Phantom Joke – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: UNISON SQUARE GARDEN
• Album: UNISON SQUARE GARDEN 16th Single

Lyrics & Translation

“Phantom Joke” by UNISON SQUARE GARDEN offers a thrilling dive into the Japanese language through its fast-paced, powerful rock sound and profound lyrics. Learners can explore expressions of determination, resilience, and questioning reality, making it a dynamic and emotionally rich piece to enhance your Japanese listening and comprehension.

[English]

Lost in the shifting focus, trying to find a point that fits

Look, the falling leaves dance, soon they'll turn into butterflies

And when the tuning is right, what was it again...

Sudden fade made me anxious, in an instant absurdity kicks in

It's just because I chose it; I need to settle on an answer

The reason we're bored is proof of thought stopping

If you can't protect what you Care about, don’t meddle

Wanting sympathy, glory, and praise—that's just being dull

Unseen gravity pulls the trigger that destroys common sense

No way, Phantom's begun! A mirage soaked in lies

Even my heart is foggy, a mirage, where good and evil become indecipherable

I’ve had enough of everything—even that is a happy ending

No, don’t say such sad things. The world is still alive

Even if you’re crying, you’re still alive. That’s why I want to see beyond this sky

While glaring at the target of fate, which is just too much to handle

Glad I was able to say it—'I still want to love you'

...

The turbulent stream continues, the dark bottom still out of sight

Don’t mess around—who’s there? Don’t toy with me recklessly; time battles the darkness

Even when things heat up, beware—evil sometimes hides behind justice

You have to expose the contradictions; the logic of the ending is still unsteady

Heartless cries and powerless footsteps—

Because they could become the shackles of the future—wake up

Wanting it to stay as it is, or just to 'live'—

Realizing simply wishing won’t cut it

Don’t let those crucial phrases slip; otherwise, the story becomes trash

Dancing brilliantly—Phantom's begun! Too dazzling, a mirage

Moving hearts, a mirage—standards of light and dark are also incomprehensible

Even if everything disappears and vanishes, it’s almost laughable

But don’t forget—the journey isn’t over yet

Won’t end until I’m convinced—meaning I want to see what’s beyond this sky

If you cut through the terrifying spider web of fear that’s just too invasive

A time to prove I can be stronger, a future ahead

There’s no way I can end in sadness—the curtain of resolve rises

No way I can end in sadness—'I still want to love you forever'

...

Unseen gravity disturbs common sense, but I won’t give up

No way, Phantom's begun! A mirage soaked in lies

Even my heart is foggy, a mirage—good and evil become indecipherable

I’ve had enough of everything—even that is a happy ending

No, don’t say such sad things. The world is still alive

Even if you’re crying, you’re still alive. That’s why I want to see beyond this sky

While glaring at the overly meddlesome target of fate

Glad I could say it—'I still want to love you'

I can’t end in sadness—'I want to keep loving you forever'

I'll never catch bad fake

...

[Japanese]

ずれるピントに迷った 合わせる辻褄を探せ

ほら枯れ葉が舞う やがて蝶になる

そしてチューニング合って あとはなんだっけ

急なフェードで焦った 秒速で不条理が始まる

とりあえず選んだせいだから 方を付けなきゃいけないな

退屈の理由は 思考停止の evidence

守るものも守れないならでしゃばるなよ

共感も栄光も賞賛も欲しがるのは野暮ってこと

正体不明の引力が常識を無に帰す引き金を引いてしまうから

冗談じゃねえよ Phantom's begun! 嘘にまみれきって蜃気楼

心まで霞んで蜃気楼 善々悪々も審議不能になる

全部嫌になった それさえも幸せな結末だ

だめだ そんな悲しいこと言うな まだ世界は生きてる

君が泣いてたって生きてる だからこの空の先を見たい

邪魔すぎる運命のターゲット睨みながら

言えそうで良かった「まだ愛していたい」

激流は続く 暗い底はまだ見えない

ふざけるな おい誰だ 無下に弄ぶな 時間が闇に競り負ける

熱くなってもご注意 悪はたまに正義を隠してる

裏腹は暴かなきゃ 結末の理路は不整前

無慈悲に泣く声も 無力に止まる足も

未来の足かせになるから 目を覚ませよ

「このままがいい」だとか「生きたい」も

願うだけじゃダメってこと

大切なフレーズをこぼすな 物語がゴミになる

華麗に舞って Phantom's begun! あまりにきらめいて蜃気楼

心を動かして蜃気楼 明々暗々基準も不可解だ

全部無くなって消えたって ありえそうで笑っちゃう

だけど忘れないで欲しい まだまだ旅は終わらない

納得するまで終わらない つまりこの空の先を見たい

邪魔すぎる恐怖のスパイダーネット穿ったなら

強くなれる前途証明の時間

悲しくちゃ終われない 覚悟の幕が上がる

悲しくちゃ終われない「まだずっと愛していたい」

正体不明の引力が常識をかき乱しても抗うのをやめない

冗談じゃねえよ Phantom's begun! 嘘にまみれきって蜃気楼

心まで霞んで蜃気楼 善々悪々も審議不能になる

全部嫌になった それさえも幸せな結末だ

だめだ そんな悲しいこと言うな まだ世界は生きてる

君が泣いてたって生きてる だからこの空の先を見たい

邪魔すぎる運命のターゲット睨みながら

言えそうで良かった「まだ愛していたい」

悲しくちゃ終われない「まだずっと愛していたい」

I'll never catch bad fake

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
引力 /いんりょく/ B2	noun - gravity
証明 /しょうめい/ B2	noun - proof
結末 /けつまつ/ B2	noun - conclusion
未来 /みらい/ B1	noun - future
運命 /うんめい/ B2	noun - fate
悲しい /かなしい/ A2	adjective - sad
焦る /あせる/ B1	verb - to be impatient
証拠 /しょうこ/ B2	noun - evidence
空 /そら/ A1	noun - sky
愛 /あい/ A1	noun - love
旅 /たび/ A2	noun - journey
証 /あかし/ B2	noun - testimony
闇 /やみ/ B1	noun - darkness
証明する /しょうめいする/ B2	verb - to prove
欲しい /ほしい/ A2	adjective - want

Key Grammar Structures

• ずれるピントに迷った

  ➔ Using the inanimate noun + に to indicate target or direction

  ➔ The phrase «ずれるピント» uses the nominal + に structure to indicate the target of being misplaced or defocused.

• 合って

  ➔ Te-form of the verb '合う' (to fit / to match), used to connect actions or states

  ➔ The te-form '合って' is used here to connect the matching of the tuning with the following action.

• 急なフェードで焦った

  ➔ Using で to indicate the means or cause that leads to the following action

  ➔ The particle で indicates the manner or cause of suddenly becoming anxious due to the fade.

• 欲しがる

  ➔ The verb in the 応用形 (potential/form) expressing desire, conjugated as '欲しがる' (to want)

  ➔ The verb «欲しがる» is used to describe someone’s desire or want for something, conjugated from «欲しい» in the form that indicates desire.

• 終わらない

  ➔ Negative present tense of the verb '終わる' (to end), expressing 'not ending'

  ➔ The form «終わらない» is the negative present tense of «終わる», indicating that something is ongoing or not finished.

• 願うだけじゃ

  ➔ Using だけじゃ (only just / merely) with the verb '願う' (to wish), implying that wishing alone is not enough

  ➔ The phrase «願うだけじゃ» indicates that merely wishing is not enough to achieve something; more action is needed.