償い
さだまさし Lyrics

月末になるとゆうちゃんは薄い給料袋の封も切らずに
At the end of the month, Yuchan rushes to the post office at the corner of the street without even opening his slim pay envelope.

必ず横町の角にある郵便局へとび込んでゆくのだった
He jumps into that post office without fail, which is on the corner of the street.

仲間はそんな彼をみてみんな貯金が趣味のしみったれた奴だと
His friends look at him and think he is a boring guy whose only hobby is saving money.

飲んだ勢いで嘲笑ってもゆうちゃんはニコニコ笑うばかり
Even if they ridicule him after drunken nights out, Yuchan just smiles happily.

僕だけが知っているのだ 彼はここへ来る前にたった一度だけ
I am the only person who knows that before coming here, he made a mistake only once.

たった一度だけ哀しい誤ちを犯してしまったのだ
That mistake was a sad one he made only once.

配達帰りの雨の夜横断歩道の人影に
On a rainy night after his delivery, there was a person on the crosswalk.

ブレーキが間にあわなかった 彼はその日とても疲れてた
He couldn't brake in time, and he was very tired that day.

人殺しあんたを許さないと彼をののしった
Someone who called him a murderer cursed at him and said they wouldn't forgive him.

被害者の奥さんの涙の足元で
He was at the feet of the victim's wife's tears.

彼はひたすら大声で泣き乍ら
He cried out loud while weeping.

ただ頭を床にこすりつけるだけだった
He just rubbed his head against the floor.

それから彼は人が変わった何もかも
Then he changed as a person and everything else.

忘れて働いて働いて
He forgot and just kept working.

償いきれるはずもないがせめてもと
Even though he couldn't compensate, he sent some money every month to that person.

毎月あの人に仕送りをしている
He has been sending that person money every month.

今日ゆうちゃんが僕の部屋へ泣き乍ら走り込んで来た
Today, Yuchan has come running into my room while crying.

しゃくりあげ乍ら彼は一通の手紙を抱きしめていた
While sobbing, he holds a letter tightly.

それは事件から数えてようやく七年目に初めて
That was the first time he received a letter from the wife after the incident seven years ago.

あの奥さんから初めて彼宛に届いた便り
The first letter from that lady to him.

「ありがとう あなたの優しい気持ちはとてもよくわかりました
Thank you. I know your kind feelings very well.

だからどうぞ送金はやめて下さい あなたの文字を見る度に
So please stop sending me money. Every time I see your handwriting,

主人を思い出して辛いのです あなたの気持ちはわかるけど
I am reminded of my spouse and it hurts. Even though I understand your feelings,

それよりどうかもう あなたご自身の人生をもとに戻してあげて欲しい」
more than that, please go back to your own life.

手紙の中身はどうでもよかったそれよりも
The content of the letter didn't matter, but

償いきれるはずもないあの人から
he received a reply from that person he couldn't compensate.

返事が来たのがありがたくてありがたくて
He was grateful that he received a reply.

ありがたくて ありがたくて ありがたくて
So grateful.

神様って思わず僕は叫んでいた
I couldn't help but shout, 'God!'

彼は許されたと思っていいのですか
Can he think he was forgiven?

来月も郵便局へ通うはずの
Even though he is going to that post office next month,

やさしい人を許してくれてありがとう
thank you for forgiving that kind person.

人間って哀しいね だってみんなやさしい
Humans are so sad because everyone is kind,

それが傷つけあってかばいあって
but they hurt and protect each other.

何だかもらい泣きの涙がとまらなくて
I can't help but cry.

とまらなくて とまらなくて とまらなくて
I can't stop crying.