Japanese singer, music arranger and composer (1941-2000)
哀戦士
井上大輔 Lyrics
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それは 別れ唄
ひろう骨も 燃えつきて
ぬれる肌も 土にかえる
荒野をはしる 死神の列
黒くゆがんで 真っ赤に燃える
哀 生命の哀
新たな 時をひらくか
生き残る 哀 戦士たち
荒野をはしる 死神の列
黒くゆがんで 真っ赤に燃える
死にゆく男たちは
守るべき女たちに
死にゆく女たちは
愛する男たちへ
何を賭けるのか 何を残すのか
I Pray, Pray to bring near the New Day
哀 かなしみの哀
いまは 残るだけ
名を知らぬ 戦士を討ち
生きのびて 血へど吐く
疾風のごとき 死神の列
あらがう術は わが手にはない
死にゆく男たちは
守るべき女たちに
死にゆく女たちは
愛する男たちへ
戦う男たちは
故郷の女たちに
戦う女たちは
信じる男たちに
何を賭けるのか 何を残すのか
I Pray, Pray to bring near the New Day
The title of the song 哀 戦士 translates to "Sorrowful Warrior" and the lyrics vividly portray the pain and hardships that come with war. The first two stanzas deal with death and mourning. The first stanza speaks of a farewell song that shakes with grief and sorrow, present as bones and flesh are reduced to ashes and soil. The second stanza refers to the color of blood shed on the earth and how it may bring about a new era to begin. The warriors who survive will have to continue to fight, although they are filled with sorrow.
The third verse touches on the men and women who are left behind, with men dying to protect their women and women dying for the men they love. The fourth verse speaks of the steadfast dedication of warriors - men for their homes and women for the men they believe in. The final verse repeats the question "What will they bet on, what will they leave behind?" before ending with a prayer for a new day to start.
The song is an emotionally charged masterpiece, with the lyrics capturing the bleakness and hopelessness of war. The striking use of various senses - sight, sound and touch - and nature adds a touch of realism and highlights the depth of emotions felt.
Line by Line Meaning
哀 ふるえる哀
It's a sad song that makes one tremble in sadness
それは 別れ唄
It's a song of farewell and separation
ひろう骨も 燃えつきて
Even the bones that are found will be burnt to ashes
ぬれる肌も 土にかえる
Wet skin will also turn into soil
荒野をはしる 死神の列
A procession of death runs through the wilderness
黒くゆがんで 真っ赤に燃える
Distorted and black, burning a bright red flame
哀 生命の哀
A sad song of life
血の色は 大地にすてて
The color of blood is discarded on the earth
新たな 時をひらくか
Can we open up a new time?
生き残る 哀 戦士たち
The surviving sad warriors
死にゆく男たちは 守るべき女たちに
Men who die protect the women they should have protected
死にゆく女たちは 愛する男たちへ
Women who die go to the men they love
何を賭けるのか 何を残すのか
What are we risking, what are we leaving behind?
I Pray, Pray to bring near the New Day
I pray, pray to bring the new day closer
哀 かなしみの哀
A sad song of sorrow
いまは 残るだけ
All that's left is to remain
名を知らぬ 戦士を討ち
They attack nameless warriors
生きのびて 血へど吐く
Survive and vomit blood
疾風のごとき 死神の列
A procession of death like a strong wind
あらがう術は わが手にはない
I don't have the means to resist
戦う男たちは 故郷の女たちに
Men who fight have women from their hometown waiting for them
戦う女たちは 信じる男たちに
Women who fight have men they believe in
何を賭けるのか 何を残すのか
What are we risking, what are we leaving behind?
I Pray, Pray to bring near the New Day
I pray, pray to bring the new day closer
Writer(s): 井荻 麟, 井上 大輔, 井荻 麟, 井上 大輔
Contributed by Evan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.