SOS – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: SEKAI NO OWARI

Lyrics & Translation

Learn Japanese with 'SOS' by SEKAI NO OWARI. While the lyrics are in English, this song offers a unique opportunity to explore how Japanese artists express profound, universal themes to a global audience. Its gentle melody and clear vocals make it an accessible and moving piece for language learners, highlighting the power of music to transcend linguistic barriers and convey deep emotional messages.

[English]

I will sing this song for you

I want you to stay by my side for a little while and listen

I'm sure it will take a long time

But I think it will become an important song

I will sing about "silence"

About what could also be called "numbness"

I will sing about such a world

I hope it reaches you

Those who are seeking help

Are shouting "help me" every day

But as that sound continues, it becomes harder to hear

And we become numb

The first time, I can hear "help me"

But soon it turns into "noise"

And "noise" becomes "silence"

It might sound difficult when I say it like this...

The fact that sound has disappeared from the world

Is called "happiness"

The sound that has vanished

Becomes "noise"

With the disappearance of cries from the world

We become "numb"

Those who were shouting,

It's as if they were never there from the start

Children, so your hearts don't become numb

Listen closely to the "silence"

To save someone is the same as saving yourself

You should already know this, really

Answering "SOS" is

Answering the question,

"What am I living for?"

Answering "SOS" is

Answering the question,

"How do I value myself?"

And also to "not be alone"

「一人じゃなくなるには？」にも

It's strange that I sing such a song

But I thought it would be good

If I could convey what I've been taught

For someone else

Those who can be earnest

Those who can be earnest

Taught me

Children, so your hearts don't become numb

Listen closely to the "silence"

To save someone is the same as saving yourself

You should already know this, really

本当はもう、知っているはずなんだ

Children, so your hearts don't become numb

Listen closely to the "silence"

To save someone is the same as saving yourself

You should already know this, really

Thank you for being by my side

[Japanese]

君にこの歌を歌うよ

少しの間、そばにいて聞いて欲しい

きっと長い時間をかけて

大切な曲になると思うんだ

「静寂」について歌うよ

「無感覚」とも呼べるかもしれないことを

そんな世界のことを歌うよ

君まで届けば良い

助けを求めてる人は

毎日「助けて」と叫んでる

でもその音が続くとどんどん聞こえなくなって

無感覚になっていく

一回目は「助けて」が聞こえる

でもそれはそのうち「騒音」になる

そして「騒音」は「静寂」になっていく

こんな風に言うと難しいかもしれないけれど…

世界から音が消えたことを

「幸せ」と呼び

消えてしまった音は

「騒音」になる

世界から叫びが消えたことで

僕らは「無感覚」になる

叫んでいた人たちは、

まるで最初からいなかったように

子供たち、心が無感覚にならないように

“静寂”に耳をすませて

誰かを救うことは自分を救うことと同じなんだって

本当はもう、知っているはずなんだ

“SOS”に答えることは、

「自分は何の為に生きているんだろう？」

という疑問に

答えることなんだ

SOSに答えることは、

「自分自身を大切にするには？」

という疑問に答えることなんだ

「一人じゃなくなるには？」にも

こんな歌を歌うなんて

自分でも不思議なんだけど

自分が教えて貰ったことを

伝えられたら良いと思ったんだ

誰かのために

一生懸命になれる人が

一生懸命になれる人が

教えてくれたことを

子供たち、心が無感覚にならないように

“静寂”に耳をすませて

誰かを救うことは自分を救うことと同じなんだって

本当はもう、知っているはずなんだ

子供たち、心が無感覚にならないように

“静寂”に耳をすませて

誰かを救うことは自分を救うことと同じなんだって

本当はもう、知っているはずなんだ

そばにいてくれてありがとう

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
歌 (uta) /ɯꜜta/ A1	noun - song verb - sing
時間 (jikan) /ʑikaɴ/ A1	noun - time
大切 (taisetsu) /taiseꜜtsɯ/ A2	adjective - important, precious
静寂 (seijaku) /seːʑakɯ/ B2	noun - silence, stillness
無感覚 (mukankaku) /mɯkaꜜnkakɯ/ B2	adjective - numbness, insensitivity
世界 (sekai) /sekaꜜi/ A1	noun - world
助け (tasuke) /tasɯke/ A2	noun - help, assistance
人 (hito) /çi̥to/ A1	noun - person, people
叫ぶ (sakebu) /sakeꜜbɯ/ B1	verb - to shout, to scream
音 (oto) /oto/ A1	noun - sound
騒音 (sōon) /soːoɴ/ B2	noun - noise
幸せ (shiawase) /ɕiawase/ A2	adjective - happy, fortunate noun - happiness, good fortune
子供 (kodomo) /kodomo/ A1	noun - child, children
心 (kokoro) /kokoro/ A2	noun - heart, mind
救う (sukuu) /sɯkɯː/ B1	verb - to save, to rescue

Key Grammar Structures

• 助けを求めてる人は

  ➔ Using the verb "求める" in the te-form "求めて" to link to the following clause, indicating the reason or purpose.

  ➔ "求める" means "to seek" or "to ask for." The te-form "求めて" functions as a connector indicating the purpose or reason.

• 誰かを救うことは自分を救うことと同じなんだって

  ➔ Using noun + を to direct the object of "救う" (to save). The phrase "ことは" indicates a subject or topic, with "と同じ" meaning "the same as." "なんだって" is a casual way of emphasizing or quoting.

  ➔

• 誰かを救うことは自分を救うことと同じなんだって

  ➔ Using the noun + こと to nominalize the verb, turning actions into nouns. The phrase "と同じ" means "the same as," indicating equivalence or similarity. "なんだって" emphasizes or quotes the statement in a casual manner.

  ➔

• 子供たち、心が無感覚にならないように

  ➔ Using the potential form "ならない" after the noun phrase to indicate "not to become" or "avoid becoming." The phrase "ように" expresses the purpose or intention.

  ➔

• 本当はもう、知っているはずなんだ

  ➔ Using "はず" to express expectation or assumption about what one should know or is supposed to do, with "なんだ" adding emphasis or explanation.

  ➔

• そばにいてくれてありがとう

  ➔ Using the te-form "いて" from "いる" to create a gratitude expression "くれてありがとう." This structure indicates someone doing something for the speaker.

  ➔