走馬灯 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Vaundy

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the evocative world of Vaundy's "Soumatou" (走馬灯), a moving ballad that captures the essence of fleeting memories and cherished moments. This song offers a beautiful opportunity to explore Japanese expressions related to reflection, loss, and the passage of time. Its poignant lyrics and melodic depth make it an ideal piece for understanding deeper emotional nuances in the language, as you connect with its universal themes of memory and human connection.

[English]

When I notice it

I've arrived somewhere I don't know

Endlessly

The passing train window has grown boring

I forget what I was about to do

And even overlook what's important

Thinking keeps increasing

Even if I forget what matters

It's not your fault

Nor is it mine

The ordinary future

Has simply changed

Before I start rambling uselessly

Let's stop

Feeling helpless

The figure of a person hiding their face

Thinking about others

The ideals I once looked up to

Forget where I was heading

Even if I can't find something important

Things keep going badly

Even if I lose what’s precious

It's not your fault

Nor is it mine

The ordinary future

Just keeps changing

Before I start rambling uselessly

[instrumental]

Day by day, we stay close then drift apart

Wishing for farewell, I wear my coat

Exposing my wounds again

My heart, worn down by love

It's not your fault

Nor is it mine

The ordinary future

Has simply changed

Before I forget everything

Let’s remember

Stay close then drift apart

Wishing for farewell, I wear my coat

[instrumental]

Exposing my wounds again

Please forgive the love

[end]

[Japanese]

気づいたら

どこか知らない場所に来ていた

止めどなく

流れる車窓はもう見飽きた

何をしようとしたのかも忘れて

大事なものを見落としてきたことも

考えることが増えてきて

大事なこと忘れても

君のせいじゃない

僕のせいでもない

ありふれてた未来が

変わっただけ

もう 寝言が止まらなくなる前に

やめとこう

やるせなく

顔を隠した人の姿

思いやる

見上げた理想は僕にもあった

どこに行こうとしたのかも忘れて

大事な何かに出会えなくとも

散々なことが増えてきて

大事なもの失くしても

君のせいじゃない

僕のせいでもない

ありふれてた未来が

変わってくだけ

もう 寝言が止まらなくなる前に

日々寄り添いまた離れ

さらばと願い纏う僕の姿は

晒し合いまた痛む

愛とすり減る僕のこころは

君のせいじゃない

僕のせいでもない

ありふれてた未来が

変わっただけ

もう 全て忘れてしまう前に

思い出そう

寄り添いまた離れ

さらばと願い纏う僕の姿は

晒し合いまた痛む

愛を許してくれ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
気づく /kizuku/ B1	verb - to notice
場所 /basho/ A2	noun - place
流れる /nagareru/ B1	verb - to flow
大事 /daiji/ B2	adjective - important
忘れる /wasureru/ A2	verb - to forget
未来 /mirai/ B1	noun - future
姿 /sugata/ B2	noun - figure, appearance
思いやる /omoiyaru/ C1	verb - to empathize, to care for
愛 /ai/ A1	noun - love
痛む /itamu/ B2	verb - to hurt, to ache
忘れ /wasure/ A2	noun - forgetting
全て /subete/ B1	noun - everything
寄り添う /yorisou/ B2	verb - to snuggle up, to get close
願い /negai/ B1	noun - wish, desire

Key Grammar Structures

• 気づいたら

  ➔ past tense + ら (ra): indicates 'when' or 'upon' doing something

  ➔ The phrase "気づいたら" means "when I noticed" or "upon realizing".

• 変わっただけ

  ➔ だけ (dake): means "only" or "just"; combined with the verb in past tense to imply "only changed"

  ➔ The phrase "変わっただけ" emphasizes that only the change occurred, nothing more.

• 僕のせいでもない

  ➔ でもない: means "not even" or "not really," used to negate a previous idea

  ➔ The phrase "僕のせいでもない" means "It's not even my fault" or "It's not really my fault".

• ありふれてた未来が

  ➔ が (ga): subject marker, emphasizes the subject "future"

  ➔ The phrase "ありふれてた未来が" means "the ordinary/familiar future" (the future that was common).

• 思いやる

  ➔ Implying an act of kindness or consideration; usually used as a verb

  ➔ The verb "思いやる" means "to be considerate" or "to show compassion".

• 晒し合いまた痛む

  ➔ 合い (ai): indicates reciprocal action or shared experience

  ➔ The phrase "晒し合いまた痛む" suggests reciprocal exposure or sharing pain; "晒し合い" implies mutual vulnerability.