So long! – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: AKB48

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of Japanese pop music with AKB48's poignant track, "So long!". This song offers a beautiful window into Japanese culture, particularly the significance of cherry blossoms and graduation season, which symbolize partings and new beginnings. Through its heartfelt lyrics and melodic J-pop sound, you can learn common Japanese phrases for saying goodbye with the warmth of a promised reunion, making it a special piece for understanding emotional nuances in the language.

[English]

So long!... Smiling

So long!... See you again

A few stiff buds on the branch

The cherry blossom front hasn't arrived yet

Our spring is according to the calendar

Flowers bloom on the path of hope

Groping, we talk about our dreams

Worried about love, we shared tears

Memories become our allies

Let's live strongly from tomorrow

Even if tough times come

You're not alone, we'll get through it

On the playground we ran together

Don't forget the sweat we worked hard with

My friend

When I hugged you tightly, it welled up

I had decided I wouldn't cry, but...

We wiped each other's tears with our fingers

Laughing together made me cry even more

As if rushing the sunset

The last school bell is the sound of future steps

We can make more memories again

The blue sky stretching out before us

Joy and sadness

Will become our treasures

Even if we walk separate paths

It’s like you’re always right beside me...

Best friend

Hey, why is it...

Are cherry blossom trees so sad?

They bloom eventually, then fall

Looking up at a floral hourglass

La la la...

La la la...

Memories become our allies

Let’s live strongly from tomorrow

Even if tough times come

You're not alone, we'll find a way

On the playground where we ran together

Don't forget the sweat we put in

My friend

La la la...

So long!...

La la la...

Someday, at my wedding

I'll definitely invite you

My friend

[Japanese]

So long !…微笑んで

So long !…じゃあ　またね

枝にいくつかの硬い蕾

桜前線　まだ来ないのに

私たちの春は暦通り

希望の道に花を咲かせる

手探りで夢を語り

恋に悩んで　涙を分け合った

思い出が味方になる

明日から強く生きようよ

つらいことがあったとしても

１人じゃない　何とかなるさ

一緒に走ったグラウンドで

頑張った汗を忘れないで

My friend

ぎゅっとハグしたらこみ上げて来た

絶対　泣かないって決めてたのに

お互いの涙を指で拭って

笑い合ったら　余計に泣けた

夕暮れが急かすように

最後のチャイムが未来の足音

思い出はまたできる

目の前に広がる青空

喜びも悲しみも

私たちの宝になるよ

別々の道　歩き出しても

そばにいつもあなたがいるような…

Best friend

ねえ　どうして

桜の木って切ないの？

やがて咲いて　やがて散って

見上げたのは花の砂時計

ラララ…

ラララ…

思い出が味方になる

明日から強く生きようよ

つらいことがあったとしても

１人じゃない　何とかなるさ

一緒に走ったグラウンドで

頑張った汗を忘れないで

My friend

ラララ…

So long!...

ラララ…

いつか　私の結婚式に

絶対　招待するからね

My friend

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
微笑む /ほほえむ/ B1	verb - to smile
春 /はる/ A1	noun - spring (season)
夢 /ゆめ/ A2	noun - dream
涙 /なみだ/ A2	noun - tear
友達 /ともだち/ A1	noun - friend
強い /つよい/ B1	adjective - strong
思い出 /おもいで/ B1	noun - memory
道 /みち/ A2	noun - road/path
悲しみ /かなしみ/ B2	noun - sadness
未来 /みらい/ B1	noun - future
宝 /たから/ B2	noun - treasure
切ない /せつない/ B2	adjective - painful, heart-wrenching
走る /はしる/ A2	verb - to run
頑張る /がんばる/ B1	verb - to do one's best, to persevere
招待 /しょうたい/ B2	noun - invitation

Key Grammar Structures

• まだ来ないのに

  ➔ Although something has not yet occurred

  ➔ The pattern "まだ...のに" expresses contrast or unexpectedness between what is expected and what actually is.

• 花を咲かせる

  ➔ Causative form of a verb, meaning 'to make or cause to bloom'

  ➔ Using the causative form "咲かせる" shows causing something to happen, specifically making flowers bloom.

• 涙を拭って

  ➔ Te-form of the verb with "を" particle, meaning 'wiping tears'

  ➔ The te-form "拭って" combines with the particle "を" to indicate the action of wiping tears.

• 絶対 泣かないって決めてた

  ➔ Quote + volitional form with "って", expressing a decision or statement

  ➔ The phrase "泣かないって決めてた" uses a quotation marker "って" and volitional form to indicate a decided intention.

• 未来の足音

  ➔ Possessive or descriptive noun phrase, "footsteps of the future"

  ➔ The phrase "未来の足音" uses の to show possession or description, linking "future" and "footsteps".

• もう一度できる

  ➔ Potential form, expressing ability to do something again

  ➔ The potential form "できる" indicates an ability or capacity to do something, often repeated as "もう一度できる" to mean "can do it again".