屋上に昇って
The Pillows Lyrics

The lyrics to The Pillows's song "屋上に昇って" are packed with contemplation and reflection on the human condition. The opening lines suggest the inevitability of darkness and how we all eventually succumb to it. The imagery of the dark footsteps echoing through the night adds to the feeling of foreboding. The line "摩天楼" (skyscraper) symbolizes the destructive nature of human ambition and how it can lead to our downfall. The use of the word "欲張って" (greed) connotes a sense of excess and the feeling that we can never have too much of something. The reference to the "ルールの抜け殻" (empty shell of rules) is a pointed critique of the failings of societal norms and how they can leave us feeling empty and unfulfilled.

The chorus of the song takes a more introspective turn and focuses on the feelings of one individual rather than society as a whole. The singer reflects on their loneliness and how despite no reason to feel this way, they can't seem to shake it. This feeling is further compounded by the imagery in the second verse of a tranquil yellow landscape that slowly becomes hypnotic and can kill our sense of awareness. The final line of the verse warns how simply coasting through life will lead us down a path where tomorrow will forever remain a fantasy.

The final verse of the song leaves things open to interpretation, it juxtaposes the singer's lamentations with an earnest desire for happiness. The lines "もしも僕が王様になっても　誰もが望む世界は作れないよ" (Even if I were to be king, I couldn't create the world everyone wants) and "偶然でかまわない　幸せの形がいつか重なればいいのに…" (It doesn't matter if it's by chance, as long as our happiness overlaps someday) suggest a need for acceptance and a willingness to let go of control. Overall, the song is a meditation on the complexities of the human experience and the need for empathy, introspection, and self-acceptance.