Translations (1) A Tiring Summer (ENGLISH)

Make of these lyrics what you will. Probably the hardest point of this translation was (and you'll get this if you just point your nose down at the Japanese transcription below) the English they insert into the song at various places. In some attempt at accuracy i've kept the English in pretty much the same place that it appeared originally. Depending on my feelings later, this might change, but for now this is the definative version. It should also be said that i'm not making any defence of the actual quality of these lyrics. I translated them mostly to test my Japanese but also (I suppose) as a curio for any interested parties or divorcees or love bitten early 20's. Way to suck all the fun out of a blog! On we go.


A TIRING SUMMER

It’s a tiring summer for the girl (*1) with fleeting dreams, crying alone
In the end of summer, as night falls your sunburnt skin is gonna cool down

The sun’s beating its ultraviolet light down in the middle of the summer
But I don’t care about the UV’s, finally I’ve made it to this pure white beach

I caught a glimpse of you by chance, moving slowly into my view
Speaking nicely, reaching out suddenly, I fell in love

Before I knew it I was enraptured, and right next to you Eminem was flowing
Flowing like the milk in the shake I just bought

And yeah of course my hair was flowing down too, your fingers caught up in it like in a dream,
I’m next to you, you’re next to me, and in a flash you’ve got my heart beating like mad

It’s a tiring summer for the girl with fleeting dreams, crying alone
In the end of summer, as night falls your sunburnt skin is gonna cool down
The night breeze is blowing my feelings away into the twilight
The summer we shared is over, we gotta say good-bye

Its over now, isn’t it (bye, bye) Is it the right time? (maybe?)
Well I’ve got my heart and my body (uh!) and I’m not ready to give them up yet (yeah!)

Yeah I know he’s popular with the girls, but I hate that cocky grin
That’s just you though, I’m used to that same old line “just meet”, look! He’s coming on to me again(*2)
Eyes glued and staring at the bodies of the girls going past,
If that’s the case then my line’s gonna be “Hey! Look up here!”

Pay attention, attention, attention to me
The only one I want you to pay attention to is me

It’s a tiring summer for the girl with fleeting dreams, crying alone
In the end of summer, as night falls your sunburnt skin is gonna cool down
The night breeze is blowing my feelings away into the twilight
I know it’s our summer together but hang on, something’s not right

Tropical! Night on the beach! On the cool sand, I’m a peach!
Walking hand in hand, i'm feeling a sweat, check this out! I can hear his breathing; my heart is pounding, but…hang on

Whats that? This looks bad! No way! Not yet!
Its really happening! I’m gonna die, someone please help!

There’s no one here but us! Am I supposed to be prepared for this?
His eyes are like an animal! Hey, I’m not that easy!
That’s it, those hands that were joined together have come undone,
In a word? SA-YO-NA-RA!

I’m not going back, I wasn’t getting hurt
I’m not bothered, I won’t cry
I’m not bothered about that guy,
I’m not bothered, everything’s fine
Then again, what was I thinking?
I really liked him.

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*1 'Otome' in Japanese means young girl, but can also mean 'virgin'. I'm guessing the implication was intentional.
*2 So yes, in Japanese she says "hes giving me a kiss" not "coming on to me" but it was the best sense I could wring out of that line.
Have you ever noticed that a charming lyric in Japanese becomes considerably less charming when translated into English?

For a second opinion, look here.