Yodaka – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Kenshi Yonezu
• Album: Yodaka

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poetic depths of Japanese through 'Yodaka'. This song is perfect for learners wanting to explore emotive vocabulary related to loneliness and nature, while experiencing Kenshi Yonezu's unique ability to turn social commentary into a hauntingly beautiful melody.

[English]

Oh, whoa-oh

No, oh-whoa-oh

No, oh-whoa-oh

No, oh-whoa-oh

Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Consumed by rage, we stood frozen there

A crescent moon at our backs, our home swept away

The bonfires were so beautiful, I was mesmerized

Everyone will notice the darkness inside you

We are the nightjars

Storms drifting through the hollow sky

If you say so

If you simply wish for it, everything will come true

No, oh-whoa-oh

No, oh-whoa-oh

No, oh-whoa-oh

Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

With nothing but these tattered rags

I had no choice but to keep my eyes wide open to be proud

A coarse, raspy song wells up inside

The depths of my eyes ache with a piercing clarity

Mocked, laughed at, and utterly despised

Beasts who learned only how to strike

Having failed to die, we welcomed the dawn

Light streams in through the cracks

Even if we rot away, even if we are torn apart

Spring will still come, relentlessly

If you lose your sight, if you fall to your knees

I will put an end to it for you then

We are the nightjars

Storms drifting through the hollow sky

If you say so

If you simply wish for it, everything will come true

...

[Japanese]

Oh, whoa-oh

No, oh-whoa-oh

No, oh-whoa-oh

No, oh-whoa-oh

Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

怒りに飲まれて僕らは佇んだ

背中に三日月 荒れ払った住処

あまりに綺麗で見惚れた篝火

誰もがお前の闇に気づくだろう

僕らは夜鷹

伽藍堂の空を棚引く嵐

お前が言うなら

ただ願うなら全ては叶うだろう

No, oh-whoa-oh

No, oh-whoa-oh

No, oh-whoa-oh

Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

なけなしのボロ切れを

誇るには見開くしかなかった

込み上げる擦れっ枯らしの歌

目玉の奥が痛み冴え渡る

嘲り笑われ蔑み尽くされ

突き刺すことだけ覚えた獣

くたばり損ねて迎えた朝ぼらけ

亀裂の奥から光が射し込む

腐れ散ろうとも 千切れようとも

それでも堪らず春は来る

お前が眩んだら 膝をつくなら

そのときは終わらせてやるよ

僕らは夜鷹

伽藍堂の空を棚引く嵐

お前が言うなら

ただ願うなら全ては叶うだろう

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
怒り ikari N3	noun - anger, rage
佇む tatazumu N1	verb - to stand still
三日月 mikazuki N2	noun - crescent moon
住処 sumika N2	noun - dwelling, habitat
見惚れる mitoreru N1	verb - to be fascinated by, to gaze in admiration
篝火 kagaribi N1	noun - bonfire, watchfire
夜鷹 yotaka N2	noun - nightjar
伽藍堂 garandou N1	noun - empty, hollow
棚引く tanabiku N1	verb - to hang in strips, to drift
嵐 arashi N3	noun - storm
誇る hokoru N3	verb - to boast, to be proud
嘲り azakeri N1	noun - ridicule, mockery
蔑み sagesumi N1	noun - scorn, disdain
獣 kemono N2	noun - beast, animal
朝ぼらけ asaborake N1	noun - dawn, daybreak

Key Grammar Structures

• 怒りに飲まれて僕らは佇んだ

  ➔ Passive Voice (Te-form + morau/rareru)

  ➔ The verb "nomareru" (to be swallowed) is the passive form of "nomu" (to swallow), indicating the subject is overcome by anger.

• 誰もがお前の闇に気づくだろう

  ➔ Conjecture (Darou)

  ➔ "Darou" is used here to express a strong assumption or confidence that others will surely notice the darkness.

• お前が言うなら

  ➔ Conditional (Nara)

  ➔ "Nara" acts as a conditional, meaning "if you say so" or "in the case that you say so."

• 全ては叶うだろう

  ➔ Potential (Kanau) + Conjecture

  ➔ "Kanau" is an intransitive verb meaning "to come true/to be fulfilled," often used for wishes or prayers.

• なけなしのボロ切れを誇るには

  ➔ Purpose (Ni wa)

  ➔ The structure "Verb (dictionary form) + ni wa" indicates the purpose or the requirement for achieving an action.

• くたばり損ねて迎えた朝ぼらけ

  ➔ Compound Verb (-sokonau)

  ➔ The suffix "-sokonau" indicates failure or missing the opportunity to do something (failing to die).

• 腐れ散ろうとも 千切れようとも

  ➔ Concessive (~toumo)

  ➔ "~toumo" is a literary form of "~temo" (even if), used to emphasize persistence despite hardship.

• そのときは終わらせてやるよ

  ➔ Benefactive (~te yaru)

  ➔ "~te yaru" expresses doing an action for someone, but here it carries a tone of resolve or asserting dominance.