GHOST – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 星街すいせい

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of Japanese music with Hoshimachi Suisei's "GHOST." This powerful and emotionally resonant song offers a unique window into the experiences of a virtual idol. By exploring its lyrics and context, you can gain insights into modern Japanese vocal music and the evolving landscape of digital entertainment. The song's direct and poignant language makes it an excellent piece for understanding emotional expression in Japanese, while its captivating sound will surely inspire your language learning journey.

[English]

Feelings bursting open in an instant

Spent my time making excuses

City lights unaware of inner struggles

I lied to only you

Dancing without wanting to believe

Kept saying words to show it

I'm invisible

Can you hear my voice?

Dancer in the dark

Even the silhouette feels transparent, surely

Clumsy, but still

At least I'll shout until my voice is gone

Even fighting desperately, still trying to prove

Hey, I'm like a ghost

...

Harboring so much resentment for the brightness

Shadows stretching meaningfully

A single, quietly passing moment

Made me want to cry with your words

Things I cherish are slipping away

I want to write words that show this

Can you see? My voice

Can my voice reach you?

Dancer in the dark

Even the silhouette feels transparent, surely

Clumsy, but still

So I’ll shout and run barefoot

Running barefeet

Hey, notice me, tell me — what’s the answer?

Don’t mock even my heart

...

The gray city is mocking, wow

My steps grow heavier

Shouting until my voice is gone, struggling

Continuing to run barefoot

So things don’t change

So I won’t give up

Just keep saying and writing it

Find me

Can you hear my voice?

Dancer in the dark

Even the silhouette feels transparent

Surely clumsy, but

At least I’ll shout and wear out my voice

Even desperately clinging, still trying to prove

Hey, I’m like a ghost

Ah

...

[Japanese]

パッと弾けた感情に

言い訳を並べて過ごした

葛藤も知らない 街明かり

君だけだって 嘘をついた

信じたくもないままで 踊っている

示すために 連ね続けた 言葉

見えないの 僕が

僕のこの声が聞こえてる？

Dancer in the dark

シルエットすらも透明できっと

不格好だけれど でも

せめて声を枯らそう

必死に鎚っても ずっと証明を

ねぇゴーストみたいだ

散々恨んだ明るさと

意味有りげに伸びていく影

淡々と過ぎた一粒の

君の言葉で泣きたくなった

大切にしたいものが零れていく

示すままにり綴けたい 言葉

見えてるの 僕が

僕のこの声が届いてる？

Dancer in the dark

シルエットすらも透明できっと

不格好だけれど でも

だから叫んで 足拉いて

裸足のまま走って

ねぇ気付いて 教えてよ 答えは

こんな僕の心まで 馬鹿にしないで

灰色の街が嗤ってる Wow

足取りも重くなる

声を枯らして 叫んで足掻いて

裸足で走り続けて

変わらないように

諦めないように

連ね綴るだけだ

見つけてよ 僕を

僕のこの声が聞こえてる？

Dancer in the dark

シルエットすらも透明で

きっと不格好だけれど

でも せめて声を 枯らそう

必死に縋っても ずっと証明を

ねえゴーストみたいだ

あぁ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
感情 /kanjou/ B1	noun - emotion
街明かり /machiakari/ B2	noun - streetlight
嘘 /uso/ A2	noun - lie
声 /koe/ A1	noun - voice
影 /kage/ B1	noun - shadow
証明 /shoumei/ B2	noun - proof
走る /hashiru/ A1	verb - to run
叫ぶ /sakebu/ A2	verb - to shout
大切 /taisetsu/ B1	adjective - important
透明 /toumei/ B2	adjective - transparent
心 /kokoro/ A1	noun - heart
気付く /kizuku/ B1	verb - to notice
裸足 /hadashi/ A2	noun - barefoot
不格好 /bukakkou/ B2	adjective - awkward
証明する /shoumei suru/ B2	verb - to prove

Key Grammar Structures

• 信じたくもないままで

  ➔ Expressing a desire or wish with negation using "も" with the verb in the たい-form

  ➔ The phrase "信じたくもないままで" indicates "even though I don't want to believe"; "も" adds emphasis to the negation.

• 見えないの 僕が

  ➔ Use of の to nominalize a clause, turning it into a subject or topic

  ➔ The の particle converts the clause "見えない" (cannot see) into a noun phrase "見えないの" which functions as the subject "僕が" (I).

• きっと不格好だけれど でも

  ➔ Use of だけれど to contrast two clauses, meaning "although" or "but"

  ➔ The phrase "きっと不格好だけれど でも" uses だけれど to introduce a contrasting idea, "although clumsy" or "but", highlighting imperfection.

• だから叫んで 足掻いて

  ➔ Use of だから to indicate causation or reason, followed by imperative verbs 叫んで (shout) and 足掻いて (struggle).

  ➔ The conjunction だから introduces the reason or motivation for the following actions: shouting and struggling, expressed with imperative verbs.

• 見つけてよ 僕を

  ➔ Use of the te-form of 見つける (to find) + よ to request or emphasize, with を indicating the direct object.

  ➔ The te-form of 見つける (to find) combined with よ forms a request or emphasis, with を marking 僕を (me) as the object of the action.