長く短い祭 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 椎名林檎

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Japanese through 'Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri' offers a unique opportunity to delve into poetic and evocative language. The song uses older, more literary Japanese expressions, providing a glimpse into the beauty and depth of the language beyond everyday conversation. Its theme of a fleeting, intense summer is a culturally significant motif in Japan, making it a special and engaging way to connect with Japanese culture and sensibilities.

[English]

What a firework connecting heaven and earth

A meeting of eternity and a moment

I must not forget, I must not forget, I must not forget

Our summer

...

My body has grown cold in the wrong place

Letting go into the warmth of people, flowing and being carried away

Thinking back, I've come a long way

Life is never boring, is it?

Especially youth, it passes in an instant

Tonight, everyone is the first, the first act

Everyone has their own costumes

Wearing the makeup of a wild life

I must not hide, I must not hide, I must not hide

We are summer

What is it that makes my heart feel down?

Wandering in the warmth of people, flowing and being carried away

Thinking back, I've come a long way

Eternity is so dull, isn't it?

Just a temporary moment is nice, isn't it?

Finally, the feast is in full swing, it's showtime

Everyone is choosing from all directions

The scent of a fierce life burning

I must not be afraid, I must not be afraid, I must not be afraid

We are summer

What should we do about this fleeting moment of womanhood?

If it stays like this, there will be no place to go

In full bloom, vibrant colors, still at their peak

...

Just like a large drooping willow

The running lantern of a lifetime is revived

I must not let it slip away, I must not let it slip away, I must not let it slip away

Our summer

What should we do about this fleeting moment of womanhood?

If it stays like this, it can't end yet

In full bloom, vibrant colors, still at their peak

...

[Japanese]

天上天下繋ぐ花火哉

万代と刹那の出会ひ

忘るまじ 忘るまじ 忘るまじ

我らの夏を

場違ひに冷え切つた体を

人熱に放つて流し流され

思へば遠くへ来たものだ

人生なんて飽く気ないね

まして若さはあつちう間

今宵全員が魁、一枚目よ

皆銘々取りゞの衣裳

奔放な命を被ふ化粧

隠すまじ 隠すまじ 隠すまじ

我らは夏よ

何か知ら落ち込むだ心は

人熱彷徨つて流し流され

思へば遠くへ来たものだ

永遠なんて素気ないね

ほんの仮初めが好いね

愈々宴も酣、本番です

皆銘々選り取り全方位

獰猛な命燃やす匂ひ

臆すまじ 臆すまじ 臆すまじ

我らは夏よ

一寸女盛りを如何しやう

この侭ぢや行き場がない

花盛り色盛り真盛り まだ

丁度大輪の枝垂れ柳

蘇るひと世の走馬灯

逃すまじ 逃すまじ 逃すまじ

我らの夏を

一寸 一寸女盛りを如何しやう

この侭ぢやまだ終れない

花盛り色盛り真盛り まだ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
花火 /hanabi/ A2	noun - fireworks
出会ひ /deai/ B1	noun - encounter
忘る /wasuru/ B2	verb - to forget
夏 /natsu/ A1	noun - summer
命 /inochi/ B2	noun - life
心 /kokoro/ A2	noun - heart/mind
宴 /utage/ B2	noun - feast/banquet
匂ひ /nioi/ B2	noun - smell/fragrance
逃す /nogasu/ B2	verb - to let escape
盛り /mori/ B1	noun - peak/height
臆す /okusu/ C1	verb - to be timid
冷え切る /hiekiru/ B2	verb - to become completely cold
遠く /tooku/ B1	adverb - far away
好い /ii/ A2	adjective - good

Key Grammar Structures

• 繋ぐ花火哉

  ➔ The sentence uses the classical ending particle "哉" to express admiration or exclamation.

  ➔

• 忘るまじ

  ➔ The phrase combines the verb "忘る" (to forget) with "まじ," the classical negative volitional form, meaning "must not" or "should not".

  ➔

• 我らの夏を

  ➔ The sentence uses the possessive "の" to link "我ら" (we) with "夏" (summer), indicating "Our summer".

  ➔

• 奔放な命を被ふ化粧

  ➔ The phrase uses "な" to turn "奔放" (uninhibited) into a na-adjective modifying "命" (life), with "を" marking the direct object, and "被ふ化粧" (put on makeup) as a metaphor.

  ➔

• 臆すまじ

  ➔ The phrase uses the negative volitional form "まじ" attached to "臆す" (to hesitate/hesitate fearfully), expressing "must not" or "should not" hesitate.

  ➔

• 一寸女盛りを如何しやう

  ➔ The phrase uses the classical volitional "やう" to suggest "how to handle" or "what to do about" the blooming young woman.

  ➔