interpretation.

****Note 4: Like, 笑う門には福来る, this senryu actually requires some cultural context. Admittedly, this one is actually a lot harder to understand without context – so if you are interested, you will have to scroll back up to find the explanation in the comments segment. Briefly though, this is a saying that is attributed to one of the great warlords who is remembered for forging Japan into the country it is today: Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

Links:
Utada Hikaru Official Website (maintained by EMI Music Japan)
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Fuel Your Passion : Utada Hikaru

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Lyrics Translation: Prisoner Of Love ~ Utada Hikaru (宇多田ヒカル)

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Lyrics Translation: Fight The Blues ~ Utada Hikaru (宇多田ヒカル)

ちいさな愛 ~i~