SHADOW VI II I

Romaji and English translation of the song SHADOW VI II I from the album NIL and the compilation album TRACES BEST OF 2005-2009 by the GazettE.

Lyrics originally sung in English are in italics , and words or phrases I felt were implied are in [brackets] in the translation.

I also (usually) put repeats of chorus/verses/stanzas in [brackets] if they’re not written that way in the original lyrics for ease of singing along.

If he writes a word in the lyrics but doesn’t sing it, I put it in light grey to make it easier to skip when singing along.

I usually romajize katakana characters in CAPITALS, and keep punctuation and line spacing as close to the original booklet as possible. If you see me putting spaces before punctuation at the end of a sentence or writing things in mixed-case capitals, that’s because it’s how it was in the booklet.

Any comments I had during the romajization/translation process will be included as footnotes so as not to disturb the flow of the song. They’re not required reading, but Ruki does some pretty nifty things with his lyrics/kanji choices, or sometimes there’s further explanations about words or phrases in there.

SHADOW VI II I¹: Romaji

Aimaina aimana tamerau hidari no Scar　jakui wo jakui wo Red de bokasu
II IX II IX II IX asaku imi bukaku aimai ni aimai ni iki wo tsunagu Scar

Under the sun saijoukai katate banashi no EGO
Mekukashi no uragawa de-Asking foR lifE-utatteru
II IV II IV II IV fuanteina kokyuu aimaina aimaina asu wo tsunagu Scar

Kimi he. Itsuka sono itami wo koete subete ga ietara waratte kureru kai?

niaP wolS

Jibun ni wa nanimo nai tte
Tsuyogaru yowasa to ikiru kizu
Oshi tsubusa resouna yoru wa
Kimi wo oitsumeru kage wo daite

[Aimaina aimana tamerau hidari no Scar　jakui wo jakui wo Red de bokasu
II IX II IX II IX asaku imi bukaku aimai ni aimai ni iki wo tsunagu Scar]

Shiroi shiroi ito ni burasagatte
Oyasumi konya wa nemureru darou ka
II IX II IX II IX teisoku de shimetsuke anraku wo anraku wo nodo de kanjiru Scar

[Kimi he. Itsuka sono itami wo koete subete ga ietara waratte kureru kai?]

Never hold the breath…
And, it keeps believing tomorrow’s happiness.

[niaP wolS]

[Jibun ni wa nanimo naitte
Tsuyogaru yowasa to ikiru kizu
Oshi tsubusa resouna yoru wa
]

nwoD wolS

Sono kizu wa itsuka nakunari
Kanashimi no hate he tsureteiku yo
Mada Red wo hoshigaru kedo
Kimi wa arukeru koto shitteru hazusa

SHADOW VI II I¹: Translation

The faint, faint Scar from your hesitant left [hand]　the Red overpowers your weak, weak resolve
II IX II IX II IX² [Parched] and shallow but filled with deep meaning　 your weak, weak breath is linked to that Scar

Your EGO makes you let go with one hand [though you’re] on the highest floor Under the sun
On the other side of your blindfold, I’m singing, -Asking foR lifE-
II IV II IV II IV³ [Rattling], shaky breathing; your uncertain, uncertain future is linked to that Scar

To you. One day when you’ve overcome your pain, after everything has healed, will you smile for me?

niaP wolS

You say, ‘I have nothing’
[There are] wounds that you live with while pretending you’re not hurting
On nights when it seems like you’ll be crushed beneath the weight
You open your arms to the shadow that stalks you

[The faint, faint Scar from your hesitant left [hand]　 the Red overpowers your weak, weak resolve
II IX II IX II IX [Parched] and shallow but filled with deep meaning　 your weak, weak breath is linked to that Scar]

Good night Do you think you’ll be able to sleep tonight?Dangling from that white, white thread
II IX II IX II IX [You’re hollow as] it slowly tightens around you that Scar that feels so comforting, comforting around your throat

[To you. One day when you’ve overcome your pain, after everything has healed, will you smile for me?]

Never hold the breath…
And, it keeps believing tomorrow’s happiness.

[niaP wolS]

[You say, ‘I have nothing’
[There are] wounds that you live with while pretending you’re not hurting
On nights when it seems like you’ll be crushed beneath the weight
You open your arms to the shadow that stalks you]

nwoD wolS

Someday those scars will disappear
And they’ll lead you to the end of your sorrows
And although you may still crave the Red
You’ll realize you can walk away from it

This song is written to people who have self-harmed and/or attempted suicide.

He sings all the Roman numerals in English. They correspond to the keys on a Japanese mobile phone keypad, where each key types a character when pressed. So VI II I (from the title), would correspond with はかあ, which could be turned into 墓亜 hakaa – “a grave.” (So the title could be interpreted as “SHADOW GRAVE” – or the grave of the ‘shadow’ of destructive feelings that are haunting the person being addressed. I’ve seen other suggestions, but they require hitting the 1 key more than once to get a character other than あ – maybe unless you flick idk?)
II IX II IX II IX / 2 9 2 9 2 9 corresponds with からからから kara kara kara, an onomatopoeic word for “parched/dried-up,” “empty/hollow” or “laughing loudly.” I put the “translation” of the numbers in brackets on each line where they appear.
II IV II IV II IV / 2 4 2 4 2 4 corresponds with かたかたかた kata kata kata, an onomatopoeic word for “clattering/rattling.” I put the “translation” of the numbers in brackets on each line where they appear.