Taion

Romaji and English translation of the song 体温 (Taion) from the album NIL and the compilation album TRACES VOL.2 BALLAD BEST by the GazettE.

This is the original version of the lyrics, NOT the TRACES VOL.2 version.

I gave this the explicit tag because of sexual undertones, but there’s nothing overtly explicit in it.

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.

Taion: Romaji

A wintry sky and the broken streetlight cold wind.
Unknown shadow the footprint of desertion.
Freedom was taken.

[An understanding is impossible.]

If it wakes up a gloomy ceiling.
A laughing voice sinks in the eardrum it is soiled.
And violence rapes me [rapes me, rapes me].

An understanding is impossible.
Why was I chosen? Someone should answer…

Douka hidoi yume dato kotaete hoshii
Doredake sakebi　modae　kurushimeba ii
Douka hidoi yume dato oshiete hoshii
Chigiresou na koe de nandomo sakenda

There is no hand of preparing of the disordered hair.
A laughing voice sinks in the eardrum a
faint temperature is mixed in the midwinter.

[An understanding is impossible.]

Koe wo koroshite karesou na jibun ni ii kikaseteita
Ikiru koto wo miushinawanu you
Koe wo koroshite furueta yoru ni wa itami ni oboreteiku
Togiresou na iki wo yurushite

Douka hidoi yume dato kotaete hoshii
Doredake sakebi　modae　kurushimeba ii
Douka hidoi yume dato oshiete hoshii
Saigo ni mou ichido dake waratte mitai

Body Heat: Translation

A wintry sky and the broken streetlight cold wind.
Unknown shadow the footprint of desertion.
Freedom was taken.¹

[An understanding is impossible.]

If it wakes up a gloomy ceiling.
A laughing voice sinks in the eardrum it is soiled.
And violence rapes me [rapes me, rapes me].

An understanding is impossible.
Why was I chosen? Someone should answer…

Please, I want you to tell me that this is all just some horrible dream
How long must I scream in agony; haven’t I been tormented enough?
Please, I want you to explain to me that this is all just a horrible dream
I’ve screamed so many times my voice has been torn to shreds

There is no hand of preparing of the disordered hair.
A laughing voice sinks in the eardrum a
faint temperature is mixed in the midwinter.

[An understanding is impossible.]

My voice broken², I kept telling myself that I would fade away
That I wouldn’t miss this make-believe life
My voice is broken; I shivered through the night, submerged in pain
Please³, just let my breathing finally stop

Please, I want you to tell me that this is all just some horrible dream
How long must I scream in agony; haven’t I been tormented enough
Please, I want you to explain to me that this is all just a horrible dream
I just want to try to smile once more before the end

This is one of only a few songs whose lyrics were basically completely rewritten from one release to the next. Two versions of both the music and the lyrics exist – the original being from the NIL album (and seen in the PV above) and the other from the TRACES VOL.2 BALLAD BEST ALBUM. (All the songs on TRACES VOL.2 were re-recorded, but this one was the one that received the biggest alteration both musically and lyrically. The biggest change was the removal of a lot of the “Engrish” – basically being rewritten in Japanese – as well as the change of the chorus to something a lot harder.)

Though to my knowledge there isn’t an official statement on it, speculation is that this song is inspired by the story of Junko Furuta, a high school student who was abducted, held captive for 40 days, tortured, raped, and eventually murdered by four teenage boys (and many accomplices – according to the article, approximately 100 people were aware of her situation; some of these people actively participated in her rape/torture, but the majority were people who just chose to do nothing to help). More on her story here.
He actually uses 殺し / koroshi meaning “dead,” but I translated it as “broken,” because it sounds awkward in English when translated literally. Either way, her voice is gone from screaming, she has no voice left, etc.
許し / yurushi translates to “permission” or “asking forgiveness.” I translated it as a plea to her body to just die so she doesn’t have to suffer anymore.