DEPARTURES – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: globe

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a Japanese language journey with globe's iconic winter ballad, "DEPARTURES." This song is special because its lyrics, written by the legendary Tetsuya Komuro, use beautiful and evocative imagery, like feelings piling up like snow, to express deep emotions of love and longing. By listening, you can learn how Japanese lyrics can paint a vivid emotional picture with poetic and accessible language, all set to one of J-pop's most beloved melodies.

[English]

The two of us in the photograph stand still, eyes closed, memories frozen in time.

Only the smiles still shine brightly, even now.

From some day, a long and narrow road begins.

On the day of departure, for some reason, the wind was strong.

Gentleness, selfishness, warmth, loneliness—all of it,

I entrusted everything—kindness, everything to you.

Endlessly falling snow and my feelings for you—

I want to tell you even a little, I want to reach you, I want you to be near.

Waiting through freezing nights, we can't even meet, still searching for tomorrow.

Whenever I create memories, being with you is what I want.

WHEN A MAN AND A WOMAN

BEGIN TO TRY AND DO THE SAME THING

AGAIN AND AGAIN

LEAVING THEIR DREAMS AND LOVE BEHIND

Watching over all those long nights

To find a new adventure

We've never played in the snow, but I want to.

I miss you, can’t meet you, and I long for you.

The nights seem especially long, maybe because of winter.

But spring is bright, and I want to bask in the sunshine.

The road that lasts forever, surely my feelings for you—

Fell softly with the accumulating snow, supporting us both deeply and strongly.

TRYIN' TO FIND WHAT'S THE MEANIN' OF LOVE

ALONE AT MIDNIGHT...

JUST WANNA SEE YA, JUST WANNA FEEL YA

JUST WANNA BE THERE BY YOUR SIDE

UNDER THE SAME SNOW

UNDER THE SAME MOONLIGHT

Your bangs have grown out, just about the same length as mine.

I'm used to being left-handed, and I’ve recovered from my cold.

Love interferes with dreams, but dreams find love.

Kindness seeks love, and because you chose me.

Endlessly falling snow and my feelings for you—

I want to tell you even a little, I want to reach you, I want you to be near.

Waiting through freezing nights, we can't even meet, still searching for tomorrow.

Whenever I create memories, being with you is what I want.

[Japanese]

ずっと伏せたままの　写真立ての二人

笑顔だけは　今も輝いている

いつの日から細く　長い道が始まる

出発の日はなぜか　風が強くて

やさしさもわがままも　温もりも寂しさも

思いやりも全てを　全部あずけた

どこまでも限りなく 降りつもる雪とあなたへの想い

少しでも伝えたくて 届けたくてそばにいてほしくて

凍える夜待ち合わせも 出来ないまま明日を探してる

いつだって想い出をつくる時には あなたと二人がいい

WHEN A MAN AND A WOMAN

START TO BE TRIED TO DO THE SAME THIN'

AGAIN AND AGAIN

LEAVIN' THEIR DREAM, THEIR LOVE BEHIND

LOOKIN' AFTER ALL THOSE LONG NIGHTS

TO DISCOVER A NEW ADVENTURE

行ったことがないね　雪と遊びたいね

会いたくて会えなくて　あこがれている

夜がやけに長くて　冬のせいかもしれない

だけど春は明るく　陽ざし浴びたい

永遠に続く道 それはあなたへの想いがきっと

降りつもる雪とともに　深く強く二人を支えていた

TRYIN' TO FIND WHAT'S THE MEANIN' OF LOVE

ALONE AT MIDNIGHT...

JUST WANNA SEE YA, JUST WANNA FEEL YA

JUST WANNA BE THERE BY YOUR SIDE

UNDER THE SAME SNOW

UNDER THE SAME MOONLIGHT

前髪が伸びたね 同じぐらいになった

左利きも慣れたし 風邪も治った

愛が夢を邪魔する 夢が愛を見つける

やさしさが愛を探して あなたが私を選んでくれたから

どこまでも限りなく 降りつもる雪とあなたへの想い

少しでも伝えたくて 届けたくてそばにいてほしくて

凍える夜待ち合わせも 出来ないまま明日を探してる

いつだって想い出をつくる時には あなたと二人がいい

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
写真立て /しゃしんたて/ B1	noun - photo frame
笑顔 /えがお/ A2	noun - smile
道 /みち/ A1	noun - road/path
出発 /しゅっぱつ/ B1	noun - departure
風 /かぜ/ A2	noun - wind
温もり /ぬくもり/ B2	noun - warmth
想い /おもい/ B1	noun - thought/feeling
夜 /よる/ A1	noun - night
明日 /あした/ A1	noun - tomorrow
愛 /あい/ A2	noun - love
夢 /ゆめ/ A2	noun - dream
探す /さがす/ B1	verb - to search
支える /ささえる/ B2	verb - to support
感じる /かんじる/ B1	verb - to feel
探し /さがし/ B1	noun - search

Key Grammar Structures

• ずっと伏せたままの　写真立ての二人

  ➔ ずっと + Vたりする / V tai

  ➔ The phrase "ずっと" means 'continuously' or 'for a long time,' emphasizing a prolonged state or action.

• 笑顔だけは　今も輝いている

  ➔ だけは / も

  ➔ The phrase "だけは" emphasizes that only the smile remains shining; "も" adds the meaning of 'also' or 'even.'

• 出発の日はなぜか　風が強くて

  ➔ なぜか / て form

  ➔ "なぜか" means 'for some reason', expressing inexplicable or unconscious feelings; the "て" form connects actions or descriptors.

• いつだって想い出をつくる時には あなたと二人がいい

  ➔ いつだって / と / が

  ➔ "いつだって" means 'at any time' or 'always'; "と" is a particle indicating 'with' or 'together with'; "が" emphasizes the subject.

• LOVING THEIR DREAM, THEIR LOVE BEHIND

  ➔ possessive pronouns + noun

  ➔ This structure shows possession, indicating that the "dream" and "love" belong to the subjects.

• 深く強く二人を支えていた

  ➔ adverbs + を + supporting verb

  ➔ Adverbs like "深く" (deeply) and "強く" (strongly) modify the verb, emphasizing the manner in which they support.

• TRYIN' TO FIND WHAT'S THE MEANIN' OF LOVE

  ➔ Trying to + verb / what + is + noun

  ➔ The phrase "Trying to find" expresses an attempt or effort to discover something; "what's" is a contraction of "what is."