lyrics: Friends (by Stephanie)

First when I listened to this song, I felt that there is something good with the intro. And days after that… I ended up playing this song again and again in my PC. In fact, I think I got hooked to this song by quite a number of its aspects: the arrangement is good; the vocal suits the theme; and the lyrics adds up with the overall mood. Of course that’s more to personal opinion, so there you have it.

This song, entitled as “Friends”, popped out as a track in the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 2^nd ED Single — which contains other two tracks performed by the singer Stephanie. It’s interesting to note that I’m not a particular fan of 00, even after first half its season… but I still manage to love almost every theme song they have. Of course I’m counting this second ED for that as well.

So for this time’s entry, I’m posting the lyrics. Here goes: Friends, as performed by Stephanie. English translation written in italic, while the romaji stays as-is. Translation done by me — so feel free to correct if there is any mistake(s).

 

 

———-

Title: Friends
Artist: Stephanie
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 2^nd Ending Theme

 

onaji egao shiteta
sonna bokura mo ikunen mo kasanesugite
surechigau keshiki wo
ukeirerarezu ni mogaiteru

While showing the same smile,
just like that, a number of years have passed^[1]
while the sceneries pass by,
we are struggling to accept it

muda na PURAIDO sutesari^[2]
kono sekai ni yasashisa wo

abandoning this useless pride,
(and hoping for) gentleness in this world

I Gotta Say
yuuki wo misetsukete mo tsuyogatte mo
hitori dewa ikirarenai
ano hi no yakusoku nara
kokoro no fukaku ni nokotteiru yo ima demo

I gotta say
Even though I show all my courage and strength,
I can’t live alone
As the promise from that day
still remains deep in my heart, even until now

wakarete mata deai
arata na michi ni hikari mitsuke arukidasu
umarete kara zutto
kurikaesu koto de tsunagatteku

Meeting again after parting
I found light in a newfound path, and walk on
Ever since I was born,
it happens again and again, strung together^[3]

itsunoma ni kimi to boku mo
sorezore mirai wo te ni shite

And between pauses of time, both of us
started building our own future

I Gotta Say
tooku hanareteite mo, aenakute mo
tsuyoi kizuna wa aru kara
“yume ga kanaimasu youni”
kokoro no soko kara inotteiru yo
We’re friends forever

I gotta say
Even if we’re far apart, and unable to meet
There is strong bond between us
“May the dreams come true,”
Pray me from the bottom of my heart
We’re friends forever

mata au koto wo chikai
yubikiri shite
bokura wa arukidashita ne
mienai ikisaki e to
mayoinagara demo
susundeiru yo

itsudemo…

Pledging to meet again,
We did a pinky promise^[4]
before setting out
towards the unseen destination
Even when full of doubt,
we still march on

Always…

kawariyuku kisetsu to
toki no naka
natsukashii MELODIES
otona ni natte mo
iroase wa shinai yo
bokutachi no PRECIOUS MEMORIES

In the midst of these changing seasons
and flow of time,
the reminiscent melodies remain
Even when I’ve become an adult,
it won’t fade:
Our precious memories

I Gotta Say
yuuki wo misetsukete mo tsuyogatte mo
hitori dewa ikirarenai
ano hi no yakusoku nara
kokoro no fukaku ni nokotteiru yo

I gotta say
Even though I show all my courage and strength,
I can’t live alone
As the promise from that day
still remains deep in my heart, even until now

As life goes on…
wasurecha ikenai kara, Yeah
Don’t let it go…
kono hiroi daichi to nakama-tachi no koto

As life goes on…
I won’t forget, yeah
Don’t let it go…
About this vast earth, and about those friends

 

 

—–

Notes:

 
[1] “ikunen mo kasanesugite” (kanji: 幾年も重ねすぎて) literally means “number of years have passed in set”. I translated it simply as “number of years have passed” to prevent redundancy.

[2] “PURAIDO” (katakana: プライド) is a borrowed word from “pride” in English.

[3] “tsunagatteku” stems from the kanji 繋 (“tie”, “connection”). In context of events and memories, I think “to string” embodies the idea better (i.e. “strings of events”) — hence the word “strung”.

[4] Pinky promise, i.e. making promise while crossing pinky finger with each other. A popular way of doing promise among Japanese children; for instance see in Kanon.

 

—–

Update:

 
Minor tweak on the chorus part (2008.02.27). It formerly says “even though I wield all my courage and strength”. I think I mistook the word 見せつける as “wield to show” — but it actually means plainly “to show”. Hence the edit. ^^;;