Requiem- Angela Aki

Most readers know that I love Angela Aki. There’s something a bit morbid about hearing songs with really happy beats but depressing lyrics, like Tashika Ni.

Nothing really beats her songs about death though, and it’s no different from this time, except perhaps instead, the song is personal. It was written in memory of her grandfather, who passed away while Answer, her latest album, was being produced.

Minus the Italian Subs, (just let it play, really, and enjoy the song), I love the sound of Requiem. It speaks about death, and there’s a certain epic quality to it that mixes the essence of Uchuu and Moral No Soushiki, as another fan puts it.

However, it’s not the tune itself that has seduced me this time. It’s kind of the whole song, taken together in its totality. Here, for once, have the English translation instead of the Japanese words first:

Requiem
Vocals: Angela Aki
Lyrics: Angela Aki
Album: Answer
All lyrics, translations and information taken from here.

English:
(First Movement)

The last thing I saw was 2 bright headlamps from the opposite lane
In that night when it rained heavily
I lost my life just like that

I awoke to someone calling my name
It was a voice of unprecedented gentleness
“Open that crimson door in front of you
And cross over to this side” it said

“There’re some people I wish to bid farewell to
Can you grant me just a little bit more time?”

“In that case, let’s wait for one night only
This door closes for eternity tomorrow morning
So please take care”

After promising to return
The broken clock started to move

(Second Movement)

I broke the silence of the night
And returned back to earth
I have to bid farewell
Before dawn arrives
Travelling to where you are
“I’m coming to see you”

Returned to the hometown
With the nostalgic scenery I grew up with
I found mother lighting a candle silently, praying
“Mother, I’m home”

Mother goodbye
There’s a truth I’ve found only after accepting death
There are things I never said because I took them for granted
Not once, I could bring myself to say this
I could never find the words
Thank you for loving me, I am truly grateful
“Be well, Mother”

I have to bid farewell
Before dawn arrives
Travelling to where you are
I found you at the seashore
Tears flowing while gazing at the moon
“Oh, my lover”

My love goodbye
There’s a truth I’ve found only after accepting death
There are things I never said because I took them for granted
I could never bring this across well
That I found happiness having met you
Thank you for loving me, I am truly grateful
“Goodbye, my love”

If only I told you this, when I was still alive (repeat)

(Third Movement)

aeternam habeas requiem
(May you have eternal rest)

(Forth Movement)

With this, I came to the end of my journey
Finally pushing open that crimson door
I found, waiting for me, a huge silver ship
Waiting to take me for a ride into eternity

Romanji

saigo ni mita no wa taikou shasen no mabushii futatsu no heddoraito
hageshiku ame no furu yoru koushite watashi wa akkenaku inochi o otoshita otoshita

namae o yoba re te me o samashitara kiita koto mo nai yasashii koe ga
‘me no mae no akai tobira o hirai te kochira gawa he ki nasai’ to itta

‘wakare o tsuge tai hito ga iru kara sukoshi jikan o moraemasenka?’

suruto ‘soredewa hitoban dake matsu koto ni itashimashou
kono tobira tsubasa ni eien ni tojiru kara ki o tsuke nasai ‘

kanarazu modoru to yakusoku shi tara koware ta tokei ga ugokidashita

(second Movement)

yoru no shijimau o yabutte watashi wa chijou ni maiori ta
asa ga kuru mae ni wakare o tsuge ni anata no moto he to
‘ai ni ikou’

natsukashii fuukei sodate te kure ta kokyou ni modottara
haha ga shizuka ni rousoku ni hi o tomoshi inotte i ta
‘kaasan tadaima’

Mother goodbye
shinu koto o ukeire te yatto mitsuke ta shinjitsu ga aru
ima made atarimae sugi te tsutae ta koto ga nakatta
anata ni ichi do mo ie nakatta kotoba ni deki nakatta
watashi o aishi te kure te arigatou hontouni arigatou
‘kaasan genki de ne’

asa ga kuru mae ni wakare o tsuge ni anata no moto he to
umibe de hitori tsuki o mi nagara namida o nagashi te i ta
‘koibito yo ‘

My love goodbye
shinu koto o ukeire te yatto mitsuke ta shinjitsu ga aru
ima made atarimae sugi te tsutae ta koto ga nakatta
anata ni jouzu ni ie nakatta deae te shiawase datta
watashi o aishi te kure te arigatou hontouni arigatou
‘koibito yo sayounara’

iki te iru toki ni ie ba yokatta

(Third Movement)

aeternam habeas requiem

(Fourth Movement)

jinsei no tabi wa kore de owatta akai tobira o tsuini oshi ake ta
soko ni wa kyodai na giniro no fune ga eien o nose te watashi o matteita

Kanji:
レクイエム
Requiem
(第一楽章)

最後に見たのは対向車線の 眩しい二つのヘッドライト
激しく雨の降る夜こうして 私は呆気なく命を落とした

名前をよばれて目を覚ましたら 聞いた事もない優しい声が
「目の前の赤い扉を開いて こちら側へ来なさい」と言った

「別れを告げたい人がいるから もう少し時間をもらえませんか?」

すると「それでは一晩だけ待つ事に致しましょう
この扉 明日朝に永遠に閉じるから 気をつけなさい」

必ず戻ると約束したら 壊れた時計が動き出した

(第二楽章)

夜を静寂を 破って私は 地上に舞い降りた
朝が来る前に 別れを告げに あなたの元へと
「会いに行こう」

懐かしい風景 育ててくれた 故郷に戻ったら
母が静かにロウソクに火を灯し 祈っていた
「母さん ただいま」

Mother goodbye
死ぬ事を受けて入れてやっと見つけた真実がある
今まで当たり前過ぎて伝えた事がなかった
あなたに一度も言えなかった 言葉にできなかった
私を愛してくれてありがとう 本当にありがとう
「母さん 元気でね」

朝が来る前に 別れを告げに あなたの元へと
海辺で一人 月を見ながら 涙を流していた
「恋人よ」

My love goodbye
死ぬ事を受けて入れてやっと見つけた真実がある
今まで当たり前過ぎて伝えた事がなかった
あなたに上手に言えなかった 出会えて幸せだった
私を愛してくれてありがとう 本当にありがとう
「恋人よ さようなら」

生きてる時に 言えば良かった

(第三楽章)

aeternam habeas requiem
永遠の安息を得られますように

(第四楽章)

人生の旅はこれで終わった 赤い扉をついに押し開けた
そこでは巨大な銀色の船が 永遠をのせて私を待っていた

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