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)
Mirror
GLAY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kuroi CARD no naka no ketsumatsu wo tsutaeyouka mada mayoi nagara
Akehanatareta doa wa tayasuku deiri dekiruyou ni mieta kedo
Uchi hishigareru genjitsu ni sei wo kirare furimuku koto sura dekinai
Toki ni hokori sae ubaware shinjita mono no uragiri wo mita
Usurawarai no kage ni kore made no hibi ga kanashiku omoeta
Umi he kogidashita otokotachi riku de kyou wo ikiru onnatachi
SUCH A FOOL... OH HELLO MY DARKNESS
SUCH A LONELY FACE, SUCH A LONELY FACE
YOUR SHADOW IN PLACE
SUCH A FOOL... OH HELLO MY DARKNESS
Yami ni hitori dakishime sokoneta yume wo toburatteiru
HELLO...
Kono machi wo deru koto de kitto kokoro no kuuhaku wa umaru kara...
Sou shinjite nishi iki no basu no HOME oretachi wa asu ni kaketa
Hataraite hataraite hataraite yume mo jikan mo urikitta
Dakedo te ni shita kane no chikara de wa kuuhaku wa umaranakatta
SUCH A FOOL... OH HELLO MY DARKNESS
SUCH A LONELY FACE, SUCH A LONELY FACE
YOUR SHADOW IN PLACE
SUCH A FOOL... OH HELLO MY DARKNESS
Oshiete hoshii ushinau dake no kore made no hibi no imi wo
HELLO...
Iki isogu hodo ni omae to no hibi wo natsukashiku omou yo
Dorehodo no ai sosoide kureta omae no te wo naze hanashita no ka
Utai tsuzukeru inori tsuzukeru koto ni mou tsukarekitta toki wa
Yurushite hoshii ano machi ni omae no mune ni modottemo ii ka?
SUCH A FOOL... OH HELLO MY DARKNESS
SUCH A LONELY FACE, SUCH A LONELY FACE
YOUR SHADOW IN PLACE
SUCH A FOOL... OH HELLO MY DARKNESS
Moshimo imademo yakusoku no oka ano kaze ga fuiteru nara
HELLO...
Kyou to iu hi ga asu to iu hi ga uragiri bakari no mainichi de mo
Kyou to iu hi ga asu to iu hi ga kokoro korosu dake no mainichi de mo
Kyou to iu hi ga asu to iu hi ga zetsubou bakari no mainichi de mo
Koboresou na ano egao wo sagashiteiru
The song "MIRROR" by GLAY explores the theme of self-reflection and inner turmoil. The singer is questioning what they should tell the person they are addressing and whether they should reveal the conclusion that the mysterious black card holds. They are unsure of themselves and struggling to come to a decision amidst their confusion. The lyrics suggest that the singer is hesitant about opening up to someone, as it would make them vulnerable and exposed.
The song deals with other themes too. The singer reminisces about past losses and betrayals, which have made them a "fool" and caused them to encounter their "darkness." However, they acknowledge that their actions and the people who have supported them and shown them affection have led them to this point, hinting that even their negative experiences can be seen as meaningful. They express their longing to return to a particular place and regain their lost sense of self. Overall, Mirror portrays the journey towards self-discovery and how it can be a painful and anguishing spectacle.
Line by Line Meaning
Omae ni ima nani wo tsutaerubeki ka zutto kangaeteiru
I've been constantly thinking about what I should say to you now
Kuroi CARD no naka no ketsumatsu wo tsutaeyouka mada mayoi nagara
I'm still uncertain whether I should convey the conclusion inside this black card
Akehanatareta doa wa tayasuku deiri dekiruyou ni mieta kedo
Although the door left open looked easy to enter, it's hard to face the reality inside
Uchi hishigareru genjitsu ni sei wo kirare furimuku koto sura dekinai
I am unable to even turn around and face the piercing reality before me
Toki ni hokori sae ubaware shinjita mono no uragiri wo mita
I witnessed the betrayal of those I once trusted, even losing my pride at times
Usurawarai no kage ni kore made no hibi ga kanashiku omoeta
I felt sadness remembering my past, which now seems to only be shadows of fleeting happiness
Umi he kogidashita otokotachi riku de kyou wo ikiru onnatachi
The men who ran towards the sea and the women who continued living on the land
Kakaeta PRIDE nante mono wa tou ni arashi ni sarawareta
Anything such as my pride was easily taken away by the stormy weather
SUCH A FOOL... OH HELLO MY DARKNESS
I foolishly greet my darkness
SUCH A LONELY FACE, SUCH A LONELY FACE
My face is filled with loneliness
YOUR SHADOW IN PLACE
Your shadow lingers over me
Yami ni hitori dakishime sokoneta yume wo toburatteiru
I embrace my loneliness in the darkness, flying towards the dreams that were always out of reach
HELLO...
Hello...
Kono machi wo deru koto de kitto kokoro no kuuhaku wa umaru kara...
Leaving this town will surely fill the void in my heart...
Sou shinjite nishi iki no basu no HOME oretachi wa asu ni kaketa
Believing that, we rode the night bus home and bet on our future
Hataraite hataraite hataraite yume mo jikan mo urikitta
We did whatever it took to sell our time and dreams
Dakedo te ni shita kane no chikara de wa kuuhaku wa umaranakatta
But the money we earned couldn't fill the emptiness inside of us
Oshiete hoshii ushinau dake no kore made no hibi no imi wo
I want to learn the meaning of the days that were only about losing until now
Iki isogu hodo ni omae to no hibi wo natsukashiku omou yo
I rush through my breaths as I nostalgically remember my days with you
Dorehodo no ai sosoide kureta omae no te wo naze hanashita no ka
I wonder why I let go of your hand, which had given me so much love
Utai tsuzukeru inori tsuzukeru koto ni mou tsukarekitta toki wa
The time when I exhausted myself singing and praying continuously
Yurushite hoshii ano machi ni omae no mune ni modottemo ii ka?
I want to be forgiven, can I even return to that town and your heart?
Moshimo imademo yakusoku no oka ano kaze ga fuiteru nara
If the wind still blows on the promised hill even now
Kyou to iu hi ga asu to iu hi ga uragiri bakari no mainichi de mo
Today and tomorrow, even on days full of betrayal
Kyou to iu hi ga asu to iu hi ga kokoro korosu dake no mainichi de mo
Today and tomorrow, even on days that simply kill my heart
Kyou to iu hi ga asu to iu hi ga zetsubou bakari no mainichi de mo
Today and tomorrow, even on days filled with despair
Koboresou na ano egao wo sagashiteiru
I search for that smile that seems ready to spill over
Contributed by Gabriella H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.