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.

Sleep
Dragon Ash Lyrics

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その街までは
歩いて行くことにして眠る
すべて忘れたふり
夜空に光る
星のまたたきいくつ数えて
僕は眠れるの
痛みをさけた青空 yeah

西陽がさした
普通の午後にいつもと同じ
キミが顔ふせた
僕はといえば
そのさまをじっとみつめている
変わらないとしても

雨でゆがんだこの道
さまよいつづけるとしても
眠る場所さえなくても
ここが世界のはてで
僕が一人であっても

その街までは
歩いて行くことにして眠る
すべて忘れたふり
ふとした時に
顔をあげて虹がまぶしくて
記憶をなくした

飛べない鳥が進んだ
道を歩くとしても
何もみつからなくても
ここが世界のはてで
僕が一人であっても
さまよいつづけるとしても
眠る場所さえなくても
ここが世界のはてで
僕が一人であっても
Sleepless Town

Sleepless Town
Sleepless Town

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dragon Ash's song Sleepless Town are about the main character's search for a place to sleep and find peace in the middle of a bustling and noisy city. The character decides to walk towards the city and pretend to forget all the pain and problems that are weighing on him. He counts the stars in the night sky and finds comfort in their light. He seeks solace in the blue sky that he sees above him. He reminisces about an ordinary afternoon when he saw someone he cares about turn away from him, and he ponders the constancy of change.

The character continues to wander around the city, accepting that the road he's on is bent by the rain and that he might not find a comfortable place to sleep. The Sleepless Town, as he calls it, is the end of the world, but even if he is alone, he will keep moving forward. In the midst of his aimless wandering, the character is surprised by the bright and vibrant colors of the rainbow, which he glances at while lifting his head.

The singer then speaks of the metaphor of a bird that cannot fly, but moves forward nonetheless. It is a comparison to the singer's walking without a specific purpose, yet he is still moving on. Even if he couldn't find anything, he would keep going, and even if he couldn't find a place to sleep, he would keep walking until reaching the end of the world.

Overall, the song's theme is about the search for hope and resilience amid adversity, relentlessly pursuing happiness and peace of mind no matter the circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

その街までは歩いて行くことにして眠るすべて忘れたふり夜空に光る星のまたたきいくつ数えて僕は眠れるの痛みをさけた青空 yeah
We make it a habit to walk to the city and fall asleep, pretending to forget everything, while staring at the twinkling stars counting them one by one. I can sleep even when I am in pain so that I can enjoy the sky's serene blue color.

西陽がさした普通の午後にいつもと同じキミが顔ふせた僕はといえばそのさまをじっとみつめている変わらないとしても
On a typical afternoon when the sun is shining, you are upset, but I am staring at you motionless, even if nothing ever changes.

雨でゆがんだこの道さまよいつづけるとしても眠る場所さえなくてもここが世界のはてで僕が一人であっても
Even though we are wandering down a twisted, rain-soaked road without a place to sleep while being the only two people in this world, it feels like we have reached the end of the world.

その街までは歩いて行くことにして眠るすべて忘れたふりふとした時に顔をあげて虹がまぶしくて記憶をなくした
We walk to the city and go to sleep with complete disregard for everything, but sometimes we look up, and the rainbow is so bright that it makes us forget everything.

飛べない鳥が進んだ道を歩くとしても何もみつからなくてもここが世界のはてで僕が一人であってもさまよいつづけるとしても眠る場所さえなくてもここが世界のはてで僕が一人であっても
Even if we are flightless birds walking down a road without finding anything, the end of the world seems to be here, and I am alone without a place to sleep, wandering forever and searching for something to belong to in this cruel world.

Sleepless Town Sleepless Town Sleepless Town
This town never sleeps; it is always buzzing with excitement and new opportunities.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kenji Furuya

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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