長く短い祭 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 椎名林檎
• Album: 百鬼夜行

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of Japanese with Sheena Ringo's "長く短い祭"! This song is a fantastic gateway to learning Japanese, as its poetic lyrics intertwine traditional imagery of summer festivals with modern, passionate expressions. You'll encounter unique vocabulary and cultural nuances, while its catchy, genre-bending sound—a mix of Brazilian spice and Japanese elegance—makes it an engaging and memorable listening experience. Discover how this song beautifully captures the fleeting yet intense moments of life, and let its rhythms carry you into the heart of modern Japanese artistry.

[English]

Fireworks connecting heaven and earth, what a sight!

An eternal moment, a fleeting encounter.

Never forget, never forget, never forget

Our summer.

In this out-of-place, chilled body,

Throw it into the warmth of the crowd.

Drifting and being drifted, when I think about it,

We’ve come so far.

Life is never dull, is it?

And youth passes in the blink of an eye.

Tonight, we’re all pioneers, the first page.

Each of us in our own unique costume,

Wild lives covered in bold makeup.

Don’t hide it, don’t hide it, don’t hide it,

We are summer.

Somehow, a downhearted soul

Wanders in the warmth of the crowd.

Drifting and being drifted, when I think about it,

We’ve come so far.

Eternity is so indifferent, isn’t it? A fleeting moment is just fine.

The party’s in full swing, it’s showtime!

Each of us choosing from every direction,

The fierce scent of burning life.

Don’t hesitate, don’t hesitate, don’t hesitate,

We are summer.

What to do with this brief peak of womanhood?

As it is, there’s nowhere to go.

Flowers in full bloom, colors at their peak, the height of it all,

Still…

Just as the grand flowers droop like willow branches,

The revolving lantern of life revives.

Don’t miss it, don’t miss it, don’t miss it,

Our summer.

Just a bit,

What to do with this brief peak of womanhood?

As it is, it’s not over yet.

Flowers in full bloom, colors at their peak, the height of it all,

Still…

"Goodbye, nice to meet you."

[Japanese]

天上天下繋ぐ花火哉

万代と刹那の出会い

忘るまじ 忘るまじ 忘るまじ

我らの夏を

場違いに冷え切った体を

人熱に放って

流し流され思えば

遠くへ来たもんだ

人生なんて 飽気ないね

まして若さはあっちゅう間

今宵全員が魁、一枚目よ

皆銘々取り取りの衣装

奔放な命被う化粧

隠すまじ 隠すまじ 隠すまじ

我らは夏よ

何か知ら落ち込んだ心は

人熱彷徨って

流し流され思もえば

遠くへ来たもんだ

永遠なんて 素っ気ないね ほんの仮初めが好いね

愈々宴も酣、本番です

皆銘々選り取り全方位

獰猛な命燃やす匂い

臆すまじ 臆すまじ 臆すまじ

我らは夏よ

一寸女盛りを如何しよう

この侭じゃ行き場がない

花盛り 色盛り 真っ盛り

まだ

丁度大輪枝垂れ柳

蘇る人世の走馬灯

逃すまじ 逃すまじ 逃すまじ

我らの夏を

一寸

一寸女盛りを如何しよう

この侭じゃまだ終われない

花盛り 色盛り 真っ盛り

まだ…

「さよならはじめまして」

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
夏 natsu A1	noun - summer
花火 hanabi A2	noun - fireworks
刹那 setsuna B2	noun - moment, instant, a very short period of time
出会い deai A2	noun - encounter, meeting, chance encounter
忘れる wasureru A1	verb - to forget
人生 jinsei A2	noun - life (human life)
若さ wakasa A2	noun - youth, youthfulness
奔放 honpō C1	adjectival noun - unrestrained, wild, free-spirited
命 inochi A2	noun - life, vitality, life force
心 kokoro A1	noun - heart, mind, spirit, feelings
永遠 eien B1	noun - eternity, perpetuity
仮初め karisome C1	noun - temporary, transient, momentary
宴 en B2	noun - banquet, feast, party
獰猛 dōmō C1	adjectival noun - ferocious, savage, fierce
臆す okusu B2	verb - to flinch, to hesitate, to be timid
女盛り onnazakari B2	noun - prime of womanhood, a woman's best years
真っ盛り massakari B1	noun - at its height, in full bloom, in full swing
蘇る yomigaeru B2	verb - to revive, to be resurrected, to be restored
走馬灯 sōmatō C1	noun - revolving lantern; (figurative) a rapid succession of images, flashback of one's life
逃す nogasu A2	verb - to miss (an opportunity), to let escape, to let get away