Such a beautiful/sad song :,)

– –

僕が生まれた時 君は3歳のお姉ちゃん
(boku ga umareta toki kimi wa sansai no oneechan)
[ In the time I was born — You were my three-year old sister ]

白くてちょっとかたい 毛並みおした美人さん
(shirokute chotto katai kenami oshita bijin-san)
[ A beauty draped in white with fur that was kinda stiff ]

イタズラしても怒らなかった優しい君
(itazura shite mo okoranakatta yasashii kimi)
[ You never got mad when I messed around — You were so kind ]

ずっと側にいてくれた優しい君
(zutto soba ni itekureta yasashii kimi)
[ You were always by my side — You were so kind ]

僕が泣いたときはいつも
(boku ga naita toki wa itsumo)
[ Whenever I cried you always — ]

ほっぺを舐めて慰めてくれた
(hoppe o namete nagusamete kuretai)
[ licked my cheeks and cheered me up ]

君の焦げた背中を 僕はいつも見ていたの
(kimi no kogeta senaka wo bowu wa itsumo miteita no)
[ Your burnt back was something that I always saw ]

小学3年の頃 急に母に起こされて
(shougaku sannen no koro kyuu ni haha ni okosarete)
[ Around 3rd grade — mom woke me up all of a sudden ]

不機嫌な僕の耳に悲しい知らせが入った
(fukigen na boku no mimi ni kanashii shirase ga haittai)
[ Unruly as I’d been — sad news had reached my ears ]

君は発泡スチロールの中で眠ってた
(kimi wa happou suchirooru no naka de nemutteta)
[ You were sound asleep inside a styrofoam box — ]

庭に咲いてた小さな花が添えられていた
(niwa ni sai teta chiisana hana ga soe rarete ita)
[ surrounded by the tiny blooming flowers in our garden ]

今すぐ頭を撫でて
(ima sugu atama o nadete)
[ At that very moment I wanted to pat your head — ]

抱き締めてやりたいんだ
(dakishimete yaritainda)
[ and hold you tight in my arms ]

そっちの世界は
(socchi no sekai wa)
[ The world over there ]

ひとりぼっちじゃ寂しいだろう?
(hitori bocchi de sabishii darou?)
[ must be terribly lonely and sad, right? ]

僕が泣いたときはいつも
(boku ga naita toki wa itsumo)
[ Whenever I cried you always — ]

ほっぺを舐めて慰めてくれた
(hoppe o namete nagusamete kureta)
[ licked my cheeks and cheered me up ]

君の焦げた背中を 僕はいつも見ていたの
(kimi no kogeta senaka wo boku wa itsumo miteita no)
[ Your burnt back was something that I always saw ]

今すぐ頭を撫でて
(ima sugu atama o nadete)
[ At this very moment I want to pat your head — ]

抱き締めてやりたいんだ
(dakishimete yaritainda)
[ and hold you tight in my arms ]

こっちの世界じゃ
(kocchi no sekai ja)
[ In this world over here — ]

僕はひとりで泣いてばかりだ
(boku wa hitori de naite bakari da)
[ I’m left alone and all I do is cry ]

君を思い出すたび まだ少し泣けちゃうけど
(kimi wo omoidasutabi mada sukoshi nakechaukedo)
[ Whenever I think of you, I still tear up a bit, but — ]

君を思い出すたび 僕は強くなれるんだ
(kimi wo omoidasutabi boku wa tsuyokunarerunda)
[ Whenever I think of you, I try to be more strong ]

いつものあの公園で一緒にかけっこしたこと
(itsumo no ano kouen de issho no kakekkoshitakoto)
[ We would always chase each other in our usual park ]

疲れてうちに帰って仲良く昼寝したこと
(tsukarete uchi ni kaette nakayoku hirune shita koto)
[ We’d go home when we got tired — getting along as we took our naps ]

君との8年間 楽しい思い出ばかりで
(kimi to no hachi-nenkan tanoshii omoide bakari de)
[ All but 8 years of fun memories with you ]

君を思い出すたび 僕は
(kimi o omoidasu tabi boku wa)
[ Whenever I think of you, I– ]

夢で逢えたなら
(yume de aetanara)
[ If we can meet in dreams ]

夢で逢えたなら
(yume de aetanara)
[ If we can meet in dreams ]

夢で逢えたなら
(yume de aetanara)
[ If we can meet in dreams ]

 – –

ぎんのうた (gin no uta lit. silver’s song) is the sixth track of the mini-album 夜になったら (yoru ni nattara lit. when the evening comes) — released (in 2016) by the feisty, up-and-coming, girls rock trio, Hump Back.

I’m gonna be a little honest here. The first time I tried actually “listening” to the song (to get what it meant and stuff) I initially thought it was about losing an older sister. Now, while that statement isn’t entirely wrong, upon looking into some of the more telling lines of the song (like having “white fur” and “licking cheeks” and what not), ぎんのうた is in truth a song about losing a beloved pet (presumably a dog named “ぎん (Silver)” in this case).

The song being directed towards a pet, as opposed to a person, did not by any means lessen the sentiment and emotion that I felt hearing it. For some, our pets are our brothers and sisters in a way — especially for those who have them growing up. They’re family. And any loss in a family is truly sad. It’s sad, but it as the song goes, “we try to get a bit more strong” through cherished memories.

It would appear that “meeting in dreams” is a recurring theme for most of the songs featured in 夜になったら. Dreams are the realm of endless possibility — where even the distance between “that world” and “this world” is rendered irrelevant; where we can meet those we love, if only for a short amount time.

How’d you like the song? 😀
Was the translation alright?

I take a lot of creative liberties when I do these translations, primarily because I want to convey as much sentiment as I can through the words. As a result, however, I may overlook some key nuances or outright mistranslations so for those who do know their stuff, do feel free to offer your comments/criticisms/corrections below as well.

Happy listening guys~