青春のいじわる
菊池桃子 Lyrics

The lyrics of 菊池桃子's song 青春のいじわる (Cruelty of Youth) set a scene of two young individuals who are facing the troubles of growing up, love, and farewells. The opening lines describe a rusty bus stop on a gentle slope, while the distant town is gradually becoming dusky. The singer speaks to another person, probably a lover or a close friend, who is sitting on the guardrail a little bit away from him/her; however, the other person does not reply, appearing angry and silent. The first stanza delivers a sentiment of helplessness and hesitation of two young people who are still exploring their emotions and experiences, unsure of how to communicate with each other. Furthermore, the last line of the first stanza suggests that the singer seems to carry the weight of the other person's emotions, feeling their tears or burdens.

In the second stanza, the singer speaks about wanting to express something to the other person, who seems distant and disinterested. They try to convince the other person that they do not hate them, whispering to their thin shoulders, but the color of the wind blowing from the singer to the other person cannot change. This imagery of color and wind indicates that feelings, actions and experiences that have already taken place cannot be altered, and it's hard to fix two broken hearts. The singer acknowledges this sense of priority by saying that the other person would understand once they love someone else, hinting that their romance has ended. The last part of the song describes the two lovers' farewell as a painful but necessary outcome of young people’s lives. The singer addresses the other person, wishing them to keep their eyes on the ground until they meet again.