FLOWER – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 浜崎あゆみ
• Album: M(A)DE IN JAPAN

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the evocative world of Ayumi Hamasaki's "FLOWER," a powerful song that combines traditional Japanese sounds with rock elements. Through its deeply emotional lyrics about longing and the transient nature of beauty, this track offers a unique opportunity to explore poetic Japanese expressions and understand the profound emotional depth often found in J-Pop ballads. Listening to "FLOWER" can help learners appreciate how Japanese artists use metaphors and imagery to convey complex feelings, making it a special piece for language and cultural immersion.

[English]

What came to mind as I closed my eyes

Is the path I've walked until now

It's almost time for the flowers to bloom

Back then, I was looking forward to it

You, who used to smile gently

Where have you disappeared to?

I want to become a flower, with thorns, wither, scatter, and decay

Don't pick me up, just drift away, forget me

I want to become rain, become mist, and stay wet just like this

Lying down, feeling sleepy, leaving me alone

...

What we walked with our fingers intertwined

Is that hometown I left behind

Looking back now, I can say I was happy

I spent days when I could say that

Your warmth, which held my hand

Still lingers on

Don't hesitate, if you're going to do it, just finish it off

Don't laugh, with those cold eyes, you're not good at lying

I want to become a bird, riding the wind, aiming for that place

With no pain, no love, to the other side

...

You, who used to smile gently

Where have you disappeared to?

I want to become a flower, with thorns, wither, scatter, and decay

Don't pick me up, just drift away, forget me

Don't hesitate, if you're going to do it, just finish it off

Don't laugh, with those cold eyes, you're not good at lying

...

[Japanese]

目を閉じて浮かんだのは

これまでの歩んだ道

もう直ぐで花咲く頃

あの頃は楽しみだった

優しく笑ってた君は

何処へ消えたのでしょう

花になって棘をもって枯れて散って朽ち果てたい

拾わないで離れてって 忘れてって

雨になって霧になってそのままで濡れていたい

横になって眠くなって 独りにして

指絡め歩いたのは

置いてきたあの故郷

今思えば幸せだと

言える日も過ごしました

手を引いてくれた君の

温もりが残ってる

躊躇わないでどうせならトドメ刺して終わらせて

笑わないで冷たい目で 嘘が下手ね

鳥になって風に乗ってあの場所を目指したい

痛みもない愛もない 向こう側へ

優しく笑ってた君は

何処へ消えたのでしょう

花になって棘をもって枯れて散って朽ち果てたい

拾わないで離れてって 忘れてって

躊躇わないでどうせならトドメ刺して終わらせて

笑わないで冷たい目で 嘘が下手ね

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
花 /hana/ A2	noun - flower
咲く /saku/ B1	verb - to bloom, to blossom
道 /michi/ A2	noun - road, path
優しい /yasashii/ B1	adjective - kind, gentle
笑う /warau/ A2	verb - to laugh, to smile
消える /kieru/ B2	verb - to disappear, to vanish
枯れる /kareru/ B2	verb - to wither, to dry up
散る /chiru/ B1	verb - to fall, to scatter
朽ち果てる /kuchihateru/ C1	verb - to decay and rot completely
拾う /hirou/ A2	verb - to pick up, to collect
離れる /hanareru/ B1	verb - to separate, to stay away from
忘れる /wasureru/ A2	verb - to forget
濡れる /nureru/ A2	verb - to get wet
眠る /nemuru/ A2	verb - to sleep

Key Grammar Structures

• もう直ぐで花咲く頃

  ➔ The phrase "もう直ぐで" indicates an imminent event or action, meaning "soon" or "almost".

  ➔ "もう直ぐで" is used to express that something will happen very soon.

• 花になって棘をもって枯れて散って朽ち果てたい

  ➔ The phrase "になって" is the te-form of "なる" used to indicate transformation or becoming, such as "becoming a flower".

  ➔ "になって" expresses the idea of transformation, like turning into a flower.

• 離れてって 忘れてって

  ➔ "って" is a casual or emphatic quoting particle often used after verbs, implying commands or requests like "leave" or "forget".

  ➔ "って" is used to quote or emphasize the preceding verb, often as a casual command or request.

• そのままで濡れていたい

  ➔ The phrase "そのままで" means "as it is" or "without change".

  ➔ "そのままで" indicates doing or remaining in the same state without change.

• 辞めないで冷たい目で

  ➔ The phrase "辞めないで" is a negative imperative form meaning "don't stop" or "don't quit".

  ➔ "辞めないで" is used to request or command someone to continue without quitting.

• 嘘が下手ね

  ➔ The phrase "下手ね" uses "下手" meaning "poor at" or "bad at," with "ね" adding a confirming or softening tone.

  ➔ "下手ね" expresses that someone is bad at something, often with a polite or softening tone.