エルダーフラワー – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Official髭男dism

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the tender world of Official髭男dism's "Elderflower" and unlock the beauty of Japanese expression. This song, rich with personal sentiment and profound meaning, offers a gentle yet powerful way to connect with the language. Its warm lyrics, inspired by themes of love, gratitude, and empathy, coupled with Fujihara Satoshi's evocative vocals, make it an ideal piece for learners to explore nuanced Japanese emotions and poetic phrasing.

[English]

I promised I'd never let any inconvenience touch you—since the day I swore that over and over, time has slipped by.

Time has flowed so much that, before I knew it, I've grown tall—receiving strength again and again, to the point of amazement.

If only I could hand you even just one thing—I've searched every corner deep within my heart.

All I have are plain, unglamorous things—after writing and erasing countless times, this is the result.

A bouquet made of words, a garden of blossoms spilling onto stationery—though they're only tiny flowers, they're everything in my heart.

May your tomorrow never be clouded—I’ll be right beside you, praying endlessly.

Because photos and memories aren’t enough—I wish you continue to live on in this world forever.

What I pray for is the flower that dwells in my heart.

The story you all write from now on—its progress and continuation bring forth ripening emotions.

Simply, love forever.

If sorrow overflows—close your eyes and I’ll be there.

Happiness never withers— from me to you, from you to someone else.

Please, until the day we finally know the name on the envelope.

May your tomorrow be clear—I'll be right beside you, praying relentlessly.

Because photos and memories aren't enough—I wish you keep living in this world forever.

What I pray for is the flower that lives in my heart.

As the story you write from now on moves forward and continues—

No matter how bleak the world becomes—just by continuing, our shining, ripening feelings endure.

Simply, love forever.

[Japanese]

何ひとつ不自由などかけさせまいと 何度も何度も誓った日からいつしか

こんなにも時は流れ気づけば伸びた背に 何度も何度も呆れるほど力を貰ってばかりいた

何かひとつだけでもあなたへ手渡せたらと 心の奥まで隅々探してみても

何ひとつ華やかでない地味なものばかりで 何度も何度も書いては消しての成れの果てに

言葉で作る花束を　便箋に溢れる花園を とはいえ小さな花ばかりだけど　それが私の心の全て

あなたの明日が曇らぬように すぐそばでずっとずっと祈ってる

写真や思い出じゃ足りないから この世界でずっとずっと息づいていてと

願うのは　私の心に住まう花

あなたたちが綴るこれからの物語が 進むに連れて　続くに連れて実る想いは

ただ永遠に愛

悲しみが溢れたなら 目を閉じればそこにいるわ

幸せは枯れはしない 私からあなたへ　あなたから誰かへ　

いつか宛名を知るその日までどうか

あなたの明日が曇らぬように すぐそばでずっとずっと祈ってる

写真や思い出じゃ足りないから この世界でずっとずっと息づいていてと

願うのは　私の心に住まう花

あなたたちが綴るこれからの物語が 進むに連れて　続くに連れて

たとえどれほど荒んだ世界でも 続いていくだけで　輝きをまとって　実る想いは

ただ永遠に愛

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
不自由 fujiyuu N3	noun - inconvenience; lack of freedom
誓う chikai N4	verb - to vow; to swear
時 toki N5	noun - time
流れる nagareru N4	verb - to flow; to stream
伸びる nobiru N4	verb - to stretch; to grow
背 se N5	noun - back; height
呆れる akireru N2	verb - to be amazed; to be fed up
力 chikara N5	noun - strength; power
心 kokoro N5	noun - heart; mind; spirit
隅々 sumizumi N3	noun - every corner; nook and cranny
華やか hanayaka N2	adjective - splendid; showy
地味 jimi N3	adjective - plain; subdued
花束 hanataba N3	noun - bouquet
明日 ashita N5	noun - tomorrow
曇る kumoru N4	verb - to become cloudy
祈る inoru N4	verb - to pray; to wish
世界 sekai N5	noun - world
永遠 eien N3	noun - eternity; forever

Key Grammar Structures

• 何度も何度も呆れるほど力を貰ってばかりいた

  ➔ ～ほど (to the extent that)

  ➔ The phrase "呆れる"ほど"力を貰って" shows that the amount of power received was so great that it was astonishing. "～ほど" expresses degree or extent.

• 何かひとつだけでもあなたへ手渡せたら

  ➔ ～たら (conditional)

  ➔ "手渡せ"**たら**" means “if I could hand over”. The "～たら" form creates a condition that must be fulfilled for the subsequent outcome.

• 隅々探してみても

  ➔ ～ても (concessive, “even if”)

  ➔ The clause "探してみ"**ても**" shows concession: “even if I try searching everywhere, …”. "～ても" attaches to the verb stem to express “even if”.

• とはいえ小さな花ばかりだけど

  ➔ とはいえ (although, “even though”)

  ➔ "とはいえ" introduces a contrasting statement: “even though they are only small flowers…”. It functions like “although”.

• 進むに連れて　続くに連れて

  ➔ に連れて (as … progresses, … also)

  ➔ "進む"**に連れて**" shows that as the story moves forward, something else (feelings) also develops. The pattern "V-dict + に連れて" expresses simultaneous change.

• たとえどれほど荒んだ世界でも

  ➔ たとえ…でも (even if, “no matter how…”)

  ➔ "たとえ"**どれほど荒んだ世界でも**" uses the concessive pattern "たとえ…でも" meaning “even if the world is terribly desolate”.

• あなたの明日が曇らぬように

  ➔ ～ように (so that / in order that)

  ➔ "曇らぬ"**ように**" means “so that it won’t become cloudy”. The pattern "～ように" expresses a desired outcome or purpose.

• すぐそばでずっとずっと祈ってる

  ➔ ～ている (continuous / progressive)

  ➔ "祈っ"**ている**" shows an ongoing action: “I am constantly praying”. The "～ている" form expresses a continuous state.

• 写真や思い出じゃ足りないから

  ➔ から (because, reason)

  ➔ "足りない"**から**" gives the reason: “because photos and memories are not enough”. The particle "から" introduces a cause.