Merry-go-round – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 浜崎あゆみ

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of Japanese music with Ayumi Hamasaki's "Merry-go-round," an electronic dance track that offers a unique blend of Japanese lyrics with subtle English phrases, providing an engaging way to experience the language. This song is special for its poignant exploration of lingering memories and unbreakable emotional ties, offering both linguistic insights and a deep emotional resonance through its lyrics and dynamic musical style.

[English]

Where are you and who are you laughing with?

What are you thinking about while you're there?

I waved goodbye to you again

Even though I know there's no "again"

I waved goodbye to you again

Just a little, with a smile

No it don't matter now (no!)

It don't matter now!

Even if we meet again, it's all in the past now

Without any particular reason, I whisper my feelings now

“This was for the best” ah “This was for the best” ah

Every time I spit out those words, my soul slips away ah

It's easy to say, it's easy if it's just words

From the moment reality closes in, I start to fall gradually

In the end, we can't forget, riding the Merry Go Round

I'm drawn to you so much

It was such a fleeting moment, wasn't it?

It feels like I've been enchanted

“Please tell me an unbreakable spell”

[Japanese]

君はどこにいて誰と笑ってる？

君はそこにいて何を想ってる？

君にまたねって手を振ったよ

またなんてないって　知ってても

君にまたねって手を振ったよ

ほんの少しだけ　笑顔で

No it dont matter now (no!)

It dont matter now!

もう一度会っても全て過去の話 Now

特に誰にってワケなく、呟くFeelings now

「これでよかった」ah 「これでよかった」ah

なんて言葉 吐き出す度 魂 抜けてく ah

言うのは簡単、言うだけなら簡単

現実が迫ってきた瞬間から落ちてく段々

結局、忘れられない二人乗る Merry Go Round

惹かれて行くのはあんなに

あっと言う間の出来事だったね

魔法にかけられてしまったみたい

「解けない呪文を教えてください」

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
笑ってる /waratteru/ B1	verb - to be laughing
想ってる /omotteru/ B1	verb - to be thinking
手 /te/ A1	noun - hand
笑顔 /egao/ B1	noun - smile
過去 /kako/ B2	noun - past
言葉 /kotoba/ B1	noun - word
魂 /tamashii/ C1	noun - soul
現実 /genjitsu/ B2	noun - reality
忘れられない /wasurerarenai/ B2	verb - unforgettable
魔法 /mahou/ B1	noun - magic
呪文 /jumon/ C1	noun - spell
教えて /oshiete/ A2	verb - to teach
言う /iu/ A1	verb - to say
会って /atte/ A2	verb - to meet
特に /toku ni/ B1	adverb - especially
二人 /futari/ A1	noun - two people
乗る /noru/ A2	verb - to ride

Key Grammar Structures

• 君はどこにいて誰と笑ってる？

  ➔ The use of the question word 'どこに' (doko ni) with the verb 'いて' (ite) indicates location with the particle 'に'.

  ➔ The particle 'に' marks the destination or location of the action.

• もう一度会っても全て過去の話さ

  ➔ The phrase '～ても' is a conditional form meaning 'even if' or 'despite.'

  ➔ '～ても' indicates concession or unexpected result despite the preceding condition.

• なんて言葉吐き出す度魂抜けてく

  ➔ '～度' (tabi) means 'every time' or 'whenever' and is used to indicate repetition.

  ➔ '～度' is used to express 'every time' or 'whenever' the action occurs.

• 魂抜けてく

  ➔ The verb phrase '抜けてく' (nukete ku) is the te-form of '抜ける' (to come out, to escape) combined with 'く' (ku), indicating progressive aspect or movement away.

  ➔ '抜けてく' expresses an ongoing or moving away action, often metaphorically in emotions or states.

• これでよかった

  ➔ The phrase '～てよかった' expresses relief or satisfaction that something was the right decision or outcome.

  ➔ It is used to convey that one feels glad or relieved because the outcome was positive.

• 王様にと言えば

  ➔ The phrase '～にと言えば' combines 'に' with 'と言えば' (if we say that...), used for hypothetical or contextual statements.

  ➔ It introduces a topic or hypothetical scenario related to 'に' (target or person).