虹色の戦争 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 世界の終わり

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into SEKAI NO OWARI's "虹色の戦争" (Nijiiro no Sensou), a captivating song that will not only introduce you to the unique sound of one of Japan's most imaginative bands but also offer a deep dive into philosophical concepts about humanity and nature. Its thought-provoking lyrics, combined with a deceptively bright melody, provide an excellent opportunity to explore nuanced expressions in Japanese and appreciate how music can convey complex messages about the world around us.

[English]

If flowers could speak, what would they be shouting?

They would be echoing the song of 'Freedom Unleashed' across the world.

If ears could hear peace, what would they listen to?

They would hear a loud, fake song of freedom blaring out.

In a world of love that the flowers scream for, we sing of peace.

What would 'freedom' say to me, having ended inside a cage?

The rainbow-colored war of living creatures

The song of lives you’ve taken echoes in my mind.

The war of the rainbow colors

The rainbow war of living beings

Does the song of the freedom you've killed resonate within you?

The war of the rainbow colors

If insects could speak, what would they be shouting?

They would be echoing the song of 'Peace Unleashed' across the world.

If ears could hear freedom, what would they listen to?

They would hear a loud, fake song of peace blaring out.

In a peaceful world where insects scream, we sing of love.

What would 'life' say to me, having ended inside a cage?

The rainbow-colored war of living creatures

The song of lives you’ve taken echoes in my mind.

The war of the rainbow colors

The rainbow war of living beings

Does the song of the freedom you've ended up killing resonate in your heart?

The war of the rainbow colors

If a god came to the blue sky and granted one wish,

what would flowers and insects wish for?

If a god came to the blue sky and granted one wish,

would our flames of life be extinguished?

"The war of the rainbow colors"

is the war that the whole world knows

and everyone is part of.

"The war of humans versus all living things except humans"

is the war that the whole world "does not feel"

even though the whole world "knows" about it.

[Japanese]

花に声があるなら何を叫ぶのだろう

「自由の解放」の歌を世界に響かせているだろう

平和に耳があるなら何が聴こえるだろう

偽物の自由の歌が爆音で聴こえるだろう

花が叫ぶ愛の世界で僕等は平和を歌っている

鳥籠の中で終わりを迎えた「自由」は僕になんて言うだろう

生物達の虹色の戦争

貴方が殺した命の歌が僕の頭に響く

The war of the rainbow color

生物達の虹色の戦争

貴方が殺した自由の歌は貴方の心に響いてますか？

The war of the rainbow color

虫に歌があるなら何を叫ぶのだろう

「平和の解放」の歌を世界に響かせてるだろう

自由に耳があるなら何が聴こえるだろう

偽物の平和の歌が爆音で聴こえるだろう

虫が叫ぶ平和な世界で僕らは愛を歌っている

虫籠の中で終わりを迎えた「命」は僕に何て言うだろう

生物達の虹色の戦争

貴方が殺した命の歌が僕の頭に響く

The war of the rainbow color

生物達の虹色の戦争

貴方が殺した自由の歌は貴方の心に響いてますか？

The war of the rainbow color

青色の空に神様がきて願いを１つ叶えるなら

花や虫は何を願うのだろう

青色の空に神様がきて願いを１つ叶えるなら

僕等の命の炎は消えてしまうのだろう

"The war of the rainbow color"

is the war the whole world knows

and the whole world participates in.

"The war of humans vs. living things except humans"

is the war the whole world "does not feel"

even though the whole world "knows"

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
花 /hana/ A1	noun - flower
声 /koe/ A2	noun - voice
自由 /jiyū/ B1	noun - freedom
平和 /heiwa/ B1	noun - peace
戦争 /sensō/ B2	noun - war
愛 /ai/ B2	noun - love
命 /inochi/ B2	noun - life
響く /hibiku/ B2	verb - to resonate
叫ぶ /sakebu/ B2	verb - to shout
虫 /mushi/ A2	noun - insect
世界 /sekai/ A1	noun - world
神様 /kamisama/ B1	noun - god
願い /negai/ B1	noun - wish
炎 /honō/ B2	noun - flame
終わり /owari/ B2	noun - end

Key Grammar Structures

• なら

  ➔ if (used to indicate a hypothetical or conditional situation)

  ➔ Used to form conditional statements, indicating a hypothetical scenario.

• 〜があるなら

  ➔ if there is/are ~, assuming ~

  ➔ Expresses a condition assuming the presence of something.

• 〜の歌が聴こえる

  ➔ can hear the song of ~

  ➔ Indicates the ability to hear or perceive the song of someone or something.

• ~の中で

  ➔ inside of ~, among ~

  ➔ Describes something that is within or among a particular group or space.

• 〜と共に

  ➔ together with, along with

  ➔ Indicates doing something together or in association with something or someone.

• 〜は〜ている

  ➔ [subject] is doing/not doing [verb]

  ➔ Expresses an ongoing action or state in the present tense.