GLAY started in 1988, when they were in high school, with TAKURO as the guitarist, TERU as the drummer and a bassist who quit when they decided to head to Tokyo. They needed a vocalist, so TERU made a tape of his singing to give to TAKURO and was immediately recruited for the part. On the search for another guitarist, HISASHI was asked to join but turned down the offer, as he was already part of a locally well-known heavy punk/rock band called 蟻 (Ari), which better suited his taste in music. When Ari disbanded, HISASHI accepted TAKURO's offer and became the lead guitarist of GLAY. By the time of TAKURO and TERU's graduation, GLAY had become more popular in their hometown of Hakodate and were playing in full live houses. Following HISASHI's high school graduation in 1990, the three of them moved to Tokyo to try and further expand their musical career. However things did not seem to improve for them in Tokyo. Their gigs only attracted a few people, and sometimes none at all.
During this time, members (particularly drummers) were constantly joining and leaving the band. When their bassist quit, Takuro had heard that JIRO, who was also from Hakodate and had played with the indie band ピエロ (Pierrot) (different from the now disbanded Japanese rock band PIERROT, that enjoyed mainstream popularity), had moved to Tokyo and invited him to join GLAY. He, too, declined the offer, insisting that he was already heading in the right direction for himself. It wasn't until TAKURO asked him to play at just one show to fill in for their missing bassist that he decided to go. Following that show, JIRO continued to receive invitations to play with GLAY, and in 1991 he had become GLAY's official bass player, finalizing the official four member lineup
Takuro was heavily influenced by his favourite band, The Beatles, and took a great interest in composing original songs and lyrics. The band name "GLAY" is a deliberate misspelling of the word "gray", which represents the style of music they wanted to play; a mixture between rock (black) and pop (white). Although GLAY primarily composes songs in the rock genre, they have also composed songs in styles ranging from reggae to gospel. Due to their musical diversity, beautiful lyrics and wonderful melodies, they have become one of the most successful and well known bands in Japan, and most of Asia.
Official site: HAPPY SWING SPACE SITE (glay.co.jp)
HELLO MY LIFE
GLAY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
shunjyuu tote bokura no shisen wa haru yasumi
taiyou SUN HOLIDAY HELLO
mousugu anokora otona ninaru
komorebini terasarete hashagu egaotachi
tachidomaru oudanhodou de miushinau
kaisei no ONE DAY GOOD BYE
kokokara konomichi gyaku wo yukuyo
haru no hito tomoni wakare wo oshimeba nagareru namida
atsumeta kotoba wa tsukueno oku de kawaranai omoi
ienai mama no katamichi no koi zutto sukidatta
kisetsu hazureno konayukiga huri wasurerareteru
deai to wakare wo haru ga bokura ni oshietekureta
kaze to tomoni kiesouna hodo hakanai monodane
kimi to sugoshita taisetsuna hibi sabishii tokino naka
yukidoke ni saku haruhana no youni kagayaki dashita
haru no otozure wo shiraseru youna kaze to inabikari
kaminari ga iya kaowo shikameru kimi wo oboeteiru
haru no hinichiru katamichi no koi zutto sukidatta
kisetsu hazureno konayukiga mau setsunai hodo ni
The lyrics to GLAY's song HELLO MY LIFE depict the progression of time and the emotions that come with it. The opening lines describe the changing of the seasons from spring to summer, a time when everyone seems to be on vacation. The following lines discuss the fleeting nature of happiness and how easily it can slip away. The chorus speaks of the inevitability of growing up and becoming an adult, while the verse speaks of the end of important relationships and memories that cannot be forgotten.
The lyrics paint a picture of nostalgia mixed with a sense of bittersweet acceptance. The Spring and Summer serve as metaphors for the cycle of life, with the blossoming of new beginnings followed by the inevitability of endings. The lyrics speak of a love that was unable to be fully realized, with feelings left unspoken and the inability to hold onto fleeting moments. Despite the melancholic themes, the song ends on a positive note, reminding listeners that even in the face of change and loss, there is still beauty and light to be found.
Line by Line Meaning
ai no tami kisetsu wo omoeba harugasumi
When I think about the cycles of love, I imagine the spring mist
shunjyuu tote bokura no shisen wa haru yasumi
As the seasons change, our point of view becomes like a spring break
taiyou SUN HOLIDAY HELLO
The sun shines on our holiday, saying hello
mousugu anokora otona ninaru
Soon, we will be grown-ups like we were back then
komorebini terasarete hashagu egaotachi
When the sun filters through the trees, we play and smile
tachidomaru oudanhodou de miushinau
Stopping on the busy street, we lose sight of each other
kaisei no ONE DAY GOOD BYE
A goodbye under the beautiful morning sky
kokokara konomichi gyaku wo yukuyo
From here on out, I'll travel the opposite way
haru no hito tomoni wakare wo oshimeba nagareru namida
Saying goodbye to someone in spring brings tears that flow
atsumeta kotoba wa tsukueno oku de kawaranai omoi
The collected words remain as unchanging emotions deep in my heart
ienai mama no katamichi no koi zutto sukidatta
The unspeakable one-sided love I had always cherished
kisetsu hazureno konayukiga huri wasurerareteru
The snow falling outside of season can easily be forgotten
deai to wakare wo haru ga bokura ni oshietekureta
Spring taught us about encounters and farewells
kaze to tomoni kiesouna hodo hakanai monodane
Like how the wind disappears, some things are fleeting and will disappear
kimi to sugoshita taisetsuna hibi sabishii tokino naka
The important days I spent with you, but in moments of loneliness
yukidoke ni saku haruhana no youni kagayaki dashita
Shining like the spring flowers that bloom in the snow
haru no otozure wo shiraseru youna kaze to inabikari
The wind and the sunlight herald the coming of spring
kaminari ga iya kaowo shikameru kimi wo oboeteiru
I remember you shielding yourself from the thunder
haru no hinichiru katamichi no koi zutto sukidatta
The one-sided love that lasted until the end of a day in spring
kisetsu hazureno konayukiga mau setsunai hodo ni
The snow falling outside of season dances in a melancholy way
Contributed by Brooklyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.