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“Everyone Knows” by Slowdive

What I love about Slowdive’s lyrics is that you can attach your own memories and just let the emotions ride. This woman used old Super 8 home video footage to convey not so much the story of the song, but the bittersweet nostalgia the lyrics imply. This is another of my Japanese translation attempts. It’s easier to translate from Japanese to English than it is the other way around for me.

You’re so beautiful
But you only knew
I see
But I don’t know where you’ve been
But you’re holding back
Just holding
You say you’re fine
Going to America

You made a plan
You can’t stay with me
America
Take me to the place you love
Take me to America

You say you’re fine
I don’t know anymore
Say you’re mine
Take me to America
You can take it slow
Just pack me up
Take me to the place you love
Take me to America

君は美しいよ
でも君だけは分かった
そうか
でもどこにいたのか分からない
君は我慢している
ただ我慢だけ
君は大丈夫だと言う
アメリカに行っちゃう

君は計画を作った
君は私と一緒にいられない
アメリカ
君の愛する場所に私を連れて行って
アメリカに連れて行って

君は大丈夫だと言う
もう分からない
君は私のものだと言って
アメリカに連れて行って
ゆっくりしてもいいよ
私を詰め込んで
君の愛する場所に私を連れて行って
アメリカに連れて行って

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“Hide Yer Eyes” by Slowdive

This song reminds me of a wonderful girl from Ireland I once knew. She was a girl whose kindness had helped lift me from a dark cloud of loneliness and despair, yet I couldn’t do the same for her as she was wasting away from anorexia and became withdrawn. I then found love with another girl, so far away in Japan. But this Irish girl was a kindred spirit, a hurting soul like me. When she transferred to a college out of state, I felt her absence and it made me sad. Although I married the girl in Japan, I wish I could have held onto the Irish girl’s friendship forever. I was always such a lonely nerd, yet I found myself in a love triangle between two beautiful, lovely foreign girls with black hair. This was 24 years ago…

Silly girl
You don’t look so good
There’s nothing here that makes you feel the way you should
The summer’s gone and you’ve lost your way
Why hide your heart
You know it’s always such a waste
Seeing you cry and it makes me sad
Makes me think that I should hold you everyday
Miss you always
Even if you hit the ground
Miss you always
Even if you’re here someday

Silly girl
It’s just a way to go
There’s nothing cool that makes my heart stay away
I’ve seen you cry and it makes me sad
Don’t hide your eyes
You know it’s always such a waste
Miss you always
Even when you hit the ground
Miss you always
Even when you’re here to play

この歌は、知っていたアイルランド出身の素敵な女の子を思い出させた。 彼女は孤独と絶望の暗い雲から 僕を助けてくれた優しい女の子だったが、彼女が拒食症で衰弱していたので、 僕は彼女のために同じことをすることができなかった. そして、遠く離れた日本で、別の女の子と恋に落ちた。 しかし、このアイルランドの女の子は、 僕と同じように心の傷を負った魂のようなものだった。 彼女が州外の大学に転校したとき、 僕は彼女の不在を感じ、悲しくなった。  僕は日本の女の子と結婚したが、アイルランドの女の子との友情を永遠に保ちたいと思っていた.  僕はいつもとても孤独なオタクだったが、黒髪の2人の美しくて素敵な外国人の女の子の間の三角関係に陥っていた. これは24年前…

愚かな少女
君はかわいそう
ここには、本来あるべき姿を感じさせるものは何もない
夏が過ぎて君は道に迷った
なぜ心を隠すの
君はそれがいつもとても無駄なことを知っているさ
君が泣くのを見ると、僕は悲しくなるよ
毎日君を抱きしめるべきだと思わせてくれる
いつも会いたい
良く出来るときも
いつも会いたい
いつか君がここにいても

愚かな少女
それはただのやる方法だ
心を遠ざけるようなカッコいいものはない
僕は君が泣くのを見てきて、僕を悲しくさせる
目を隠さないで
君はそれがいつもとても無駄なことを知っているさ
いつも会いたい
良く出来るときもいつも会いたい
遊びに来た時も

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A beautiful song, “Sleep” by Slowdive

If you have never heard shoegaze music, it’s not merely something to listen to, but it’s like a warm guitar bath for your soul to experience. It’s definitely music for introverts, like myself. One of my favorite shoegaze bands is Slowdive. I’ve never heard this Slowdive song before until tonight!

Just reading the comments in this video from people whose lives have been touched by this song has moved me to tears. It’s beautiful to read how this song has affected people. One person spared his life from suicide. Another regretted all the time spent in youth feeling sorry for himself and regretted not spending more time with others. Another commenter urges others to become a better, positive part of others’ lives, even strangers. It’s amazing what an affect such beautiful music can have on others.

Here are the lyrics.

I can see you laughing
Through dreams of perfect sleep
Sleep away from me
You know what’s in my mind
When you go, I’m crying
Dream, dream away from me

Let the Lord embrace you
Bow down, spare the reed
When I close my eyes
Your fate shall be free
When I see you drowning
I’ll dream, dream away from you

God bless. Here is my Japanese translation:

あなたが笑っているのが見える
完璧な睡眠の夢を通して
私から離れて寝て
私の心の中にあることをあなたは知ってるよ
あなたが行っちゃうとき、私は泣いているよ
夢、夢を私から離れて

主があなたを抱きしめてくださいますように
お辞儀をして
目を閉じると
あなたの運命は自由になるでしょう
あなたが溺れているのを見ると
私は夢を見る、あなたから離れて夢を見るよ

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My wife in the back seat on my birthday, with Slowdive in the CD player.

Today is my birthday. This morning I drove Mayu to her work. I was playing “Shine” by Slowdive on the stereo. When I stopped at a red light and looked back at her (she’s still too scared to sit in the front seat with me after she was hit by a car 4 years ago), I looked back at her and she smiled in a way that the age on her face seemed to disappear, and it felt like I was looking at Mayu from over 20 years ago, when we were newlyweds. It was like a time slip moment. I wish I could have frozen time then to sustain the moment. I love her now more these days than I have in many years. She wished me a happy birthday. I love you, Mayu.

“Shine” by Slowdive