BOW AND ARROW – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 米津玄師

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the powerful story of mentorship and release in Kenshi Yonezu's 'BOW AND ARROW.' This song, with its direct and emotional lyrics, offers a great opportunity to learn expressive Japanese vocabulary related to dreams and encouragement. The song's unique creation, born from the artist's own fandom, and its stunning visual collaboration with a figure skating icon, make it a special piece to explore and connect with.

[English]

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

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

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

Beyond my longing, to find you crouching there

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

Go, surely I was born to feel this very moment

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

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

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

From your now transforming fingers

Let go of the hand

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

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

Yes, your struggles are the pain you chose yourself

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

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

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

Go, never look back, to a place beyond reach

Go, go, you've always been shining!

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

Just wait and see, everyone will surely notice your brilliance

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

From your now transforming fingers

Let go of the hand

[Japanese]

気づけば靴は汚れ　錆びついた諸刃を伝う雨

憧れはそのままで　夢から目醒めた先には夢

聞こえたその泣き声　消えいる手前の咽ぶソワレ

憧れのその先へ　蹲る君を見つける為

行け　行け　追いつけない速度で　飛べ　インパルス加速して

行け　きっとこの時を感じる為に生まれてきたんだ

未来を掴んで　期待値を超えて　額に吹き刺す風

今に見なよ　きっと君の眩しさに誰もが気づくだろう

相応しい声で　視線追い越して　虚空を超えて行け

見違えていく君の指から今

手を放す

気づけば謎は解かれ　木目ごと見慣れた板の上

あの頃焦がれたような大人になれたかな

そう君の苦悩は君が自分で選んだ痛みだ

そして掴んだあの煌めきも全て君のものだ

僕は弓になって　君の白んだ掌をとって強く引いた

今君は決して風に流れない矢になって

行け　決して振り向かないで　もう届かない場所へ

行け　行け　君はいつだって輝いていた！

未来を掴んで　期待値を超えて　額に吹き刺す風

今に見なよ　きっと君の眩しさに誰もが気づくだろう

相応しい声で　視線追い越して　虚空を超えて行け

見違えていく君の指から今

手を放す

Key Vocabulary

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

Key Grammar Structures

• 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.

  ➔