YEN TOWN BAND is a fictional band fronted by j-pop alt-queen Chara for the … Read Full Bio ↴YEN TOWN BAND is a fictional band fronted by j-pop alt-queen Chara for the 1996 japanese movie "Swallowtail Butterfly". An album, "Montage", was released based on tracks arranged around the movie. The project is manly constituted by Chara vocal/lyrics, director Shunji Iwai lyrics and production/arrangements/instrumentals by the respected musical producer Takeshi Kobayashi, who years later would create the ficticious j-pop/dream pop artist Lily Chou-Chou, performed by Salyu and with lyrics by director Iwai.

The group released their second album "Diverse Journey" in 2016 for the 20th anniversary of the film.

Swallowtail Butterfly 〜あいのうた〜
YEN TOWN BAND Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

止まった手のひら
ふるえてるの躊躇して
この空の青の青さに心細くなる
信じるものすべて
ポケットにつめこんでから
夏草揺れる線路を
遠くまで歩いた
心に心に傷みがあるの

遠くで蜃気楼揺れて
あなたは雲の影に
明日の夢を追いかけてた
私はうわの空で別れを想った
汚れた世界に悲しさは響いてない
どこかに通り過ぎてく
ただそれを待つだけ
体は体で素直になる
涙が止まらないだけど
ここから何処へいっても
世界は夜を乗り越えていく
そしてあいのうたが
心に響きはじめる
ママのくつで速く走れなかった
泣かない裸足になった日も

逆さに見てた地図さえ
もう捨ててしまった
心に心に魔法があるの
嵐に翼ひろげ飛ぶよ
私はうわの空で
あなたのことを想い出したの
そしてあいのうたが
響きだして・・・

私はあいのうたで
あなたを探しはじめる

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to YEN TOWN BAND’s song Swallowtail Butterfly ～あいのうた～ are poetic and metaphorical. The opening line, “Towamatta tenohira furueteru no chucho shite,” translates to “My paralyzed hand is trembling as I hesitate.” This line symbolizes the singer’s reluctance to take action, as they are unsure of which direction to take. The next few lines describe how the singer feels small and helpless in the vastness of the blue sky. The line “Konoyonoao no ao sa ni kokorobosoraku naru” translates to “My heart feels hopeless in the blue of this sky.”

The singer then talks about carrying all their beliefs in their pockets and walking along the train tracks that are swaying with summer grass. This symbolizes the journey of life, with the singer holding onto their convictions as they move forward. They later contemplate their pain, with the line “Kokoroni kokoroni itamigaaru no” translates to “My heart, my heart, it pains me so.” The singer then thinks of their past with a sense of detachment, as they see mirages in the distance and think of their future dreams. The line “Anata wa kumono kageni ashitanoyume o oikaketeta” translates to “You chased after tomorrow’s dreams in the shadows of the clouds.” The song ends with the singer searching for someone through the “Song of Love.”

Line by Line Meaning

止まった手のひら
My hand stopped moving

ふるえてるの躊躇して
Trembling, hesitant

この空の青の青さに心細くなる
Feeling uneasy with the blue of this sky

信じるものすべて
Believing in everything

ポケットにつめこんでから
Putting them all in my pocket

夏草揺れる線路を遠くまで歩いた
Walking far along the railroad where summer grasses sway

心に心に傷みがあるの
There is pain in my heart, in my heart

遠くで蜃気楼揺れて
A mirage is shaking in the distance

あなたは雲の影に明日の夢を追いかけてた
You were chasing tomorrow's dreams in the shadow of the clouds

私はうわの空で別れを想った
I thought of our separation, lost in my thoughts

汚れた世界に悲しさは響いてない
Sadness doesn't resonate in this polluted world