The Kimaguren duo are: ISEKI (real name Iseki Yasumasa (井関靖将)) as vocalist, guitarist, and main composer, and KUREI (real name Kurei Yuuki (榑井勇輝)) as vocalist and main lyricist.
ISEKI and KUREI originally met in 1996 (when they were 16) at a swimming school in Zushi. They both spent a lot of time living in Zushi, although they have lived in different places: ISEKI spent time living in Singapore when he was an infant and KUREI lived in Canada/Europe from when he was 5 until he was 9. KUREI also went to the Yokohama International School from age 9 and was an exchange student to Tasmania when he was 13. The pair separated for university: KUREI left for America and studied medical sciences at Syracuse University in New York State, while ISEKI stayed in the province and studied law at Meiji Gakuin University at Yokohama.
In May 2005, the pair formed Kimaguren. Originally it was to be a solo project featuring only ISEKI, but KUREI also joined (he wanted to be in a band since he was 17). ISEKI's original name for his solo project was Kimagure (きまぐれ; Whim), but at one of their early performances at live houses, their name appeared by mistake as Kimaguren (キマグレン) (with an extra letter/katakana character), hence they decided to use this name instead. Their first release was in March 2006 with the single Omoi Omoi, which they self-released.
In July 2007, the pair released a mini-album called LIFE under the indies label UNDER HORSE RECORDS (known for such acts as MONKEY MAJIK and GReeeeN). In summer of 2007 they were signed to major label Universal, and songs from this mini-album started to receive tie-ups (most notably Tokoshie NTT DoCoMo CM song and Sony Ericsson CM song), which was added to the massively successful compilation album Ai no Uta). In February 2008 they debuted with the single Aenai Uta, and later in May became widely successful after their single LIFE (a cut from their mini-album) was used as the au Smart Sports CM song. Their debut album ZUSHI was released in July.
More information can be found at their official website, www.kimaguren.com.
約束の丘
キマグレン Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
語りたい事だってあるだろ?
何も無くても気付くとここに
集まるクセがついていた
今何処で何をしている?
お前ならきっと大丈夫かな
みんなだっていつの間にか
大人になって
いつか疲れ果てた時 戻っておいで
今もあの頃と変わらない
海の見える 約束の丘
ここのところ really very
忙しすぎて
Everyday 満員 trainに揺られ
お堅い服着て 毎日コンビニの
Dinner 一人で
昔はこんなにきゅうくつな
Life styleからはほど遠かった
テレビの中の海のpicture
懐かしく 何処か寂しくなる
How are you? Are you fine?
Is everything still
変わらないかい?
オレはlittle bit疲れたみたい...
みんなだっていつの間にか
大人になって
それぞれの道を進み続けている
いつか疲れ果てた時 戻っておいで
今もあの頃と変わらない
海の見える 約束の丘
どれくらいの時が過ぎ去って
僕らが年をとったとしても
ここはあの頃のまま
疲れた時間を巻き戻してくれる
久しぶりね
本当だね
何か疲れてない?
大分ね...
大丈夫かよ?
今は平気
おかえり
ただいま
みんなだっていつの間にか
大人になって
それぞれの道を進み続けている
いつか疲れ果てた時 そっと
のぞいてごらん
今もこれからも変わらない
心の中の 約束の丘
The lyrics of キマグレン's song 約束の丘 (Yakusoku no Oka) speak of the nostalgia and longing for a place called the "Promised Hill" where the singer and their friends used to gather. The opening lines invite someone, most likely a dear friend, to come back once in a while and share the things they want to talk about. The lyrics then ponder where each person is now and express hope that the listener is doing well. The song reflects on how everyone unknowingly became adults and drifted onto their own paths but suggests that when one becomes tired, they can return to the "Promised Hill" as it remains unchanged.
The verses describe a busy and somewhat monotonous lifestyle, where the singer is caught up in the routine of crowded trains, wearing stiff clothing, and having solitary dinners at convenience stores. They reminisce about how different life used to be, feeling a longing and a sense of bittersweet nostalgia when looking at a picture of the sea on television. The chorus reassures the listener that, despite the changes and tiredness, the "Promised Hill" with its view of the sea remains the same, and invites them to come back when they are exhausted.
The lyrics emphasize the enduring bond of friendship and the desire for a place of comfort and solace amidst the busyness of life. The "Promised Hill" symbolizes a sanctuary where memories are cherished, and where one can find respite and a sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
たまにはお前も帰っておいでよ
Once in a while, why don't you come back home? There are things I want to talk about, right?
語りたい事だってあるだろ?
There are things I want to talk about, right?
何も無くても気付くとここに
Even without anything, I find myself coming back here.
集まるクセがついていた
I've developed a habit of gathering here.
今何処で何をしている?
Where are you now and what are you doing?
お前ならきっと大丈夫かな
I wonder if you're doing alright.
みんなだっていつの間にか大人になって
Everyone has grown up before we knew it.
それぞれの道を進み続けている
Each of us continues to move forward on our own path.
いつか疲れ果てた時 戻っておいで
When you get tired someday, come back.
今もあの頃と変わらない海の見える 約束の丘
The promised hill with a view of the unchanged sea from back then, even now.
ここのところ really very忙しすぎて
Lately, I've been really busy, too busy.
Everyday 満員 train に揺られ
Everyday, I'm shaken in a crowded train.
お堅い服着て 毎日コンビニの Dinner 一人で
Wearing formal clothes, I have dinner alone at the convenience store every day.
昔はこんなにきゅうくつな Life styleからはほど遠かった
In the past, my life was far from being this stressful.
テレビの中の海の picture 懐かしく 何処か寂しくなる
The picture of the sea on the television makes me feel nostalgic and somewhat lonely.
How are you? Are you fine?
How are you? Are you still doing fine?
Is everything still変わらないかい?
Has everything remained unchanged?
オレは little bit 疲れたみたい...
Seems like I'm a little bit tired...
どれくらいの時が過ぎ去って 僕らが年をとったとしても
No matter how much time passes and even if we grow older,
ここはあの頃のまま 疲れた時間を巻き戻してくれる
This place remains the same as back then, it rewinds the tired times for me.
久しぶりね 本当だね 何か疲れてない?
It's been a while, right? It's true, isn't it? Are you tired?
大分ね... 大丈夫かよ? 今は平気
Quite a bit... Are you okay? I'm fine now.
おかえり ただいま
Welcome back. I'm home.
いつか疲れ果てた時 そっとのぞいてごらん
When you're exhausted someday, quietly take a peek.
今もこれからも変わらない心の中の 約束の丘
The promised hill in my unchanged heart, even now and from now on.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KUREI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ゆきまる
作詞：KUREI 作曲：ISEKI
たまにはお前も帰っておいでよ
語りたい事だってあるだろ?
何も無くても気付くとここに
集まるクセがついていた
今何処で何している?
…お前ならきっと大丈夫かな
みんなだっていつの間にか
大人になって それぞれの道を
進み続けている
いつか疲れ果てた時
戻っておいで 今もあの頃と
変わらない海の見える
約束の丘 ここのところ
REALY VERY 忙しすぎて EVERYDAY
満員 TRAIN に揺られ お堅い服着て
毎日コンビニの DINNER
一人で 昔はこんなにきゅうくつな
LIFESTYLE からはほど遠かった
テレビの中の海の PICTURE
懐かしく 何処か寂しくなる
How are you? Are you fine?
Is everything still 変わらないかい?
オレは little bit
疲れたみたい
… みんなだっていつの間にか
大人になって それぞれの
道を進み続けている いつか疲れ果てた時
戻っておいで
今もあの頃と変わらない海の見える
約束の丘
どれくらいの時が過ぎ去って
僕らが年をとったとしても
ここはあの頃のまま
疲れた時間を巻き戻してくれる
久しぶり 本当だね 何か疲れてない?
大分ね… 大丈夫かよ?
今は平気 おかえり ただいま
みんなだっていつの間にか大人になって
それぞれの道を進み続けている
いつか疲れ果てた時
そっとのぞいてごらん
今もこれからも変わらない心の中の
約束の丘
まいにちあげあげ
就職して初めて東京に出たばかりの頃、慣れない満員電車に揺られながら良く聴いた曲。今は地元に戻ったけど、あの頃の初心を思い出したくなった時、今でも聴かせて貰ってます。