L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics English Translation : DRINK IT DOWN

Made by request of Zackyu, correct if I'm wrong (I wasn't sure I did right...)
Anyway, enjoi! ^^

DRINK IT DOWN

2008/ Drink It Down Single music/words : yukihiro/hyde
translation : kisetsu

Nameraka ni haritsuku kanshoku
Yami to wa fukaku ajiwau mono
Karadajuu e ukeirete kanjiaou
Have a taste of the deep darkness
Sleek but tense, it's attaching
Let your whole body feel it

DRINK IT DOWN
ENJOY THE BLACK AROUND, TASTE THE DARKNESS

LET DOWN, YOU FEEL TRUST FALLS
BREAK DOWN

Semari kuru shougeki e to osorezu ni tobikomu
Shinjitsu ga kimi ni mo nagare koumu
Eien ni shizumu youna sakkaku ni dakarete
Doko made shouki de irareru no ka
Coming closer into the impact, jumping into the fear
Believing that it's flowing right into you
Sinking into eternity, will someday I be able to wake up from all the illusions?

[GET UP]

GET UP, YOU KNOW THE WORST
FED UP, FEARLESS
RIGHT NOW!

Kagami wa ima kudakare
Mita koto mo nai, kimi ga mezamete
Shizuka ni ugokidasu
Wazuka ni hirureta yami no mukou e kakeagaru
Sono me wa, mou daremo te ni oenai
The mirror is now scattering
There's nothing left to see, now that you're awake
Silently we begin to move
Those eyes, are now slightly running
To the other side of the darkness, where no one can reach anymore


DRINK IT,DRINK IT DOWN

DRINK IT,DRINK IT DOWN

L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics English Translation : Nexus 4

The english translation for Nexus 4... I finally finished it! Totally different one from SHINE... this lyric is, I dunno... FIERCE. This song is quite a resemblance of me... well, us. Indeed we are 'THE VIRTUAL GENERATION'. This song encourages us to set up on a journey to find our solid identities in this dazzling 'space age', where everything moves so fast it's all blurry. Sometimes, we're just not even sure who we really are. Ever felt that way?

So... Right away! Say 3,2,1, GO! XD

NEXUS 4

2008/Nexus 4-SHINE single music/words: tetsu/hyde
Translation : kisetsu

Atenaku tadayou TRAFFIC JAM
Machi wa mochitsu yo sosogu ame wa ACID RAIN
Asu e no kuuseki mo naku
Mayoeru bokura wa yumemiteru ELECTRIC SHEEP
Flowing inside a traffic jam with no place to go
The town was still, poured by acid rain
There's no empty seat towards tomorrow
We're wandering aimlessly, like electric sheep in the dreams

Itsu kuru ka shirenai akogare no toki
Kusuburu kanjou wa, tada damatte matterarenai
One day maybe there'll come a time
Where we all would yearn for all the burning feelings
Don't just keep silent and wait

Miageta nara yozora o kirisaite
Kake noboru JET bokura o michibiku
Sabitsuita hane wa mada kuchi hatecha inai
Yatsu yori atsui hoeageru tamashii
Saa mezamero NEXT AGE
When you look up at the night sky
You'll see a jet of light shooting up, guiding us all
My lonely wings have yet to reach its limit and died
My screaming soul is burning, fiercer than anyone else
Now let's welcome the next age

Musuu ni zoushoku suru TRAP
Hitotsu MISUreba waraitobasare DELETE
Mirai wa kasouteki kuukan e
Kekkyoku tashika na mono wa kono omoi dake sa.
Nagameru bakari no moe iku honou, bou ni furu CHANCE wo
tada damatte matterarenai
This countless traps keep on breeding
When a miss is made, just laugh and delete it
The future is just a vacuum at disguise
At the end, the only thing real to me is this memory
Merely staring at the burning flames, and throwing away your chances
Don't just keep silent and wait

Miageta nara yozora o kiri saite
Kake noboru JET bokura o michibiku
Shinjiru mama hashire kitto mada maniau
Hane agaru SPEED kesshite nogasanai
Saa tobinore NEXT AGE.
When you look up at the night sky
You'll see a jet of light shooting up, guiding us all
Believe it, you can still make it in time if you run now
This rising speed will not in anyway escape me
Now, let's jump to the next age


Tsukaisuteraretatte mikaeshite yaru sa
ZERO kara no jiyuu wo torikonda saikou no MONSTER
Even if they treat me as throw-aways, one day they'll look at me
The freedom from zero is taken, I'm the best monster!

Makiagatta gouon ni mamirete byouyomi no START
Kodou ni awasete say 3,2,1, GO!
Kimi ga miageta nara takaku kake noboru JET
Bokura ga tabidatsu
Saa tobinore SPACE AGE
YOU VIRTUAL GENERATION!
Bathed in a loud noise, we're counting seconds to our start
My heartbeat is racing, say 3,2,1, GO!
If you look up high, you'll find a jet of light shooting up
And we set up on a journey
Now, let's jump to the SPACE AGE
YOU VIRTUAL GENERATION!

L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics English Translations : LINK, SHINE, UMIBE, SUNADOKEI

These are my first four english translations for L'Arc~en~Ciel. Link (2005), Sunadokei (2007), Umibe(2007), and SHINE(2008).

Whew, finally I can post this. Sunadokei and Umibe I've finished months ago, by the request of Beechu. hha. But I just finished translating Link and SHINE. Might just be another useless thing I do, but who knows? Someone might find this useful. Besides, I enjoy myself when doing this, and that's all that matters. X)
Oh, and if I made mistakes (I know I did. LOTS. I'm not a pro). Forgive me and help me correct them, ne? Thaanx.

SUNADOKEI

(Sands of Time)

2007/Kiss music/words: tetsu
translation : kisetsu

Kono mama nani mo kawarazu ni, toki ga sugireba ii ne
Kizukitakunai nani mo kamo tamesareteru jiyuu wo
Subete no mono ni reigai naku otozureru darou?
Meiro ni mi wo yudanete mite mo
Yagate kieyuku kiseki ga sou oshiete kureteta
Tonari awase da ne
It’s OK to let the time flow when nothing changes like this
I don’t want to notice anything, so I can be free
Will I come to that place where there’s no exception?
Even if I have given up my soul inside this labyrinth
Tell me about that scenery soon to vanish
Stay by my side

Make or break, make amends, and then it’s all gone

Sora kara futte kita, kotae wa sunadokei
Kiseki wa okinai kedo
The answer comes falling from the sky just like sands of time
Even though miracle has yet to be awaken

Zankoku sugiru ketsumatsu ni me wo sorashite iru dake
In such a tragic end, we’ll only turn our eyes away from each other

Shiawase wo nozomu koto ga sono higeki wo yonderu
Kanashimi to hikikaeta egao
Ubaitotta yasuragi wa mou itsuwari no rakuen, gizensha mitai ni
Wishing for happiness, conflicting with the tragedy
Is the smile which turns back into sadness
The peace which was taken away is a fake heaven, just like a big lie

Hold your breath, hold your peace, it’s time to make or break

Taisetsuna hito wo mamoru tame ni chigau, dareka wo kizutsuketeru
Okashita ayamachi kizukanu hitobito wa subete no yurusareru no?
We make mistakes for the sake of protecting someone we love, and we hurt someone
Those stupid mistakes I made to so many people, will they be forgiven?


Kami no sabaki made
Kotae wa te no hira ni nagareru sunadokei sa
Saishou kara wakatetta tsukinai yokubou
Subete te ni ireta nara
Owaru koto no nai, kanashimi kurikaeshi
Subete wo ushinau no sa
Till God pass His judgment
The answer is like sands of time falling from my hands
I’ve known since the very beginning about all these desires which will never dry out
If only I can put them all on the palms of my hand
There’s no end to this, only repeating sadness
Now that I’ve lost everything

Kami no sabaki made
Till God pass His judgment

note : This song has a sad feeling to it. Just like any other tetsu's songs, he comes up with pop style and melody. His lyrics don't have as much depth as hyde's, but still great in their own way. tetsu never uses too much metaphor, he points out straight what he means. His lyrics are easier to understand. In my previous post, you'll notice that tetsu mentioned this song as a 'song that balances nexus 4 out'. I kind of wonder why they didn't put Nexus 4 in KISS, considering that Nexus is the first song tetsu submitted for that album.


UMIBE
(seashore)

2007/Kiss music/words: tetsu/hyde
translation : kisetsu


Yawarakana sono hohoe to furete
Yasashii jikan ni hitasarete itai
Mou ichido ano umibe ni modori
Tada nani koto mo nakatta no you ni
Touch that soft smile
I want to sink into the sweet, gentle times
Once more, return to that seashore
Still, I feel like nothing will happen at all

Kimi no koe ni kizukimosezu kisetsu wa sugisari
Kataku omoi maku wa orita yo
Sayonara mo nakutte
Within your voice, I notice the changing seasons
Putting down the sail of my broken memories
There’s no goodbye

Yokisenu hodo ni, kage wo otoshita
Irozuku mae ni, tsumitorareta kajitsu
Fui ni kokoro wo someagete yuku
Marude jikan ga modotta ka no youni
Within traces of my forebodings, the shadow starts to disappear
Before changing colors, the sinful fruit
Sink my heart so suddenly
As though the time has somehow turned back

Kimi no ureshisouni hashagi umibe ni tokeai
Mabushi sugita hizashi no naka wo oyoide itta
Ikura saigetsu ga sugite mo, kioku wa kizamare
Kesshite kiezu ni boku wo nayamasu
Your happy laughs back then on the seashore are blended together in my mind
Made me feel like I was swimming in these dazzling, gentle lights
No matter ho many times have passed, these memories are carved deeply into my heart
It won’t disappear at all it disturbs me


Yurusareru no nara, hohoemi kakete yo
Yurusareru no nara, ano natsu made aruite
If I could be forgiven, I would continue to chase that smile
If I could be forgiven, I would continue to walk till that summer

Kimi no ureshisouni hashagi umibe ni tokeai
Mabushi sugita hizashi no naka wo oyoide itta
Kono michi wo toorutabi ni kimi ga tsukisasaru yo
Marude mune kara nagareru youni, afuredasu
Your happy laughs back then on the seashore are blended together in my mind
Made me feel like I was swimming in these sweet, gentle lights
Walking in this path, you are pierced deep down
As though now from my heart, it’s overflowing, never stopping…

note : tetsu's music, hyde's lyrics. Listen to the song, and you'll notice that difference is so distinct with the previous song where tetsu writes his own lyrics. This song has a different color... hyde's color blends with tetsu's, making something totally anew, and more beautiful. Exactly like rainbow, ne?

LINK

Kiss/2007 music/words : tetsu/hyde
translation : kisetsu

Oboete iru kai? Osanai koro kara
Tsumasakitachi de todokanai tobira ga atta yo ne
Jikan wo wasurete samayoi tsukushita
Meiro no michi wa itsumo soko ni ikiataru
Do you remember? From a long time ago.
Even if I stood by the end of my feet, I still can't reach that door.
I've forgotten about time, and tired of wandering
This labyrinth will only lead me to the same place again

Murishiki ni kimi no egao wo sagasu no wa tomerarenai
Nani hitotsu kawarazu ni ima mo boku wa kakete yuku
Within the impossibilities, I can't stop looking for your smile
Whatever one thing may change, now I'm going to run

Tatoe haruka tooku hanareba nare ni nattemo tsunagariau omoi
Itazura na unmei ga furikakarou to mo koware ya shinai
No matter how far we will be apart, our memories will always link to each other
Even if the mischievous fate will come and get me, I'm not afraid anymore

Nozomareru asu ga sono saki ni aru to
Atama no oku de daremo ga kidzuite iru hazu sa
Harewataru hibi ni arasoi no dougu ga
Kiesaro toki wo itsuka kimi ni misetai na
The tomorrow you wish for is a little while back there
Within my head, I can't recognize anyone anymore
Crossing the bright days, I keep on thinking that I want you to see
A day when all of our fights will stop and just go away


Kizutsukeau no wo yamenai ochite yuku sekai dakedo
Kimi ni deaeta koto dake de mou nani mo kowaku wa nai
We can't stop hurting each other in this world, but
If only I can meet you here and now, I won't be afraid of anything anymore

Tatoe kono karada ga ikura moetsukitemo ii sa kimi ni sasagu nara
Oozora e to boku wa masshiro ni maiagari mamotte ageru
No matter how many times this body is set on fire, I'll keep on supporting you
Soaring into the vast sky, within this brilliant white light, I'll keep on protecting you


Tatoe haruka tooku hanareba nare ni nattemo tsunagariau omoi
Itazura na unmei ga furikakarou to mo koware ya shinai
Tatoe kono karada ga ikura moetsukitemo ii sa kimi ni sasagu nara
Itsuka umarekawaru sekai ga sono me ni todoku to ii na
No matter how far we will be apart, our memories will always link to each other
Even if the mischievous fate will come and get me, I'm not afraid anymore
No matter how many times this body is set on fire, I'll keep on supporting you
One day if I'm reborn, I'll reach into that world with through these eyes

note : One of my all-time favorites. Really deep lyrics, ne? This song is made by request, used as the Opening song of Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie. hyde said he was inspired by the strong bond of brotherhood between Alphonse and Edward when writing this. Apparently hyde had to go on reading (and watching) FMA thoroughly for the sake of writing this song XD. He even went so far as making an 'alchemy' (just like Edward) in Laruku's Asialive 2005 Concert!

SHINE

SHINE-Nexus 4 single/2008 music/words : tetsu/hyde
translation : kisetsu


I want to shine on you
And always like the dazzling sun
I will defend you from all the darkness
This is the truth from my heart

kokoro no oku tsunagetara shinjite moraeru no ni
shikata nai sa mezameru made boku wa kiete mo ii yo
ima mienakute mo nakusanaideite
sono yasashisa wa muda ja nai
If only we can link our hearts,we'll believe
It can't be helped, until I wake up, it's OK to disappear
Even if you can't see it now, don't cry
For that gentleness is not futile

kaze ni notte ukabi koko ja nai doko ka e
umi wo koe toki wo koe kitto saku darou
Riding the winds, if not here then somewhere
Crossing the ocean, crossing the time, where it's bound to bloom

sabishikute mo miwatashita tokoro de shinjitsu wa nai yo
sore wa sotto kimi no mune no uchigawa de
hisoka ni kizukiyuku mono
Feeling lonely, staring afar at this place, with no faith to believe in
That's when, inside your heart
Silently you will start to realize something

dakara kono omoi wa dare ni mo makenai
mahou no you iroasenai yuiitsu no kagayaki
sono kisetsu ga kimi ni otozureru
tokoro made tsukiau yo saa, daichi wo kerou
That's why I won't surrender this memory to anybody
Like magic, eternal colours were the only light shining bright
That season is bound to arrive to you
I'll go with you to that place, now, kick the ground and move!

kaze ni notte ukabi koko ja nai doko ka e
umi wo koe toki wo koe kitto saku darou
itsu no hi ni mo itsu mo sonna kimi wo
taiyou no you ni zutto mimamoretara ii na
Riding the winds, if not here then somewhere
Crossing the ocean, crossing the time, where it's bound to bloom
One day, one time
Just like the sun, I hope I can always watch over you

I want to shine on you
And always like the dazzling sun
I will defend you from all the darkness
This is the truth from my heart

note : The latest single from L'Arc~en~Ciel and it's a beautiful song. Actually this was released in 2007, as the 1st opening of Seirei no Moribito, and for months there had been no full-version release, only anime-ripped version. Beautiful lyrics, and I really enjoyed translating this X)

By any way it matters, I hope I can come up with Nexus 4 soon! XD

Just something a fan would do...

L'Arc~en~Ciel Oricon Web Interview August 2008

(Okay, I admit it's outdated... but still this is interesting. I especially like the part about the 'philosphy' behind the name Nexus 4... Quite unexpected to me. hhe.)

Releasing new songs after the tour to connect their works of the present and future!
After the completion of [TOUR 2008 L'7 ~Trans ASIA via PARIS~] which spanned seven great cities including Shanghai and Paris, L'Arc~en~Ciel's new single [NEXUS 4/SHINE] has arrived. This world renowned rock band wants to share the sensation.


THIS NEW SONG'S TITLE IS TIED TO ITS LYRICAL WORLDVIEW

Q: First comes NEXUS 4. What sort image did you have in mind while making it?

tetsu: At that point in my schedule, I had to make five songs to submit for KISS, and this is the first one I came up with. Like 'BANG!' it was really simple.

Q: I think the song feels like a dash, like the melody is sprinting right across.

tetsu: I didn't do it consciously, but that sounds about right. It's the first song I wrote, so of course it feels like the way it was made... That day, I wrote "Sunadokei" at the same time, so to me they balance each other out.


Q: I see. The guitar solo has quite a zing to it, too.

ken: The guitar... As soon as I could make out the shape of the song, I put everything into it! You know. BAM! Like that. One time, I was making a demo tape and I did the guitar solo for it, but then the length of the solo got changed and when I played it again it didn't sound the same, but I really wanted it to be just like that demo. I guess it had a different feeling to it (laughs).

Q: The word NEXUS means a bond, a connection, or something along those lines. I suppose that the "4" at the end represents the members of L'Arc~en~Ciel?

hyde : Wow, that's clever! (that really IS, I never thought of that. I thought that '4' is just a random number. LOL)

Q : Er, I didn't think it could be far-fetched (laughs).

hyde: Well yeah, that's what the 4 means. There're four of us so the song is 4. NEXUS though... It's kind of embarrassing to say it, but it's the name of a robot. ^^


ABOUT SHINE

Q: Now, about SHINE. The melody creates a strong impression of something flowing beautifully. Also, the phrase "I want to shine on you" has warmth to it.

hyde: Indeed... It's actually something I think to myself all the time, but not really in the sense that I want to say it to someone else. It's more like, for a diary or something. (he's writing a diary? how sweet^^)

Q: yukihiro-san, how did you approach this song?

yukihiro: Hmm, I can't remember. ...When I heard the song was getting released, like properly, I said "But I haven't recorded a good drum take yet!" I thought we only had the demo, I couldn't remember playing it for real or recording it at all (laughs). But I'm glad I didn't have to record it again, I guess (laughs). That's kind of familiar.

Q: How about you, tetsu-san?

tetsu : I said that if yukkie was going to redo his part, then I would redo my bass part too, but in the end we didn't have to re-record anything (laughs). Nah, I really don't know when we recorded it. I guess it must really be a while ago, and it must have gone smoothly.



FUTURE PLANS

Q: Could you tell us a little something about future developments?

ken: Hmm... For starters, the song we recorded this weekend is totally awesome. Also, some of us are doing solos, others are taking a break. And, you want to know about the future?

Q: That's right.

ken : I dunno (laughs). Well, just wait a little while and see! I think someone else knows a bit more than I do.
hyde: Writing songs for L'Arc~en~Ciel goes hand in hand with doing solo work, and we have releases planned... So I don't think it's going to be all that different, actually.
tetsu: I agree. I don't think we'll be able to have any lives for a while, but being a band isn't only about lives. We have things to do besides lives, so you won't even notice the time go by!


Interview by Hayashi Tomoyuki
Translated by Natalie Arnold