コロンブス – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Mrs. GREEN APPLE
• Album: Mrs. GREEN APPLE on “Harmony”

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Japanese through 'コロンブス' by Mrs. GREEN APPLE offers a unique opportunity to engage with contemporary J-pop and its lyrical depth. The song's vocabulary touches on themes of history, daily life, and personal discovery, providing a rich context for language learners. Beyond the catchy melody, understanding the lyrics allows for a deeper appreciation of the song's intended message of finding joy and meaning in one's own journey.

[English]

Until the day I finally rest,

On a whim, just a little,

5 million years ago, I took a detour.

Even on that day, I still couldn't tell you.

Even great inventions,

And the cells I discovered,

Flowing into the ocean,

The creation of carbonation.

Like the day I'll eventually rest,

A goal that feels uncertain yet certain,

A daily life I surprisingly enjoy,

As if poured into a parched heart,

A close-up on a small miracle,

Though it holds no meaning.

So much I still haven't realized,

I want to drink up love, even today.

"I'm sorry,"

That's the most difficult word to say.

While growing up,

I couldn't say it.

Even the evolution of civilization,

And the great comebacks throughout history,

Heard from the depths of the earth,

Columbus's elation.

Like the loneliness you'll overcome someday,

The impartial morning sun and night sky,

A daily life that makes my stomach ache,

Like invigorating a parched heart,

A close-up on a subtle aesthetic,

But it's nothing but meaning.

Still, still, still causing harm,

I'm being taught by sorrow, even today.

The differences with you

Are a curse for me to be myself,

My self-deprecating thoughts never cease,

But that kind of self,

I can't truly hate.

Ah, a lovable honorable wound

And the subtlety that's grandly celebrated,

As if it's important,

Continuing somewhere...

A goal that feels uncertain yet certain,

A daily life that's surprisingly fast,

As if poured into a parched heart,

A close-up on a little bit of playfulness,

We'll surely connect.

Just, just, just until my last breath,

I want to drink up this day with you.

"I want to know you."

It's just like an exploration,

No one else can know.

Like gently touching a gentle solitude.

"I want to know you."

It's just like the aurora,

Still unknown,

To a magnificent sight,

As if I've finally reached it.

Look, the boat sails on again.

Repeating encounters and partings.

To give life to the meaning in glistening eyes,

First, you need to find one treasure chest.

[Japanese]

いつか僕が眠りにつく日まで

気まぐれにちょっと

寄り道をした500万年前

あの日もやっぱ君に言えなかった

偉大な大発明も

見つけた細胞も

海原に流れる

炭酸の創造

いつか僕が眠りにつく日の様な

不安だけど確かなゴールが、

意外と好きな日常が、

渇いたココロに注がれる様な

ちょっとした奇跡にクローズアップ

意味はないけど。

まだまだまだ気づけていない

愛を飲み干したい 今日も

「ごめんね」

それは一番難しい言

大人になる途中で

僕は言えなかった

文明の進化も

歴代の大逆転も

地底の果てで聞こえる

コロンブスの高揚

いつか君が乗り越える寂しさの様な

平等な朝日と夜空

胃が痛くなる日常が、

渇いたココロをしゃんとさせる様な

ちょっとした美学にクローズアップ

意味しかないけど。

まだまだまだ傷つけてしまう

哀に教わってる 今日も

あなたとの相違は

私である為の呪いで

卑屈は絶えないが

そんな自分を

本当は嫌えない

あぁ 愛すべき名誉の負傷が

盛大に祝われる微妙が

大切な様な

何処かへ続いて

不安だけど確かなゴールが、

意外と早い日常が、

渇いたココロに注がれる様な

ちょっとした遊びにクローズアップ

繋がり合うでしょう。

ただただただくたばるまで

あなたと 飲み干したい 今日を

“君を知りたい”

まるでそれは探検の様な

誰も知り得ない

優しい孤独にそっと触れる様な

“君を知りたい”

まるでそれはオーロラの様な

未だ知り得ない

素晴らしい絶景に

やっと辿り着いた様な

ほら また舟は進むんだ

出会いや別れを繰り返すんだ

潤んだ瞳の意味を生かすには

まず1個 宝箱を探すんだ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
日 /hi/ A1	noun - day; sun
創造 /so̞ːzo̞ː/ B2	noun - creation verb - to create
不安 /ɸɯᵝa̠ɴ/ B1	noun - anxiety; uneasiness adjectival noun - anxious; uneasy
日常 /ɲit͡ɕid͡ʑo̞ː/ B1	noun - daily life; everyday
渇く /ka̠ɰa̠kɯᵝ/ B1	verb - to get thirsty; to dry up
奇跡 /kisɛkʲi/ B2	noun - miracle; wonder
愛 /ai/ A2	noun - love; affection verb - to love
難しい /mɯᵝzɯᵝka̠ɕiː/ A2	adjective - difficult; hard; complicated
文明 /bɯᵝɴmɛː/ B2	noun - civilization; culture
進化 /ɕiɴka̠/ B2	noun - evolution; progress verb - to evolve; to progress
高揚 /ko̞ːjo̞ː/ C1	noun - exaltation; elation; uplift verb - to be uplifted; to be excited
寂しさ /sa̠biɕisa̠/ B1	noun - loneliness; solitude
平等 /bʲo̞ːdo̞ː/ B2	noun - equality; impartiality adjectival noun - equal; impartial
傷つける /kʲid͡zɯᵝt͡sɯᵝke̞rɯᵝ/ B1	verb - to hurt; to injure; to damage
呪い /no̞ɾoi/ B2	noun - curse; spell
名誉 /me̞ːjo̞/ B2	noun - honor; prestige; reputation
探検 /ta̠ɴke̞ɴ/ B1	noun - exploration; expedition verb - to explore
絶景 /d͡ze̞k̚ke̞ː/ C1	noun - superb view; breathtaking scenery
舟 /ɸɯᵝne̞/ A1	noun - boat; ship
宝箱 /ta̠ka̠ɾaba̠ko̞/ B1	noun - treasure chest

Key Grammar Structures

• あの日もやっぱ君に言えなかった

  ➔ Potential Negative Past + Colloquial Shortening

  ➔ The potential form of a verb combined with negative past tense, indicating "inability to perform an action in the past." "やっぱ" is a colloquial contraction of "やっぱり", meaning "as expected" or "after all."

• いつか僕が眠りにつく日の様な

  ➔ Simile / Comparison 「～のような」

  ➔ Used to compare something to something else, meaning "like," "as if," or "similar to." It often follows a noun or a modifying clause.

• 不安だけど確かなゴールが、

  ➔ Conjunctive Particle 「～だけど」

  ➔ A casual conjunctive particle used to connect two clauses, indicating a contrast, a concession, or simply a transition. It functions similarly to 「しかし」 or 「けれども」.

• まだまだまだ気づけていない

  ➔ Negative Progressive / State 「～ていない」 (with Potential Form)

  ➔ The negative form of 「～ている」. When combined with the potential form of a verb (e.g., "気づける" for "気づく"), it indicates that one is still unable to do something or hasn't noticed something yet.

• 大人になる途中で

  ➔ Time Expression 「～途中で」

  ➔ Indicates that an action or state is occurring during the course of something else. It specifies a point in time or a period.

• 意味しかないけど。

  ➔ Expression of Limitation 「～しかない」

  ➔ Expresses limitation, meaning "there is only X" or "X is the only thing." It often implies a negative nuance, such as "there's no other choice" or "it's regrettable that there's only this."

• まだまだまだ傷つけてしまう

  ➔ Completion / Regret 「～てしまう」

  ➔ Indicates that an action has been completed, often with a nuance of regret, shame, or an unintended/unfortunate outcome. It can also simply mean "to finish doing something completely."

• あなたとの相違は私である為の呪いで

  ➔ Purpose / Reason 「～為の」

  ➔ Indicates purpose or reason. 「～の為に」 (for the purpose of) or 「～の為の」 (for the sake of doing/being something). Here, "私である為の" means "for the sake of being myself."

• あぁ 愛すべき名誉の負傷が

  ➔ Obligation / Propriety 「～べき」

  ➔ Attaches to the dictionary form of a verb to express an obligation, a strong recommendation, or what is proper/appropriate. It can also describe something as "worthy of" or "deserving of."

• 誰も知り得ない

  ➔ Possibility / Impossibility 「～得る / ～得ない」

  ➔ "～得る" (eru) means "can / able to do" and "～得ない" (enai) means "cannot / unable to do." It's a formal expression of possibility or impossibility, often used for things that are logically or inherently possible/impossible, not just personal ability.