戦争と少女 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: ZORN

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the powerful world of Japanese hip-hop with ZORN's "戦争と少女" (War and a Girl). This song is a unique blend of ZORN's compelling lyricism and the iconic, globally beloved sound of Nujabes, marking the first official Japanese rap collaboration with his estate. Through its raw and honest portrayal of wartime experiences, particularly the Tokyo Air Raids, the song offers a window into Japanese history and culture. By exploring its deep message and evocative lyrics, you can gain a rich understanding of nuanced Japanese expressions and the art of storytelling in rap. Its direct language and emotional depth make it a compelling piece for language learners seeking to connect with profound narratives in Japanese.

[English]

"See you tomorrow, then."

That was our last conversation.

Late that night, a thunderous sound.

Bombs poured down over Tokyo.

Fire and angry shouts at Kameido Station.

Cries of "Dad! Mom!" fill the air.

Planes above, a sea of fire below.

Let go of the bucket, they call you a traitor.

All alone, running in panic.

An eight-year-old girl saw it all.

A baby burning on its mother's back.

And still, no feeling of pity came.

When I noticed, morning brought only silence.

Floral plates and a field scorched black.

Near the path where I parted from my friend.

Survived by hiding under dead bodies.

"Give me chocolate."

The real war began after the fighting.

War orphans searching for parents by the river.

Caught in a roundup, shoved naked into a cage.

Living with a stranger, some other woman.

A girl and her brother with swollen cheeks.

Abandoned on the deck of a ship.

Begging my way to Ueno Station.

Scraping leftovers every day.

Getting punched for stealing at the black market.

Sleeping at the edge of an underground tunnel.

Next to kids who starved to death.

Little hands torn apart.

Seven and four separated for good.

Ten years later, I went to see him.

Her brother had forgotten his sister.

I don’t care about war.

A heavy topic—I change the channel.

Indifference drops bombs.

Indifference feeds scraps.

A girl left with burns that never fade.

I imagine if she were my own daughter.

It’s not a difficult thing.

It hurts just thinking about it.

You can shout about world peace.

But you can't even stop a fight at home.

Still, we pass on these unheard voices.

An 80-year mic relay.

Rain must fall before the rainbow comes.

We’re all the youngest in history.

Kids laughing together in the neighborhood.

I hear, "See you tomorrow, then."

[Japanese]

「じゃあまたあした」

それが最後になった会話

その夜遅く 轟く音

爆弾の雨が注ぐ東京

炎と怒号の亀戸駅

とーちゃんかーちゃんと叫び声

上は飛行機 下は火の海

バケツを放したら非国民

たった一人 逃げ惑って

八歳の少女に見えた光景

母親の背で燃える赤ん坊

それでも思えぬ かわいそう

気付けば静けさだけの朝

花柄の皿と焼け野原

友達と別れた道の近く

死体の下で生き延びた

「ギブミーチョコレート」

戦後が本当の戦争

川で親を探す戦災孤児

狩り込みに遭えば全裸で檻

よそのおばさんのもと

頬を腫らす少女と弟

捨てられたのは船のデッキ

物乞いでたどり着く上野駅

残飯を漁る毎日

盗んで殴られる闇市

寝床は地下道の端

隣に餓死した子供達

小さな手は引き裂かれ

七歳と四歳は生き別れ

十年後 訪ねてみりゃ

弟は姉を忘れていた

戦争なんて興味がない

チャンネルを変える重い話題

無関心が降らす爆弾

無関心が食わす残飯

やけどを負ったままの少女

自分の娘ならと想像

難しいことじゃなく

俺にも痛いほど分かる

世界平和と吠えたって

夫婦喧嘩も止めらんねぇ

でも声なき声を語り継いでく

80年目のマイクリレー

虹が架かんのは雨のあと

歴史の末っ子 誰もがそう

近所じゃガキンチョが笑い合う

聞こえる「じゃあまたあした」

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
会話 /かいわ/ B1	noun - conversation
爆弾 /ばくだん/ B2	noun - bomb
炎 /ほのお/ B1	noun - flame, fire
怒号 /どごう/ C1	noun - shouts, yells
飛行機 /ひこうき/ A2	noun - airplane
少女 /しょうじょ/ B1	noun - girl
燃える /もえる/ B1	verb - to burn
静けさ /しずけさ/ B2	noun - silence, quiet
死体 /したい/ C1	noun - corpse, dead body
戦争 /せんそう/ B2	noun - war
孤児 /こじ/ C1	noun - orphan
檻 /おり/ B2	noun - cage
物乞い /ものごい/ C1	noun - begging
餓死 /がし/ C2	verb - to starve to death
想像 /そうぞう/ B2	noun - imagination
夫婦喧嘩 /ふうふげんか/ C1	noun - marital quarrel
無関心 /むかんしん/ C2	noun - indifference
残飯 /のこめ/ B1	noun - leftovers