Hanakotoba

Romaji and English translation of the song 花言葉 (Hanakotoba) from the album DISORDER by the GazettE.

This is an updated version of my translation originally done in 2008.

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.

Hanakotoba: Romaji

Hikarabite fumi tsubusareru no nara semete anata ni
Kirei na hana no tonari demo ii soba ni itai desu
Sachi usuku tanmei     kawaru koto nado nai
Itoshiku tada itoshiku anata wo…
Anata wa itsumo toori sugaru tabini yasashiku nadete kureta
Ame no nai hi wa mizu wo kureta     tsuyoku ikiru you ni to
Anata wa itsumo shika sugata wo keshi     watashi wa mata ichirin munashiku [saku¹]
Kareru dake no hana ni kureru mizu nado nai
Kusaru dake no hana ni sosogu hikari nado nai
Tada shiki ni obie nagara yami no naka haizuri mawaru
Ima hikari wo sagashi nagara yami no naka haizuri mawaru

Dareka watashi ni doujou suru no nara totemo kirei na hana wo [sakasete¹]
Dare ni demo ai sareru you na sonzai ni naritai

Kareru minikuki hana ni kureru mizu nado nai
Kusaru dake no hana wa tsubomi sura nokosezu
Me no mae wa yami ni fusagare mogaku watashi wo tsubusu
Anata nara anata dattara
Koko kara tasukete kureru to omotteita
Soumatou no naka de naiteta
Anata ga kureta kanshoku wa
Yoku ga unda yume nanoka
Wakaranu mama jiki ni kusaru

The Language of Flowers²: Translation

If I were ever to wilt and be trampled underfoot, I wouldn’t mind as long as you were the one doing it
It’s nice being surrounded by beautiful flowers, but you’re the one I want by my side
My short life doesn’t mean much　and that won’t change
But you’re the one I love; the only one I love…
Whenever you’d pass by, you’d gently brush up against me
You’d water me on days when there was no rain　so I’d be strong
But when your form disappeared [into the distance]　[I was left] as just a single flower, blooming without a purpose
Flowers can only wilt if they’re not given water
Flowers can only waste away if no light falls on them
I’m afraid of death as the darkness creeps in around me
Now I’m desperately searching for the light as the darkness creeps in around me

If someone would take pity on me, I could bloom into such a beautiful flower
I want to be something everyone loves

Flowers can only become ugly and wilt if they’re not given water
Dying flowers can’t even produce new blooms
My view is filled only with darkness　as if it’s trying to crush me
But if you… if you really were [real]…
I had hoped you would save me from this place
Instead, as my life flashed by³, I could only cry
Were the caresses you gave me
Just a dream created by my desires?
Soon I’ll wither away, never knowing the answer

These lyrics are printed in the booklet, but not sung. I believe Ruki included them to finish off the sentences, but they did not fit with the flow of the song while singing.
The title, 花言葉 hanakotoba, is actually kind of a play on words. Hanakotoba is “The Language of Flowers/Flower Language” (also sometimes called ‘floriography’ or ‘flower symbolism’) – there is a whole system in Japan of flowers being linked to certain traits or meanings. So for example, violets stand for honesty, while lavender symbolizes faithfulness, and tiger lily means wealth.

The play on words comes in, though, because you could also translate 言葉 kotoba in 花言葉 as “words;” so basically, “The Words of a Flower” – and the song is literally written from the point of view of a wildflower on the side of the road. The flower falls in love with someone who passes by often, even watering the flowers when it hasn’t rained in a while. However, after the person stops coming by for whatever reason, the flower isn’t sure whether or not they were ever really real in the first place, or just something it wished for so badly that it fooled itself into imagining that person was real.
走馬灯 soumatou literally means “revolving lantern” – but it’s usually metaphorical for one’s life flashing before one’s eyes. (Think of those lampshades with shapes cut out that spin and let the light shine the shapes onto the wall.)