The Reluctant Heroes
澤野弘之 Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Day by day
We have lost our edge
Don't you know?
Forgotten is the life we led
Now it seems
You don't care what the risk is
The peaceful times have made us blind
Can't look back
They will not come back
Can't be afraid
It's time after time
Once again
I'm hiding in my room
The peaceful times have made us blind

So you can't fly if you never try
You told me... Oh, Long ago
But you left the wall
Outside the gate
So more than ever, it's real

It was like a nightmare
It's painful for me
Because nobody wants to die too fast
Remember the day of grief
Now it's strange for me
I could see your face
I could hear your voice

Remember the day we met
It's painful for me
Because nobody wants to die too fast
Remember a day we dreamt
It's painful for me
I could see your face
I could hear your voice

Song for the reluctant heroes
Oh Give me your strength
Our life is so short
Song for the reluctant heroes




I wanna be brave like you
From my heart

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Reluctant Heroes are a poignant reflection on the effects of war on individuals and society as a whole. The opening lines of the song, "Day by day, we have lost our edge," highlight the disillusionment and fatigue that can come with sustained conflict. The lyrics also draw attention to the way that peaceful times can blind us to the risks and realities of war, as we become complacent and forgetful of the past.


In the chorus, the song urges listeners to be brave and take risks, despite the fear and uncertainty that comes with conflict. The lines "So you can't fly if you never try / You told me... Oh, Long ago" encourage us to push beyond our limits and take a chance on success. However, the song also acknowledges the pain and loss that can come with war through lines like "It was like a nightmare / It's painful for me / Because nobody wants to die too fast."


The final lines of the song offer a song to the "reluctant heroes," those who have fought and sacrificed for their countries. The song honors their bravery and commitment, while also acknowledging the difficulty of their experiences. Overall, The Reluctant Heroes is a powerful meditation on the complicated emotions and realities of war.


Line by Line Meaning

Day by day
Gradually over time


We have lost our edge
We have become weaker and less effective


Don't you know?
Do you realize?


Forgotten is the life we led
We have forgotten how we used to live


Now it seems
It appears


You don't care what the risk is
You are no longer concerned about the dangers


The peaceful times have made us blind
Our comfortable lives have blinded us to the dangers around us


Can't look back
We cannot dwell on the past


They will not come back
We cannot bring back what is lost


Can't be afraid
We cannot let fear control us


It's time after time
It happens repeatedly


Once again
It is happening again


I'm hiding in my room
I am avoiding facing reality


So you can't fly if you never try
You cannot succeed if you do not take risks


You told me... Oh, Long ago
You advised me a long time ago


But you left the wall
You did not follow your own advice


Outside the gate
You did not take action


So more than ever, it's real
The situation is now more serious than ever


It was like a nightmare
It was a terrible experience


It's painful for me
It hurts me emotionally


Because nobody wants to die too fast
Because no one wants to die young


Remember the day of grief
Think back to the day of mourning


Now it's strange for me
Now it feels unusual to me


I could see your face
I can remember what you looked like


I could hear your voice
I can remember what you sounded like


Remember the day we met
Think back to the day we first met


Remember a day we dreamt
Think back to a day we had hoped for


Song for the reluctant heroes
A tribute to those who are hesitant, but still brave


Oh Give me your strength
Grant me your courage and determination


Our life is so short
Our time is limited


I wanna be brave like you
I admire your bravery and want to emulate it


From my heart
Truly and sincerely




Contributed by Logan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions