番狂わせ – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Hump Back
• Album: ACHATTER

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw energy and heartfelt lyrics of Hump Back's "Bankuruwase" (An Upset)! This powerful Japanese rock song is not just a musical experience; it's a journey into authentic self-expression and resilience. Through its relatable themes of overcoming challenges and embracing life's unpredictable moments, you'll encounter everyday Japanese expressions and emotional vocabulary that offer a unique window into contemporary Japanese culture and thought. Let this song inspire you to learn and connect with the language on a deeper, more personal level.

[English]

The city lights shimmer unsurely

Deep sleep helplessly haunts us

Making us anxious

Before the end comes

Yes! We're living to survive

Yes! Breathing to keep going

Stand tall, back down when needed

I wanna grow into a fun adult

Yes! Living to take a break

Yes! Breathing to relax

Doing enough just isn't enough

I wanna be a silly grown-up

If we're gonna do it, let's make it a surprise, a surprise, a surprise

Shining in the spotlight, just hollow fame

Barking in shallow waters

It all means nothing to us

We can't hear a thing

Yes! We're living to survive

Yes! Breathing to keep going

Stand tall, back down when needed

I wanna grow into a fun adult

Yes! Living to take a break

Yes! Breathing to relax

Doing enough just isn't enough

I wanna be a silly grown-up

If we're gonna do it, let's make it a surprise, a surprise, a surprise

Cowards walk their own path

Mocked ones keep moving forward

This is the road we're walking

Let those who want to say, say what they like

We're barely holding on, about to burst

Living just to survive

Living so embarrassingly fiercely

Crying and laughing, always so busy

I wanna grow into a fun adult

I wanna be a silly grown-up

Yes! Living without knowing why

Yes! Just blindly living

Through highs and lows, that's fine

I wanna grow into a fun adult

Yes! Running breathless, alive

Yes! Just being alive is cool

Doing more than enough, always trying

I wanna be a silly grown-up

If we're gonna do it, let's make it a surprise, a surprise, a surprise

Let's go, surprise after surprise

[Japanese]

街の灯りは頼りなく光るだけだよ

浅い眠りがどうしようもなく

僕らを不安にさせる

終わりが来る その前に

イエス！生き抜くために生きてる

イエス！生き抜くために息してる

出るとこ出て 引くとこ引いて

おもろい大人になりたいわ

イエス！息抜くために生きてる

イエス！息抜くために息してる

やることやっても足らんくらい

しょうもない大人になりたいわ

どうせなら 番狂わせ 番狂わせ 番狂わせ

陽の目を浴びた 飾るだけの栄光だよ

浅瀬で吠えるなんて

僕らには何の意味もない

僕らには何も聞こえないぜ

イエス！生き抜くために生きてる

イエス！生き抜くために息してる

出るとこ出て 引くとこ引いて

おもろい大人になりたいわ

イエス！息抜くために生きてる

イエス！息抜くために息してる

やることやっても足らんくらい

しょうもない大人になりたいわ

どうせなら 番狂わせ 番狂わせ 番狂わせ

臆病者がゆく

笑われ者がゆく

僕たちが 歩く道さ

言いたい奴には言わしとけ

こちとらはち切れそうなくらい

生き抜くために生きてる

恥ずかしいほどに生きてる

泣いたり笑ったり忙しい

おもろい大人になりたいわ

しょうもない大人になりたいわ

イエス！訳もわからず生きてる

イエス！ただひたすらに生きてる

山あり谷あり それで良い

おもろい大人になりたいわ

イエス！息を切らして生きてる

イエス！生きてるだけでイケてる

やってもやっても足らんくらい

しょうもない大人になりたいわ

どうせなら 番狂わせ 番狂わせ 番狂わせ

やろうぜ 番狂わせ 番狂わせ 番狂わせ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
街 /machi/ A2	noun - town, city
灯り /akari/ A2	noun - light, illumination
眠り /nemuri/ B1	noun - sleep
不安 /fuan/ B1	noun - anxiety, unease
生き抜く /ikinuku/ B2	verb - to survive, to live through
大人 /otona/ A2	noun - adult
栄光 /eikou/ B2	noun - glory, honor
意味 /imi/ B1	noun - meaning
道 /michi/ A2	noun - way, path
泣く /naku/ A1	verb - to cry
笑う /warau/ A1	verb - to laugh
忙しい /isogashii/ B1	adjective - busy
訳 /wake/ B2	noun - reason, meaning
谷 /tani/ B2	noun - valley
陽 /hi/ B2	noun - sun, sunlight
切らす /kirasu/ B2	verb - to run out, to exhaust

Key Grammar Structures

• 終わりが来る その前に

  ➔ Verb + いる + before a certain point

  ➔ Using the verb in the te-form + いる to express an ongoing state or action
  followed by その前に (before that point).

• 生き抜くために生きてる

  ➔ Verb + ために to express purpose

  ➔ Using ために after a verb to indicate the purpose or reason for the action.

• しょうもない大人になりたいわ

  ➔ Noun + になりたい to express desire to become something

  ➔ Using になりたい after a noun to express the desire to become or be that thing.

• 山あり谷あり それで良い

  ➔ Existential clauses with あり to show existence of various elements

  ➔ Using あり after nouns to list multiple aspects or elements, implying the presence of both.

• やってもやっても足らんくらい

  ➔ VてもVても to emphasize repetition or ongoing effort

  ➔ Using ても to express 'even if' or repetition emphasizing that no matter how much effort is made, it is still insufficient.

• やることやっても足らんくらい

  ➔ List of actions + ても to express 'even if' with emphasis on insufficiency

  ➔ Using ても after a series of actions to indicate even if all those actions are taken, it is still not enough.

• どうせなら 番狂わせ 番狂わせ 番狂わせ

  ➔ もしも〜なら (if it's really, then...) + なら to express a hypothetical or wish

  ➔ Using なら after どうせ (anyway, might as well) to suggest a hypothetical situation or a desire for a dramatic change.