NO WAY MAN – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: AKB48
• Album: AKB48 54th Maxi Single「NO WAY MAN」

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the energetic world of Japanese pop with AKB48's "NO WAY MAN"! This powerful song not only boasts one of AKB48's most challenging choreographies, showcasing dynamic movement and fierce expressions, but its lyrics also carry a compelling message of perseverance and self-belief. By exploring this track, you can grasp common Japanese phrases related to overcoming obstacles and expressing strong determination, making it an exciting way to immerse yourself in the language and the group's unique blend of catchy melodies and impactful themes. Listen closely to the repeated declarations of 'NO WAY MAN' to understand how Japanese can convey a defiant spirit against all odds.

[English]

NO NO NO NO NO WAY MAN

NO NO NO NO NO WAY MAN

They told me it’s absolutely impossible, everyone in the world

Why? Oh why?

I’ve been hurt again and again by casual words

But each time, I grew stronger

Because it’s someone else’s problem, they easily make assumptions

Why? Oh why?

Is it such a high place that I can’t reach?

A dream that everyone gives up on

NO WAY MAN (HEY!) NO WAY MAN (HEY!)

No way, right?

NO WAY MAN (FU!) NO WAY MAN (FU!)

Isn’t that common?

NO WAY MAN (HEY!) NO WAY MAN (HEY!)

HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!

I don’t want to dismiss it as something impossible

What should I believe in? In this deep darkness

I don’t need any more reasons, I’m fine with just my beliefs

Clinging to something, clinging to it, Alright! Baby! Baby!

I don’t care if it’s a mistake, I’ll just keep moving forward

Whether it’s good or bad, I won’t know until I try

It’s okay to die, it’s okay, Don’t cry!

Oh... Baby! Oh... Baby!

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

You have to change your life yourself, or it will just continue as is

I think so, oh I think so

If you do nothing, you’ll just be swept away

In the crowd of many, sinking and drowning

Destiny is always just a rough draft

You think so, oh you think so

Possibilities are just excuses, aren’t they?

Even at zero, miracles can happen

Rainy day! (HEY!) Rainy day! (HEY!)

Don’t give up

Rainy day! (FU!) Rainy day! (FU!)

Until the very end

Rainy day! (HEY!) Rainy day! (HEY!)

HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!

Upsets can happen

I’ll believe in tomorrow, let’s end today

I don’t know what the right answer is, there’s no point in checking

I’ll just live freely, just live

Oh... My life! Oh... My life!

You can throw a stone into the quiet water surface

Predictable harmony is boring, let’s expect ripples

That’s where the story begins

Oh... My life! Oh... My life!

Rain Rainy day! Rain rain rain rain Rainy day!

Rain Rainy day! Rain rain rain rain Rainy day!

Rain Rainy day! Rain rain rain rain Rainy day!

Rain Rainy day! Rain rain rain rain Rainy day!

A red ocean surely wouldn’t be interesting, right?

The blue ocean is the place I aim for from now on

What should I seek in this headwind?

I don’t need allies anymore, I just love solitude

Go without fitting in with anyone

Oh... Baby! Oh... Baby!

What should I believe in? In this deep darkness

I don’t need any more reasons, I’m fine with just my beliefs

Clinging to something, clinging to it, Alright!

Oh... Baby! Oh... Baby!

I don’t care if it’s a mistake, I’ll just keep moving forward

Whether it’s good or bad, I won’t know until I try

It’s okay to die, it’s okay, Don’t cry!

Oh... Baby! Oh... Baby!

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

I never thought something like that would happen

...

[Japanese]

NO NO NO NO NO WAY MAN

NO NO NO NO NO WAY MAN

絶対に無理だって 世界中の人に言われた

Why? Oh why?

何気無い言葉に 何度も何度も傷付いて

でもその度に僕は強くなって行った

他人事だから 簡単に決めつける

Why? Oh why?

届かないくらいに そんなに高い場所なのか

誰もが諦める夢

NO WAY MAN (HEY!) NO WAY MAN (HEY!)

まさかなんて

NO WAY MAN (FU!) NO WAY MAN (FU!)

よくあるだろう？

NO WAY MAN (HEY!) NO WAY MAN (HEY!)

HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!

有り得ないことで片付けたくない

何を信じればいいんだ？ 深い暗闇の中

もう根拠なんて要らない 思い込みで構わない

何かに縋って 縋って Alright! Baby! Baby!

間違いだって気にしない ひたすら進むんだ

いいとか悪いとかまとめて やってみなきゃわからない

死んでも良いよ 良いよ Don't cry!

Oh... Baby! Oh... Baby!

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

人生は自分で変えなきゃ そのまま続く

I think so, oh I think so

何もやらなきゃ 流されてくだけ

その他大勢の群れ 沈んで溺れる

運命はいつだって下書きでしかないんだ

You think so, oh you think so

可能性なんて 言い訳の予防線だろう？

ゼロでも 奇跡はあるさ

Rainy day! (HEY!) Rainy day! (HEY!)

投げ出すんじゃない

Rainy day! (FU!) Rainy day! (FU!)

最後の最後まで

Rainy day! (HEY!) Rainy day! (HEY!)

HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!

番狂わせだって起こり得るんだ

明日を信じて行くんだ 今日は終わりにしよう

正解なんかわからない 答え合わせ意味がない

勝手に生きて 生きてくだけ

Oh... My life! Oh... My life!

静寂の水面には 石を投げてみればいい

予定調和なんか退屈で 波紋を期待しよう

そこから始まる 始まるストーリー

Oh... My life! Oh... My life!

Rain Rainy day! Rain rain rain rain Rainy day!

Rain Rainy day! Rain rain rain rain Rainy day!

Rain Rainy day! Rain rain rain rain Rainy day!

Rain Rainy day! Rain rain rain rain Rainy day!

レッドオーシャンなんてきっと面白くないだろう？

ブルーオーシャンこそがこれから目指す場所

何を求めればいいんだ こんな逆風の中

もう味方なんかいらない 孤独を愛すだけ

誰にも合わさず 合わさず行け

Oh... Baby! Oh... Baby!

何を信じればいいんだ？ 深い暗闇の中

もう根拠なんて要らない 思い込みで構わない

何かに縋って 縋って Alright!

Oh... Baby! Oh... Baby!

間違いだって気にしない ひたすら進むんだ

いいとか悪いとかまとめて やってみなきゃわからない

死んでも良いよ良いよ Don't cry!

Oh... Baby! Oh... Baby!

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

NO NO WAY MAN Oh oh oh oh NO WAY MAN

まさかそんなことが起こることなんて

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
無理 /mɯɾi/ B1	adjective - impossible, unreasonable noun - unreasonableness, forcing
言葉 /kotoba/ A2	noun - word, language
傷付く /kizutsuku/ B2	verb - to be hurt, to be wounded
強く /tsuyoku/ A2	adjective - strong
決める /kimeru/ A2	verb - to decide, to determine
諦める /akirameru/ B1	verb - to give up, to abandon
夢 /jume/ A2	noun - dream
信じる /shinjiru/ A2	verb - to believe, to trust
深い /fukai/ A2	adjective - deep
暗闇 /kurayami/ B2	noun - darkness, the dark
根拠 /konkyo/ B2	noun - basis, foundation
思い込み /omoikomi/ B2	noun - assumption, presumption
縋る /sugaru/ B2	verb - to cling to, to rely on
進む /susumu/ A2	verb - to advance, to proceed
人生 /jinsei/ A2	noun - life

Key Grammar Structures

• 絶対に無理だって 世界中の人に言われた

  ➔ Use of 〜だって to indicate hearsay or reported speech

  ➔ It's used to report what someone has said or what has been heard.

• 何気無い言葉に 何度も何度も傷付いて

  ➔ Use of 〜に to indicate target or affected object

  ➔ The particle 〜に indicates the target or recipient of an action.

• もう根拠なんて要らない 思い込みで構わない

  ➔ Use of 〜て form + も to express concession or 'even...'

  ➔ The pattern 〜て form + も indicates 'even if' or concessive meaning.

• 死んでも良いよ 良いよ Don't cry!

  ➔ Use of 〜ても to express 'even if' or hypotheticals

  ➔ The pattern 〜ても expresses concession or 'even if' scenarios.

• 人生は自分で変えなきゃ そのまま続く

  ➔ Use of 〜なきゃ (〜なければ) as informal conditional 'must...'

  ➔ The phrase 〜なきゃ is a colloquial contraction of 〜なければ, meaning 'must' or 'have to.'

• 未来を信じて行くんだ 今日は終わりにしよう

  ➔ Use of 〜て form + いく to indicate 'going to continue' or a future plan

  ➔ The pattern 〜て + いく expresses ongoing action into the future or intention to continue.

• 何を信じればいいんだ？ 深い暗闇の中

  ➔ Use of 〜ば to form conditional 'if... then...'

  ➔ The pattern 〜ば constructs conditional sentences meaning 'if... then...'.