Takeuchi started her own career with a single "Modotte-Oide, Watashi no Jikan" in 1978. From the late 1970s to the early '80s, she has recorded 5 albums and several singles including top-ten hit "Fushigi na Peach Pie". Those materials have featured dozens of Japanese and North American distinguished songwriters, instrumentalists, and producers, such as David Foster, Jim Keltner, Jay Graydon, Steve Lukather, Jeff Porcaro, David Hungate, Kazuhiko Kato, Kunihiko Kase, Shigeru Suzuki, Takashi Matsumoto, and her future long-term partner Tatsuro Yamashita.
"Heart to Heart", one of her songs co-written by Roger Nichols and released in 1980, was recorded by the Carpenters two years later, and became the last recording for the late Karen Carpenter.
In 1981, Takeuchi married to a singer-songwriter Tatsuro Yamashita, and stopped her career temporarily owing to the pregnancy. After her comeback to the Japanese music industry in 1984, she has accomplished huge commercial success more than when she was single. From that year to the present, she has recorded 6 successful studio albums that mainly consisted of her self-penned songs, and all of them have reached #1 on the Japanese Oricon chart.
As a singer-songwriter, she has produced 8 top-ten hit singles on the Oricon, including "Single Again", "Kokuhaku", "Junai Rhapsody", "Konya wa Hearty Party" and her only #1 hit "Camouflage".
Toki no Tabibito
竹内まりや Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Such a long, long time ago
But I don't know when
Your beautiful face and hair
That I think I really touched some time
It's all so familiar
You don't have to say
I feel the same sweetness just like before
You may have been my true love
God only knows where we came from
Everything on earth
Can be reincarnated
So are we, over and over
Even if I'm killed
There's no need to be afraid in tears
Listen to me
You don't have to cry
Nothing, nothing to regret
I know we'll reunite beyond time
The future is always waiting for the two of us
Eternally
So please, oh please, kiss me again
We were made to be
Time strangers
Movin' on across the universe
You don't have to cry
Nothing, nothing to regret
I know we'll reunite beyond time
The future is always waiting for the two of us
Eternally
So please, oh please, kiss me again
Oh come closer
So please, oh please, kiss me again
The song "Toki no Tabibito" by 竹内まりや, also known as "Time Traveler," is a nostalgic ballad about a chance encounter with someone from the past. The lyrics describe the feeling of recognizing a stranger's face and hair, feeling like they've touched it before but unable to recall exactly when or where. The song suggests that the two may have been lovers in a past life, reincarnated and destined to reunite beyond time. The singer assures the stranger that there's no need to explain anything, since they feel the same sweetness as before. The song ends with a plea to kiss once more, as if to confirm the connections that transcend time and space.
The song's central theme of time travel and reincarnation is reflected in its lyrics, which are highly metaphorical and enigmatic. The idea that everything on earth can be reincarnated is a Buddhist concept, and it resonates with the song's emphasis on the continuity of existence. The song's use of a slow tempo and minimalist arrangement underscores the melancholic, dreamy mood of the lyrics, while the singer’s tender voice adds to the nostalgic, romantic feel of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen you somewhere
I have a strong feeling of familiarity with you
Such a long, long time ago
This familiarity goes back a very long time
But I don't know when
I cannot pinpoint exactly when we might have met
Your beautiful face and hair
I remember some physical features of you, such as your hair and face, vividly
That I think I really touched some time
It seems like I might have had a physical encounter with you at some point in the past
It's all so familiar
There's something about you that feels very familiar and comfortable
You don't have to say
You don't need to explain or say anything
Nothing, nothing to explain
There's nothing that needs to be explained or discussed
I feel the same sweetness just like before
Even without explanation, I feel the same sense of sweetness as before
You may have been my true love
It's possible that you were my true love
God only knows where we came from
We might have come from an unknown and mysterious place, only known by God
Everything on earth
All things in the world, including humans
Can be reincarnated
Have the potential to be reborn or repeated
So are we, over and over
We might have been reborn or met repeatedly in different periods
Even if I'm killed
In the event of my death
There's no need to be afraid in tears
Crying out of fear or grief is unnecessary
Listen to me
Please pay attention to what I'm about to say
The future is always waiting for the two of us
Our connection will continue into the future, bringing endless possibilities to explore together
Eternally
This connection will last forever
So please, oh please, kiss me again
I long to feel the same physical connection and intimacy as before
We were made to be
Our connection is natural and meant to be
Time strangers
We might be strangers in our current timeline, but time is not an obstacle for our connection
Movin' on across the universe
Our connection transcends time and space, moving across the entire universe
Oh come closer
Please come closer to me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: まりや 竹内
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
横和
I've seen you somewhere
Such a long long time ago
But I don't know when
Your beautiful face and hair
That I think I really touched some time
It's all so familiar
You don't have to say
Nothing, nothing to explain
I feel the same sweetness just like before
You may have been my true love
God only knows where we came from
Everything on Earth
Can be reincarnated
So are we, over and over
Even if I'm killed
There's no need to be afraid in tears
Listen to me
You don't have to cry
Nothing, nothing to regret
I know we'll reunite beyond time
The future is always waiting for the two of us
Eternally…
So please oh please, kiss me again
We were made to be Time Strangers
Movin' on across the universe
You don't have to cry
Nothing, nothing to regret
I know we'll reunite beyond time
The future is always waiting for the two of us
Eternally…
So please oh please, kiss me again
Woo come closer
So please oh please, kiss me again
Rosstte
基本的に竹内まりやのカバーは聴かないのだが
この画像に負けてしまった・・・ orz
星好きにはこたえられません
特にすばる
よほどいいニュートン鏡と いいシーイングに恵まれたんでしょう
すごい画像です
蛇足ながら 歌について・・・
竹内まりやの英語はネイティブではないよね。でも、ネイティブより英語らしいね・・・なんて、実はさっき話していたトコでした。
横和
I've seen you somewhere
Such a long long time ago
But I don't know when
Your beautiful face and hair
That I think I really touched some time
It's all so familiar
You don't have to say
Nothing, nothing to explain
I feel the same sweetness just like before
You may have been my true love
God only knows where we came from
Everything on Earth
Can be reincarnated
So are we, over and over
Even if I'm killed
There's no need to be afraid in tears
Listen to me
You don't have to cry
Nothing, nothing to regret
I know we'll reunite beyond time
The future is always waiting for the two of us
Eternally…
So please oh please, kiss me again
We were made to be Time Strangers
Movin' on across the universe
You don't have to cry
Nothing, nothing to regret
I know we'll reunite beyond time
The future is always waiting for the two of us
Eternally…
So please oh please, kiss me again
Woo come closer
So please oh please, kiss me again
鎌田静子
最高ステキ❤️💌😊
あきちゃん
これだけ、泣ける曲は他にない😂
PJT_13
泣けるレベルに出来ていたら幸いです！
竹に2羽翔び雀
ありがとー♪最高です～。懐かしい10代の頃のアニメ映画！
mameマメちゃん
良いですね♪
PJT_13
ありがとうございます！
龍たん
素敵なcoverですね
PJT_13
ありがとうございます！この動画を作ってからもう10年近くになります...。
Kc Lee
竹内瑪麗亞 - 女神！