Kurenai – English Lyrics

• By: X Japan
• Album: The Last Live

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the intense emotions and powerful sound of X Japan's iconic song, "Kurenai." Meaning 'crimson' in Japanese, this metal classic offers a glimpse into the depths of heartache and inner struggle, making it a perfect introduction to the language and soul of Japanese rock.

[English]

I couldn't look back, you'd gone away from me

I felt my heart ache, I was afraid of following you

When I had looked at the shadows on the wall

I started running into the night to find the truth in me

...

嵐吹くこの街がお前を抱く

吹き抜ける風にさえ目を閉じる

お前は走りだす何かに追われるよう

俺が見えないのかすぐそばにいるのに

...

人波に消えて行く記憶の吐息

愛のない一人舞台もう耐えきれない

All of you in my memory is still shining in my heart

すれ違う心は溢れる涙に濡れ

...

紅に染まったこの俺を

慰める奴はもういない

もう二度と届かないこの思い

閉ざされた愛に向かい 叫びつづける

...

お前は走りだす何かに追われるよう

俺が見えないのかすぐそばにいるのに

紅に染まったこの俺を慰める奴はもういない

もう二度と届かないこの思い

閉ざされた愛に向かい

叫びつづける

紅に染まったこの俺を慰める奴はもういない

Oh, Crying in deep red

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
look /lʊk/ A2	verb - to direct one's gaze toward something
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - organ inside the body that pumps blood noun - center or core of something
fear /fɪər/ B1	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by danger or threat verb - to be afraid of something
shadow /ˈʃædoʊ/ B2	noun - dark shape cast by a body blocking light
run /rʌn/ A2	verb - to move quickly on foot
night /naɪt/ A2	noun - period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
truth /truːθ/ B2	noun - fact or reality
memory /ˈmɛməri/ B1	noun - the ability to remember information
tears /tɪərz/ B1	noun - drops of clear liquid from eyes caused by emotion or crying
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - deep affection or attachment verb - to feel deep affection for someone
crying /ˈkraɪɪŋ/ B2	verb - shedding tears, expressing emotion through tears
red /rɛd/ A2	adjective - a color resembling blood

Key Grammar Structures

• I couldn't look back, you'd gone away from me

  ➔ Past Perfect (you'd gone)

  ➔ Use of the past perfect "you'd gone" indicates an action completed before another action in the past (the speaker couldn't look back). It emphasizes the sequence of events.

• 嵐吹くこの街がお前を抱く

  ➔ Relative Clause (嵐吹く)

  ➔ The phrase "嵐吹く" (arashi fuku) modifies "この街" (kono machi). It's a relative clause, literally meaning "the storm-blowing city" or "the city where the storm blows."

• 吹き抜ける風にさえ目を閉じる

  ➔ Particle 'さえ' (even)

  ➔ The particle "さえ" (sae) means "even". It emphasizes that the subject closes their eyes even to the wind blowing through, implying a state of extreme emotional distress or protection.

• 人波に消えて行く記憶の吐息

  ➔ Gerund/Verb conjugation (消えて行く)

  ➔ "消えて行く" (kiete yuku) means "fading away." The "行く" (yuku) part is added to the verb to indicate a process or a continuing action. It is fading away and continues to fade.

• 紅に染まったこの俺を

  ➔ Passive Voice (染まった)

  ➔ "染まった" (somatta) is the passive form of the verb "染める" (someru, to dye). Here, it means "dyed" or "stained". The speaker is being acted upon.

• 慰める奴はもういない

  ➔ Adjectival Noun Clause (慰める奴)

  ➔ "慰める奴" (nagusameru yatsu) means "the one who comforts." "慰める" (nagusameru) is the verb "to comfort," and "奴" (yatsu) is a derogatory term for "person" or "guy." The whole clause acts as an adjective describing the noun that is missing.

• もう二度と届かないこの思い

  ➔ Negative Adverb + Potential Verb (届かない)

  ➔ "届かない" (todokanai) is the negative potential form of "届く" (todoku, to reach). It means "cannot reach." Combined with "もう二度と" (mou nidoto, never again), it emphasizes the impossibility of the feeling reaching the intended recipient.