鶏と蛇と豚 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 椎名林檎
• Album: 三毒史

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the intriguing world of Sheena Ringo with "鶏と蛇と豚" (Chicken, Snake, and Pig). This song offers a captivating gateway to the Japanese language through its rich thematic depth, exploring complex Buddhist philosophies with a unique musical fusion. Its primarily English lyrics provide a familiar entry point, while its profound message and intricate soundscape make it a truly special piece for language learners and music enthusiasts alike.

[English]

Thinking about sweetness, I kept stuffing myself even more

Afraid it would run out, I had to get even more

Dripping with honey, it's bound to distort even further

Feasting happily, I got nauseous and vomited everywhere

I thought fullness was something better

But it feels so detestable

Why does this happen? The honey used to taste so sweet

Was it actually poison meant to trap me?

Am I cursed? I didn't offend anyone

And I'm pretty sure I know myself best

So something's wrong

Ah, this self is the only thing I love

To hear, to smell, to see, to touch

To taste—it’s irreplaceable, no less

...

[Japanese]

Thinking of sweetness, stuffed myself even more

Afraid it'd run out, had to get even more

Dripping with honey, bound to distort even more

Gorging, got nauseous, vomited everywhere

I thought that full was something better

Detestable is how it feels

Why must this be? The honey used to taste delightful

Was it a poison actually there to trap me?

Am I cursed? I've slighted no one

And I'm sure I know myself the best

So, something's not right

Ah, this self is the only thing I love

To hear, to smell, to see, to touch

To taste is irreplaceable, no less

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sweetness /ˈswiːtnəs/ B2	noun - the quality of being sweet
honey /ˈhʌni/ A2	noun - a sweet, sticky substance made by bees
vomited /ˈvɒmɪtɪd/ B1	verb - to expel matter from the stomach through the mouth
delightful /dɪˈlaɪtfl/ B2	adjective - causing great pleasure or joy
poison /ˈpɔɪzən/ B1	noun - a substance that is capable of causing illness or death
cursed /kɜːrst/ B2	adjective - under a curse; doomed
self /sɛlf/ A2	noun - a person's essential being that distinguishes them from others
right /raɪt/ A2	adjective - morally good, justified, or acceptable
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to have a deep affection for someone or something
taste /teɪst/ A2	verb - to perceive the flavor of something

Key Grammar Structures

• Afraid it'd run out, had to get even more

  ➔ Second conditional with 'if' omitted; 'had to' expressing obligation

  ➔ 'Afraid it'd run out' uses a contraction of 'it would run out', expressing a future possibility in the past.

• Gorging, got nauseous, vomited everywhere

  ➔ Series of simple past tense verbs describing sequential actions

  ➔ The verbs 'gorging', 'got nauseous', 'vomited' are in past tense, narrating a sequence of personal reactions.

• Was it a poison actually there to trap me?

  ➔ Interrogative structure with inversion for emphasis and 'actually' as an adverb of certainty

  ➔ 'Was it a poison actually there' uses inversion of the subject and auxiliary verb for emphasis, with 'actually' emphasizing certainty.

• I'm sure I know myself the best

  ➔ Use of 'be sure' as a fixed expression meaning 'to be confident', followed by a clause

  ➔ 'I'm sure I know myself the best' uses the phrase 'be sure' to express strong confidence in one's self-knowledge.

• To hear, to smell, to see, to touch

  ➔ Parallel infinitive structures used for listing sensory actions

  ➔ 'To hear, to smell, to see, to touch' employs parallel infinitive phrases to emphasize different sensory experiences.