コーヒーとシロップ – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Official髭男dism
• Album: MAN IN THE MIRROR

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of Japanese contemporary music with Official髭男dism's "コーヒーとシロップ" (Coffee and Syrup). This song offers a profound look into the realities of working life, making it a powerful piece for understanding everyday Japanese sentiments and expressions related to stress, resilience, and hope. Its vivid metaphors and relatable narrative make it special, providing an authentic cultural and linguistic learning experience that resonates deeply with listeners. You'll learn vocabulary related to emotions, daily routines, and the nuanced ways of expressing personal struggles and aspirations in Japanese.

[English]

"I want to see you now. Because something unpleasant happened..."

Saying that, I woke you up in the middle of the night.

It was a cold night, and my sigh turned white.

The coffee I poured into the cup reflected my sadness.

For example, if I were to become great decades from now,

Would I laugh and think, 'This was all okay'?

Or if tomorrow I took a day off from work,

Would I just smile and say, 'There are others like me'?

Drink down all the unpleasantness,

Just get through the moment somehow,

Stare at the bottom of the cup, dropping the syrup of inadequacy.

Anyway, drink it all up,

Someday, I’ll spit it all out,

And maybe, smile and sing because of it.

Morning started to feel terrible, the TV too.

Every day chased by numbers on the clock.

I wondered—are you okay, hiding behind that smile?

What are those words hidden behind your smile?

For example, if I could be great decades from now,

Would I start giving orders like that, too?

Or if tomorrow you run away somewhere,

Would you just smile and say, 'Anyone will do'?

Drink down all the unpleasantness,

Just get through the moment somehow,

Become completely sweet,

And stop feeling the bitterness.

Still, drink it all up,

Someday, I’ll spit it all out,

And maybe, just smile and sing because of it.

"Because I made a mistake, I’ll apologize."

If only it were that simple,

Then I could wait for tomorrow with a smile.

But instead, I hear, "You’re not ready yet..." and blame myself.

At the rim of this cup, I still wait quietly,

Waiting to jump in at just the right moment.

Holding back, holding back, from a high place, to spit out.

Drink down all the unpleasantness,

Just get through the moment somehow,

Stare at the bottom of the cup, dropping the syrup of inadequacy.

Anyway, drink it all up,

Someday, I’ll spit it all out,

And maybe, just smile and sing because of it.

[Japanese]

「今会いたいな。嫌なことあったから・・・」

そう言って僕は真夜中　君を起こした

寒い夜だった　ため息は白くなった

カップに注いだコーヒーは憂いを映した

例えば　何十年先に偉くなれたなら

そしたら　これでよかったと笑えるんだろうか？

例えば　明日僕が会社を休んだなら

そしたら「代わりはいるさ」と笑い出すのか？

嫌なこと全部飲み干して

その場をただただやり過ごして

カップの底見つめ　不甲斐なさのシロップを落として

とにかく全部飲み干して

いつかは全部吐き出して

それで笑って　歌っていられたらな

朝が嫌になった　テレビも嫌になった

いつも時間に数字に追われる毎日

不思議に思った　君は平気なんだろうか？

笑顔の裏に隠した言葉はなんだ？

例えば　何十年先に偉くなれたなら

そしたら　僕もあんな風に威張りだすんだろうか？

例えば　君が明日どこかへ逃げ出したなら

そしたら　「誰でもいいさ」と笑い出すのか？

嫌なこと全部飲み干して

その場をただただやり過ごして

すっかり甘くなって

苦さも感じなくなってしまったな

まだまだ全部飲み干して

いつかは全部吐き出して

それで笑って　歌っていられたらな

「間違えたから、謝るんだ」

それくらい簡単ならば

笑って明日を待てるのに

「まだ出来ないから・・・」と責められてほら

このカップのふちで僕は

今も飛び込む時をそっと待っている

堪えて堪えて高い所から　吐き出す時を

嫌なこと全部飲み干して

その場をただただやり過ごして

カップの底見つめ　不甲斐なさのシロップを落として

とにかく全部飲み干して

いつかは全部吐き出して

それで笑って、歌っていられたらな

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
会う /au/ A1	verb - to meet
嫌 /iya/ B1	adjective - unpleasant
夜 /yoru/ A1	noun - night
ため息 /tameiki/ B2	noun - sigh
映す /utsusu/ B2	verb - to reflect
会社 /kaisha/ A2	noun - company
逃げる /nigeru/ B1	verb - to escape
飲み干す /nomihosu/ B2	verb - to drink up
笑う /warau/ A1	verb - to laugh
歌う /utau/ A1	verb - to sing
甘い /amai/ A2	adjective - sweet
苦い /nigai/ B1	adjective - bitter
時 /toki/ A1	noun - time
待つ /matsu/ A1	verb - to wait
高い /takai/ A2	adjective - high
言葉 /kotoba/ A2	noun - word
明日 /ashita/ A1	noun - tomorrow

Key Grammar Structures

• 例えば　何十年先に偉くなれたなら

  ➔ Potential form + なら (if/would) to express hypothetical situations

  ➔ The "potential form" of the verb allows expressing ability or possibility. "なれた" is the past potential form of "なる" (to become).

• 嫌なこと全部飲み干して

  ➔ Te-form + して to connect actions, here, 'drink everything up' (metaphorically 'endure' or 'consume' all troubles)

  ➔ The te-form of verbs connects consecutive actions. Here, it metaphorically indicates 'consume' or 'endure' all troubles.

• すっかり甘くなって

  ➔ Adjective + なって (becomes) expressing a change of state

  ➔ The て form combined with なる (なって) indicates a change into a certain state.

• いつかは全部吐き出して

  ➔ は (topic particle) + いつか (someday) + て-form + して (sequence/continuation of action)

  ➔ The は は particle marks the topic, いつか indicates 'someday', and てして connects actions or shows sequence.

• 歌っていられたらな

  ➔ Potential form + たら (if) + な (desire/aspiration)

  ➔ The potential form indicates ability or possibility; たら expresses 'if' or hypothetical condition; な adds a nuance of desire or wish.