Dragon Ash started out from humble punk beginnings to become one of the bri… Read Full Bio ↴Dragon Ash started out from humble punk beginnings to become one of the brightest groups in the growing New Japanese Rock movement in the late '90s, blending pop sensibilities with a hard-edged sound, producing albums and singles that play like a tour of Western rock of the '90s. Lead singer and guitarist Kenji Furuya, son of actor Ikko Furuya, met drummer Makoto Sakurai when they were junior high students in a Tokyo suburb, and the two started playing together. Though temporarily sidetracked into following in his father's footsteps, Furuya gave up the few acting gigs that he was getting on TV dramas to concentrate on music in high school. In 1996, knowing what they wanted but needing some sort of mentor, they took on bass player Ikuzo Baba, ten years their senior. Furuya and Sakurai had the talent and drive — Baba brought experience and a wealth of musical knowledge. Dragon Ash was born. The group debuted in 1997 with two EPs at the beginning of the year, The Day Dragged On and Public Garden, which showed their raw, punk hardcore style, influenced by another rock trio, Nirvana. By the end of the year and time of their release, Mustang!, the group had progressed from their simple punk roots to a blend of pop, funk, hardcore, rap, and metal. Through 1998 their popularity increased, and by the time of Buzz Songs, their sound had solidified to rock/rap, helped with the mixing skills of DJ Bots, who occasionally appeared on some songs. Two singles — "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go" and "Grateful Days," the latter featuring hardcore rapper Zeebra and soulstress ACO — sold so well that they cracked the Japanese Oricon charts, usually reserved for pop music, and went to number one. Now Dragon Ash had become a four-piece, with DJ Bots essential to the mix. Their third album, 1999's Viva la Revolution, not only signified the arrival of the band as a major group in Japan, but was one of the first volleys in the New Japanese Rock movement. In 2000, Dragon Ash undertook the Total Music Communication Tour, touring Japan with a lineup that included other rising rock acts, such as Missile Girl Scout, Penpals, and Skebou Kings. Meanwhile, Furuya and DJ Bots formed a duo of sorts, writing and producing songs for acts such as Sugar Soul under the name Steady & Co. Likewise, Baba and Sakurai sidelined as a remixing unit called Motor Headphone, popping up on various compilations. If anyone had any doubts that the group was softening around the edges, 2001's Lily of da Valley was as hard, funky, and uncompromising as their earliest work.

Be With You
Dragon Ash Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

男の子ならばね辛い時こそほら
笑っていたいけど
口に出せないけど
時には眠れずに
枕を濡らすでしょう
キミは流した涙でほら
今より強くなれる
Be with you

女の子ならばね
照れたりせずにほら
好きと言いたいけど
口に出せないけど
時には大声で誰か呼んでごらん
その声は遠く海を越えて
僕のギターに乗せて

響く響く
響く響く
Be with you, be with you
Be with you, oh-oh, be with you

時には傷ついて
肩を落とすでしょう
その時はどうかこの歌だけ
アナタの右ポケットに

Be with you, be with you
Be with you, be with you

響く響く
響く oh-oh 響く

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dragon Ash's song "Be With You" convey the struggles and emotions of both boys and girls in expressing their feelings. The song starts by addressing boys and acknowledges that even though they may want to laugh during difficult times, they often find it hard to express themselves. Sometimes, they may stay awake at night, their pillows wet with tears. However, the lyrics suggest that by shedding tears, they can become stronger than they are now. The chorus repeats the phrase "Be with you," emphasizing the desire for someone to be by their side.

The song then shifts its focus to girls, suggesting that they shouldn't be shy about expressing their feelings. They may want to say "I love you" but find it difficult to speak those words. In moments when they can't contain their emotions, the lyrics encourage them to call out loudly and let their voices travel across the sea, riding on the singer's guitar.

Line by Line Meaning

男の子ならばね辛い時こそほら
If you're a boy, then listen, especially during tough times

笑っていたいけど
I want to smile

口に出せないけど
But I can't say it out loud

時には眠れずに
Sometimes unable to sleep

枕を濡らすでしょう
I will wet my pillow with tears

キミは流した涙でほら
Look, with the tears you've shed

今より強くなれる
You can become stronger than you are now

Be with you
Be with you

女の子ならばね
If you're a girl, then listen

照れたりせずにほら
Without being shy, look

好きと言いたいけど
I want to say I love you