ダーリン – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Mrs. GREEN APPLE

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Japanese through Mrs. GREEN APPLE's "Darling" offers a unique window into the emotional landscape of contemporary Japanese youth. The lyrics are a candid expression of universal feelings like insecurity and the yearning for connection, using vocabulary that is both poetic and relatable. What makes this song special for language learners is its directness and emotional honesty, providing a powerful context for understanding the nuances of the Japanese language and the culture of "honne" (true feelings).

[English]

I want something to never lose to

I want love that is only "mine"

If we do, surely we

Won't compare ourselves

I want all sorts of reasons

Like I'm the only one, "mine" alone

On lonely nights

What should I cling to?

I'm envious

Just empty

I don't want to be hated but

I want to love myself

Darling, get on my back and swim

The sea of unbearable days is very deep

"I wanted to be someone's me"

I'll misunderstand it

Don't leave me alone, okay?

I want something to believe in

I want an unbreakable bond

If we do, surely we

Won't be fed up

Is it okay to cherish you?

On nights when my bravado crumbles

I curl up

And shrink in my futon

I'm envious

Just empty

Even on a path I chose myself

Sometimes I look back

Darling, rest in my arms

Because people who are unbearably sad are very weak

"I wanted to be someone's me"

I'll get lost

Don't leave me alone, okay?

I'm going crazy because of this limited world

Smoldering in endless time

Just because everyone else is the same

Doesn't mean my, my

Hangups will be relieved

Darling, listen to the real sound

The pus of unbearable days won't be completely drained but

Hey, is it okay for me to be my me?

I can't be that girl

And I don't need to be

Darling

Darling

Darling

[Japanese]

負けない何かが欲しい

“私”だけの愛が欲しい

そうすればきっと僕らは

比べないで居れる

あれこれ理由が欲しい

“私”だけ独りのような

寂しい夜には

何に抱きつけばいい?

羨ましい

ただ虚しい

嫌われたくもないけど

自分を好きで居たい

darling 僕の背中に乗って泳いでて

やるせない日々の海はとても深いから

「誰かの私でありたかった」

勘違いしちゃうから

ひとりにしないでよね。

信じれる何かが欲しい

解けない絆が欲しい

そうすればきっと僕らは

呆れないで居られる

大事にしていてもいい?

強がりが崩れる夜は

体丸めて

布団で小さくなってる

羨ましい

ただ虚しい

自分で選んだ道でも

たまに振り返ってしまう

darling 私の腕の中で休んでて

悲しくて堪らない 人はとても弱いから

「誰かの私でありたかった」

彷徨ってしまうから

ひとりにしないでよね。

限りある世の中のせいで狂ってる

果てしなく続く時間に燻ってる

みんなと同じだからって

僕の 私の

ワダカマリが楽になるわけじゃない

darling 本当の音を聴いて

やるせない日々の膿は出切らないけど

ねぇ 私の私で居てもいいの?

あの子にはなれないし

なる必要も無いから

darling

darling

darling

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
負けない /makenai/ B1	verb - not to lose
欲しい /hoshii/ A2	adjective - wanting; desiring
愛 /ai/ B1	noun - love
比べない /kuranai/ B2	verb - not to compare
理由 /riyuu/ B1	noun - reason
寂しい /sabishii/ A2	adjective - lonely; lonely feeling
羨ましい /urayamashii/ B2	adjective - envious
虚しい /munashii/ B2	adjective - vain; empty; futile
好き /suki/ A1	adjective - like; love
海 /umi/ A2	noun - sea; ocean
深い /fukai/ B1	adjective - deep
泣いて /naite/ B1	verb - crying

Key Grammar Structures

• 負けない何かが欲しい

  ➔ Desire (～が欲しい)

  ➔ Expresses a desire for something. "何かが" modifies the verb "欲しい", indicating 'something I want' and "負けない" means 'not losing'. So it means 'I want something that helps me not losing/giving up'

• そうすればきっと僕らは 比べないで居れる

  ➔ Conditional Form (～ば) + Potential Form (～れる)

  ➔ "そうすれば" (if that's the case/if we do so) indicates a condition. "居れる" is the potential form of "いる" (to be/stay), indicating the ability to "stay/be" in a certain state. "比べないで" is the negative form of comparing (比べる)

• あれこれ理由が欲しい

  ➔ Desire (～が欲しい)

  ➔ Again, expresses a desire for something. "理由が" modifies the verb "欲しい", indicating 'reasons I want'.

• “私”だけ独りのような寂しい夜には 何に抱きつけばいい?

  ➔ Conditional question (～ばいい?)

  ➔ Expresses a question about what action is best to take under a certain condition. Here, the condition is 'on lonely nights where it feels like I'm alone'.

• darling 僕の背中に乗って泳いでて

  ➔ -te form + て (Imperative/Request)

  ➔ Implies a request for the darling to ride on the speaker's back and swim. ～て here can be a soft command/request.

• 大事にしていてもいい?

  ➔ -te form + もいい (May I)

  ➔ Asks for permission or confirmation. "大事にしていても" means "even if I cherish you", and the question is "Is it okay for me to cherish you?".

• 「誰かの私でありたかった」勘違いしちゃうから

  ➔ Past desire (-たかった)

  ➔ Expresses a desire that was felt in the past but is not necessarily being felt now. In this case, the speaker is expressing they wanted to be someone's "I", in other words, someone that is important to them. The "から" indicates a reason or cause, here it explains why they ask not to be left alone in the next line.

• ねぇ 私の私で居てもいいの?

  ➔ -te form + もいい (May I)

  ➔ Asking permission, similar to the earlier "大事にしていてもいい?". This time, it's "Is it okay if I remain my "I"?". "私の私で居る" is a bit more abstract, implying "Is it okay if I remain true to myself?".