BOY – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: King Gnu

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of King Gnu's "BOY," a vibrant song that beautifully captures themes of resilience and the unique journey of self-discovery. As the opening theme for the acclaimed anime "Ranking of Kings," this track offers an engaging entry point into Japanese music and language. Its poetic lyrics, filled with emotional depth and inspiring imagery, provide a wonderful opportunity to learn new vocabulary and cultural nuances while appreciating King Gnu's distinctive blend of rock and J-Pop.

[English]

Those tears and sweat are glistening

With a beauty unlike anyone else's

Please go on and smile for me

Breathless

You're more wonderful than anyone else

...

Like soda gone flat

Fading into the faintly sluggish days

Spreading your wings like a domestic duck

Dreaming of soaring as a swan

If I’m just wandering around

Let’s savor it even more

Taking the scenic route makes life more interesting

Getting sidetracked

Drinking up the muddy puddles

But still, I can’t seem to reach the goal

Chasing the sunset over and over again

Run forward, far ahead

Your muddy shoes and footprints are surely heading toward the future

Now, I’m racing on

Breathless

You’re more wonderful than anyone else

...

The story always begins with a sudden break in silence

Suddenly tearing through quiet

In the flickering flames inside my chest

Getting shy, forgetting, becoming an adult

No matter how much we try to hide it, let’s end today here

Hoping to dream like a sunlit afternoon

Holding my breath

Enduring the shame

Still unable to give up

Again and again

Chasing tomorrow

Until my voice is hoarse

Crying out loud

Even when I realize it’s impossible

Keep struggling, please

You, blooming openly

You’re more wonderful than anyone else

...

...

Today, again, those tears and sweat are glistening

With a beauty unlike anyone else's

Please go on and smile for me

Breathless

You’re more wonderful than anyone else

Run forward, far ahead

Your muddy shoes and footprints are surely heading toward the future

Now, I’m racing on

Breathless

You’re more wonderful than anyone else

...

[Japanese]

その涙が汗が滲んだ

誰とも違う美しさで

笑っておくれよ

息を切らした

君は誰より素敵さ

気の抜けた炭酸みたいに

微かに気怠い日々に溶けた

家鴨の侭で翼を広げて

空を舞う白鳥の夢を見る

彷徨うくらいなら

一層味わい尽くしましょ

近道ばかりじゃ味気がないでしょ

道草を食って

泥濘み飲んで

でもたどり着けなくて

また何度だって夕暮れ追いかけるの

走れ遥か先へ

汚れた靴と足跡は確かに未来へと

今駆けてゆく

息を切らした

君は誰より素敵さ

物語の始まりはいつも

静寂を切り裂き突然に

胸の中ざわめく焔に

照れて忘れて大人になる

形振り構わず今日は御仕舞いにしましょ

日溜まりのような

夢を見れますように

固唾を呑んで

恥を忍んで

まだ諦めきれなくて

また何度だって

明日を追いかけるの

声を枯らすまで

泣いていたんだよ

叶わないと判って尚

抗っておくれよ

剥き出しで咲く君は

誰より素敵さ

今日も その涙が汗が滲んだ

誰とも違う美しさで

笑っておくれよ

息を切らした

君は誰より素敵さ

走れ遥か先へ

汚れた靴と足跡は確かに未来へと

今駆けてゆく

息を切らした

君は誰より素敵さ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
涙 /なみだ/ A2	noun - tear
美しさ /うつくしさ/ B1	noun - beauty
笑う /わらう/ A1	verb - to laugh
息 /いき/ A1	noun - breath
素敵 /すてき/ B1	adjective - wonderful
夢 /ゆめ/ A2	noun - dream
走る /はしる/ A1	verb - to run
未来 /みらい/ B1	noun - future
物語 /ものがたり/ B2	noun - story
静寂 /せいじゃく/ C1	noun - silence
焔 /ほむら/ C2	noun - flame
大人 /おとな/ A2	noun - adult
恥 /はじ/ B2	noun - shame
抗う /あらがう/ B2	verb - to resist

Key Grammar Structures

• その涙が汗が滲んだ

  ➔ The particles 'が' are used to mark the subject in a sentence, especially when emphasizing or highlighting the subject.

  ➔ The particle '**が**' marks the subject of the sentence, indicating '涙' (tears) and '汗' (sweat).

• 笑っておくれよ

  ➔ The verb '笑う' (to laugh/smile) is in the te-form '笑って' combined with the auxiliary verb 'おくれる' (to do something in advance), forming a request or urging someone to smile.

  ➔ '笑って' is the te-form of '笑う', used to connect to other verbs or to make requests.

• 一層味わい尽くしましょ

  ➔ The phrase '一層' (more, even more) is used to intensify the following action, and '尽くす' (to fully enjoy/consume) in volitional form '尽くしましょ' indicates a suggestion or proposal.

  ➔ ‘一層’ emphasizes doing something more thoroughly or intensely, and ‘尽くしましょ’ is the volitional form suggesting 'let's do it' or 'shall we enjoy it fully'.

• 形振り構わず今日は御仕舞いにしましょ

  ➔ The phrase '形振り構わず' (without caring about appearances) is an adverbial expression, and 'しましょ' is the volitional form of 'する' (to do), suggesting a decision to end something today.

  ➔ ‘形振り構わず’ describes acting without regard for outward appearances or conventions, and ‘しましょ’ expresses a suggestion or decision to leave things as they are or finish.

• 固唾を呑んで

  ➔ The phrase '固唾を呑んで' (swallowing one's saliva) is an idiomatic expression meaning to be nervous or to hold one's breath while tense.

  ➔ It describes a state of nervous anticipation or anxiety, often implying carefully watching or waiting.