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)
Mermaid
GLAY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bijireiku no ura no uso ga abakareru
Wake mo naku mata ore wa yoru ni furueteru
Mou omae ni wa nanimo oshiete yarenai
Donna asu ga aru no ka
Kyou wo muda ni suru yatsura no tame ni!
Come on! Oh yes drive me mad
Suriru wo doumyaku ni ute
Come on! Oh yes drive me mad
Soshite mune ni nemuru buki wo tore
Aizu de tengoku wo ute
Atarashii maku ga akarou toshite iru
Ansemu no you ni reiji ga bakuon de tou
Soko ni nani ga aru no ka?
Ride on time kotae wo kikasete kure yo
Come on! Oh yes drive me mad
Inochi girigiri to kizamu
Biggu biito to sono supiido ni dakare
Come on! Oh yes drive me mad
Soshite yuruginai ketsui wo nosete
Kono yo no hate made yuku no sa
Soshite ore ga shouki wo nakushitemo let me live
Furikaeri hohoemu yoake ni shiawase de areba to negau
Come on! Oh yes drive me mad
Ima wa yasurageru basho ni se wo mukete
Suriru wo doumyaku ni ute
Come on! Oh yes drive me mad
Inochi girigiri to kizamu
Biggu biito to sono supiido ni dakare
Come on! Oh yes drive me mad
Soshite yuruginai ketsui wo nosete
Kono yo no hate made yuku no sa
The lyrics to GLAY's song "MERMAID" speaks to a sense of confusion and frustration with the world around the singer. The opening lines describe a feeling of sharp news piercing their mind and an exposure of lies that leave them feeling shaken. The singer questions what kind of tomorrow lies ahead and why they continue to waste their time on meaningless endeavors. Despite this frustration, the lyrics seem to encourage the listener to take action and break free from these struggles. The repeated refrain of "Come on! Oh yes, drive me mad" seems to suggest that even though the world may be frustrating and confusing, it's important to take charge of one's own life and push forward.
Overall, "MERMAID" seems to be a song about taking control of one's own life amidst chaos and confusion. The lyrics encourage the listener to embrace their own power and find their own path through life, even when everything else may seem uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
Iradatsu news sameta mimi ni tsukisasaru
Piercing through my drowsy ears are irritating news stories
Bijireiku no ura no uso ga abakareru
The dark truth behind the glamour is being exposed
Wake mo naku mata ore wa yoru ni furueteru
Without reason, I am once again trembling in the night
Mou omae ni wa nanimo oshiete yarenai
There's nothing left for me to teach you
Donna asu ga aru no ka
What kind of tomorrow awaits us?
Kyou wo muda ni suru yatsura no tame ni!
For those who waste their today, come on! Oh yes drive me mad
Ima wa yasurageru basho ni se wo mukete
Turning towards a place of peace for now
Suriru wo doumyaku ni ute
Firing my thrill into my veins
Soshite mune ni nemuru buki wo tore
And take the weapon sleeping in my heart
Aizu de tengoku wo ute
With a signal, shoot for heaven
Atarashii maku ga akarou toshite iru
A new scene is being illuminated
Ansemu no you ni reiji ga bakuon de tou
Like an anthem, my soul shouts with all my might
Soko ni nani ga aru no ka?
What lies there?
Ride on time kotae wo kikasete kure yo
Ride on time, tell me the answer
Inochi girigiri to kizamu
Engrave my life to the edge
Biggu biito to sono supiido ni dakare
Holding onto the big beat and that speed
Soshite yuruginai ketsui wo nosete
And ride on with an unwavering determination
Kono yo no hate made yuku no sa
We'll go until the end of the world
Soshite ore ga shouki wo nakushitemo let me live
Even if I lose my initial drive, let me live
Furikaeri hohoemu yoake ni shiawase de areba to negau
Looking back, I pray that I'll smile in happiness at dawn
Contributed by Charlie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
na oo
この曲は中学生になったばかりの私にとって、鳥肌が止まらないほど衝撃的な曲でした。もうイントロからして大優勝だし、サビの入り方の決めもヤバいし、ソロも最高だし、てるちゃんはかっこ良すぎるし、このちょっとサスペンス味のあるPVもセンスの塊だった。
ほんと生きててくれてありがとう。
ボンバーマン
GLAYの曲でも特にかっこいい。ONE LOVEアンソロジー化ほんと嬉しい…。曲の振り幅もすごいし、近未来的なパケ写が頭から離れない。
ヌワラ・ディンブラ
GLAYのロックでしか得られない何かがある!控えめに言って最高!
Otto Pantoja
The best song that you ever made guys. Thank you for all those notes and background feelings in my life!
Domorrigana
The guitar lines are ingenious 👌
Toxic Stacy
one of the best GLAY songs!
capricemhiz
GLAYの中で1番好きな曲です。 特に間奏のところが超カッコイイ!
rui777777
曲も詞もロック!って感じで良いけど、何よりトドメにPVが本当ロック!
全員の弾き方や歌い方、衣装から髪型まで。
GLAYならではの男っぽいところが前面に出てて、今見ても本当格好良いです!他のバンドでこのロックさは出せないんじゃないかな。
HINAMI S
いつ聞いてもテンション上がるww!!!
OP~EDまでかっこいぃ!
Sumomo momomo
Mermaid かっこいいのに再生回数少ないの意外、めちゃくちゃカッコいいよこの曲