BOW AND ARROW

• By: 米津玄師

Lyrics:

[日本語]

[English]

気づけば靴は汚れ　錆びついた諸刃を伝う雨

Before I knew it, my shoes were dirty, rain trickling down the rusty double-edged sword

憧れはそのままで　夢から目醒めた先には夢

My longing remains unchanged, but beyond waking from the dream, there’s just another dream

聞こえたその泣き声　消えいる手前の咽ぶソワレ

That crying sound I heard, before it fades, a throat's sobering soirée

憧れのその先へ　蹲る君を見つける為

Beyond my longing, to find you crouching there

行け　行け　追いつけない速度で　飛べ　インパルス加速して

Go, go, at a speed that can't be caught, fly, accelerate with impulse

行け　きっとこの時を感じる為に生まれてきたんだ

Go, surely I was born to feel this very moment

未来を掴んで　期待値を超えて　額に吹き刺す風

Seize the future, surpass expectations, wind blowing against your brow

今に見なよ　きっと君の眩しさに誰もが気づくだろう

Just wait and see, everyone will surely notice how dazzling you are

相応しい声で　視線追い越して　虚空を超えて行け

With a fitting voice, surpass their gaze, go beyond the empty sky

見違えていく君の指から今

From your now transforming fingers

手を放す

Let go of the hand

気づけば謎は解かれ　木目ごと見慣れた板の上

Before I knew it, the mystery was solved, on the familiar wooden surface

あの頃焦がれたような大人になれたかな

Have I become the adult I once longed to be back then?

そう君の苦悩は君が自分で選んだ痛みだ

Yes, your struggles are the pain you chose yourself

そして掴んだあの煌めきも全て君のものだ

And that sparkle you’ve grasped—it's all yours

僕は弓になって　君の白んだ掌をとって強く引いた

I became a bow, taking your pale hand, pulling strongly

今君は決して風に流れない矢になって

Now, you become an arrow that never drifts with the wind

行け　決して振り向かないで　もう届かない場所へ

Go, never look back, to a place beyond reach

行け　行け　君はいつだって輝いていた！

Go, go, you've always been shining!

未来を掴んで　期待値を超えて　額に吹き刺す風

Seize the future, exceed expectations, wind blows against your forehead

今に見なよ　きっと君の眩しさに誰もが気づくだろう

Just wait and see, everyone will surely notice your brilliance

相応しい声で　視線追い越して　虚空を超えて行け

With a fitting voice, surpass their gaze, go beyond the empty sky

見違えていく君の指から今

From your now transforming fingers

手を放す

Let go of the hand

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
汚れ (yogore) /joˈɡɔɾe/ B1	noun - dirt, filth, stain
錆びる (sabiru) /ˈsa.bi.ɾɯ/ B2	verb - to rust
雨 (ame) /a̠me̞/ A1	noun - rain
夢 (yume) /jɯme/ A2	noun - dream
泣き声 (nakigoe) /näkʲiɡoe/ B1	noun - cry, weeping voice
君 (kimi) /kʲi.mʲi/ A1	noun - you (informal)
速度 (sokudo) /so̞kɯ̟do̞/ B1	noun - speed, velocity
時 (toki) /to̞kʲi/ A1	noun - time, moment
未来 (mirai) /miɾa̠i/ A2	noun - future
風 (kaze) /ka̠ze̞/ A1	noun - wind
眩しさ (mabushisa) /mabɯɕisa/ B2	noun - brightness, radiance, dazzling
声 (koe) /ko̞e/ A1	noun - voice
指 (yubi) /jɯbi/ A1	noun - finger
大人 (otona) /o̞to̞na̠/ A2	noun - adult
苦悩 (kunō) /kɯno̞ː/ C1	noun - suffering, distress, anguish
煌めき (kirameki) /kiɾameki/ B2	noun - glitter, sparkle, brilliance
弓 (yumi) /jɯmi/ A2	noun - bow (archery)
掌 (tenohira) /te̞no̞çiɾa/ B2	noun - palm (of hand)
矢 (ya) /ja/ A2	noun - arrow

Grammar:

• 行け　行け　追いつけない速度で

  ➔ Imperative form used for commands and encouragement.

  ➔ The verb "行け" is the imperative form of "行く" (to go), used here to motivate someone to move forward.

• 夢から目醒めた先には夢

  ➔ Phrase using "には" to indicate the destination or point in a context.

  ➔ The particle "には" indicates the target or location where the action or state applies, here marking the 'destination' after waking from a dream.

• 未来を掴んで　期待値を超えて

  ➔ Te-form "掴んで" indicates a sequence of actions, connected with "超えて" (superating) to show progression.

  ➔ The "て" form of "掴む" (to grasp) connects sequential actions, here meaning to "grab" or "seize" the future, followed by "超えて" (to surpass).

• 見違えていく君の指から今

  ➔ Verb "見違えていく" is in the te-iru form, indicating an ongoing change or transformation.

  ➔ The "ていく" form of a verb indicates an action that is happening and will continue or develop over time.

• 気づけば謎は解かれ

  ➔ Conditional "気づけば" combines "気づく" with the conditional "ば" to mean "if/when you realize."

  ➔ The "ば" conditional attaches to the verb stem to show "if" or "when" the condition is met.

• 今に見なよ　きっと君の眩しさに誰もが気づくだろう

  ➔ Imperative "見なよ" is used to encourage someone to look; "に" marks the target for "気づくだろう" indicating the subject who will notice.

  ➔