Butterfly – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: BUMP OF CHICKEN

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of Japanese music with BUMP OF CHICKEN's "Butterfly"! This powerful song offers a fantastic opportunity to explore nuanced Japanese expressions, particularly through its emotional lyrics that balance themes of introspection and resilience with an uplifting sound. You can learn how Japanese lyrics convey deep feelings and philosophical ideas, even within a dynamic rock and electronic arrangement. The song's unique blend of traditional band sound with modern electronic elements makes it a special and engaging piece for language learners and music enthusiasts alike.

[English]

A scream that no one can hear echoes inside

People pretending not to notice are waiting to be noticed

Words I learned someday, like heavy armor

In protecting this body too much, I made my movements sluggish

Forget about the shoes that no longer shine, forget about the song

I’ve decided not to lose it, to carry on in my own way

A scream that no one can hear echoes inside

I wonder who caused that sigh, making me put my hand on my chest

Even if I were reborn tomorrow, I would still be myself, reborn again

I hated everything and yet I wanted to be loved, a mass-produced type

This heart, mine, can reshape the world any way I want

I truly know what happens when I tweak it—I've always known

Using someone’s flag as a marker

I walk quietly, but I hide the flags I’ve made

I somehow realize it’s all going to end like this

I smile and walk, but I can't throw away the flags I made

The light of the shoes that no longer shine, the song I forgot

Don’t lose it—I’ve become good at carrying it forward

Tears received wings from you, shining brightly, happy, they danced and flew

It’s so beautiful that I wasn’t loved—just another mass-produced type

A soul so strong it’s almost sad, no matter how much I hate, it won’t disappear, can’t be erased

More than anything, it’s more beautiful—I truly know this, forever

Tears received wings from you, shining brightly, happy, they danced and flew

Singing my life until the very end, a mass-produced type that disappears

This heart, mine—born from what you saw

More than anything, it’s more beautiful—I truly know this, forever

[Japanese]

誰にも聞こえない悲鳴が　内側で響く

気付かないふりした人が　気付かれるのを待っている

いつか知った何かの言葉　重い鎧のように

この体を守るあまりに　動きを鈍くした

光らなくなった靴の事　忘れてしまった唄の事

失くさないで運んでいく　やり方はないと決めている

誰にも聞こえない悲鳴が　内側で響く

ため息　胸に手を当てさせたのは　誰だろう

明日生まれ変わったって　結局は自分の生まれ変わり

全部嫌いなままで　愛されたがった　量産型

この心　自分のもの　世界をどうにでも作り変える

どういじればどうなるか　本当は　ちゃんと　知っている　ずっと

誰かの掲げた旗を　目印にして

大人しく歩くけど　作った旗も隠している

このまま終わるものだって　なんとなく悟り

笑って歩くけど　作った旗が捨てられない

光らなくなった靴の光　忘れてしまった唄の唄

失くさないで運んでいく　やり方を上手に出来ている

涙は君に羽根をもらって　キラキラ喜んで　飛んだ踊った

あまりにも綺麗だから　愛されなかった　量産型

悲しいほど強い魂　どれだけ憎んでも消えない　消せない

何よりも綺麗な事　本当は　もっと　知っている　ずっと

涙は君に羽根をもらって　キラキラ喜んで　飛んだ踊った

消えてしまう最後まで　命を歌った　量産型

その心　自分のもの　君が見たものから生まれてゆく

何よりも綺麗な事　本当は　もっと　知っている　ずっと

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
悲鳴 /ひめい/ B2	noun - scream
光 /ひかり/ A2	noun - light
涙 /なみだ/ A2	noun - tear
心 /こころ/ A2	noun - heart
愛 /あい/ A2	noun - love
強い /つよい/ B1	adjective - strong
飛ぶ /とぶ/ A2	verb - to fly
作る /つくる/ A2	verb - to make
忘れる /わすれる/ B1	verb - to forget
道 /みち/ A2	noun - way
世界 /せかい/ A2	noun - world
言葉 /ことば/ B1	noun - word
運ぶ /はこぶ/ B1	verb - to carry
決める /きめる/ B1	verb - to decide
悲しい /かなしい/ B1	adjective - sad
綺麗 /きれい/ B1	adjective - beautiful

Key Grammar Structures

• 誰にも聞こえない悲鳴が　内側で響く

  ➔ The use of the passive voice with 'に' to indicate an inability to do something (e.g., '誰にも聞こえない' - 'cannot be heard by anyone')

  ➔ 'に' is used to mark the agent in passive sentences or to indicate the target of an action.

• この体を守るあまりに　動きを鈍くした

  ➔ The clause uses 'あまりに' to express 'to such an extent that' or 'too much', leading to a consequence.

  ➔ 'あまりに' emphasizes excessiveness, often leading to a negative or notable result.

• 失くさないで運んでいく　やり方はないと決めている

  ➔ The phrase 'ないと' is a contraction of 'ないのではない' used to express a negative condition or determination.

  ➔ 'ないと' expresses necessity, obligation, or a negative conditional intent—like 'must not' or 'have to not'.

• この心　自分のもの　世界をどうにでも作り変える

  ➔ The phrase 'どうにでも' means 'anyhow' or 'to any extent', indicating flexibility or possibility in the verb '作り変える' (to remake).

  ➔ 'どうにでも' emphasizes that the action can be done in any way or to any extent.

• 涙は君に羽根をもらって　キラキラ喜んで　飛んだ踊った

  ➔ The pattern 'AはBにCをもらって' shows receiving something from someone (e.g., tears receiving wings from you), expressing cause and effect.

  ➔ 'もらって' is the te-form of 'もらう', meaning 'to receive'.