ユーモア – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: キタニタツヤ

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a poignant linguistic journey with Tatsuya Kitani's 'ユーモア' (Humor), the evocative theme song for the film 'ゆきてかへらぬ'. This song offers a beautiful exploration of dealing with loss and finding solace through gentle humor and the enduring power of words. Its heartfelt lyrics and captivating melody make it an excellent piece to deepen your understanding of Japanese emotional expression and poetic imagery.

[English]

Just as rain clouds gather in a dry sky

On nights when tears almost spill over

I want to hear your playful voice

Walking alone in the warm sunlit spot

There’s a loneliness that I can’t tame

On windy days, clouds rushing by

You ran ahead, trying to catch up

An ocean where the sound of waves echoes forever

Sand that jumps like singing, licking my feet

Just as rain clouds gather in a dry sky

On nights when tears almost spill over

I want to hear your playful voice

Tell me more about your gentle humor

Including countless silly jokes

Skillfully hiding sad stories

Tidying up the messy room of my heart

Your poetry was there to create space

We can’t be forever

Still, the echoes of our words linger

Like the fuss unraveling from a gathered flower

The world you see is gentle

I hum with a relaxed smile

Constellations we can't hold tight

Poetry crosses the distance of night’s separation

Just as rain clouds gather in a dry sky

On nights when tears almost spill over

The fridge makes a loud noise

I can’t hear your playful voice anymore

I’ll remember your humor

[Japanese]

乾いた空に雨雲が押し寄せるように

涙があふれそうになる夜

きみのおどけた声がききたい

ぬるい陽だまりをひとりで歩いて

飼い慣らせないままのさびしさがある

強い風の日の急ぎ足の雲に

追いつくようにきみは走り去った

波の音が永遠に響く海

歌うように跳ねる砂が足を舐める

乾いた空に雨雲が押し寄せるように

涙があふれそうになる夜

きみのおどけた声がききたい

やさしいユーモアをもっと教えて

くだらないジョークをいくつもまじえて

悲しい話をうまいことごまかす

散らかる心の部屋を片付けて

余白を生むようにきみの詩は在った

僕たちは永遠でいられない

それでも言葉の残響は名残る

束ねた花に煩いがほどけていくように

きみから見た世界は柔らかい

ゆるむ頬で真似してうたう

抱きしめあえない星座たち

夜の隔たりの距離を詩は渡っていく

乾いた空に雨雲が押し寄せるように

涙があふれそうになる夜

冷蔵庫の音がうるさい

きみのおどけた声はもうきけない

きみのユーモアを覚えておこう

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
乾いた (kawaita) /kawaꜜita/ B1	adjective - dry, arid
雨雲 (amagumo) /amaɡumo/ B2	noun - rain cloud
涙 (namida) /namida/ A2	noun - tear
夜 (yoru) /joɾɯ/ A1	noun - night
声 (koe) /koꜜe/ A1	noun - voice
陽だまり (hidamari) /hidamaɾi/ B2	noun - sunny spot, patch of sunlight
寂しさ (sabishisa) /sabiɕisa/ B1	noun - loneliness, solitude
風 (kaze) /kaze/ A1	noun - wind
雲 (kumo) /kumo/ A2	noun - cloud
走り (hashiri) /haꜜɕiɾi/ A2	noun - running
波 (nami) /nami/ A2	noun - wave
海 (umi) /umi/ A1	noun - sea
砂 (suna) /sɯna/ A2	noun - sand
ユーモア (yuumoa) /juːmoa/ B2	noun - humor
ジョーク (jo-ku) /d͡ʑoːkɯ/ B1	noun - joke
詩 (shi) /ɕi/ B2	noun - poem, poetry
花 (hana) /hana/ A1	noun - flower
世界 (sekai) /se̞ka̠i/ A2	noun - world
星座 (seiza) /seːza/ B2	noun - constellation
距離 (kyori) /kʲoɾʲi/ B1	noun - distance

Key Grammar Structures

• 乾いた空に雨雲が押し寄せるように

  ➔ The use of 'ように' indicates comparison or manner, meaning 'like' or 'as if'.

  ➔ Used to express that one action is done in a manner comparable to or as if it is happening.

• 涙があふれそうになる夜

  ➔ 'そうになる' indicates an nearing or about-to-happen state.

  ➔ Expresses that the action is about to happen or is close to happening.

• きみのユーモアを覚えておこう

  ➔ 【を】 marks the direct object of the verb '覚える' (to remember).

  ➔ The particle 'を' marks the direct object of the verb, indicating what is to be remembered.

• 散らかる心の部屋を片付けて

  ➔ 'を' marks the direct object, and '片付けて' is a te-form of '片付ける' (to tidy up/clean).

  ➔ Particle 'を' indicates the direct object, and '片付けて' (te-form) connects with other actions or commands.

• 余白を生むようにきみの詩は在った

  ➔ 'ように' expresses purpose or manner, indicating the poem existed to create space.

  ➔ Used to express that something exists or acts in a way to achieve a purpose.

• 僕たちは永遠でいられない

  ➔ 'で' indicates state of being, and 'いられない' is the negative potential form of 'いる'.

  ➔ Expresses that humans cannot remain in a state forever.

• 悲しい話をうまいことごまかす

  ➔ 'を' marks the object, and 'ごまかす' is a verb meaning 'to deceive' or 'to cover up'.

  ➔ Used to indicate the object being deceived or covered up.