Another heart capturing song of Meiko Kaji that goes down like honey. Although it tells a sad story of hardship during separation, it’s absolutely wonderful vocally and in melody.

Further explanation on the bottom of the post. Unlike my previous article on one of her songs, I could not source an individual Youtube video for it, there are only complete album versions out there. Anyway, should you have once the opportunity to listen to this song of hers, I hope the translation below will help to understand this great piece of music.

雨(あめ)ふる真夜中(まよなか)に　あなたが戸(と)を たたく
In the middle of a rainy night you beat against my door

別(わか)れたはずなのに　あなたが戸(と)を たたく
Even though we separated, you beat against my door

扉(とびら)のすきまから私(わたし)を呼(よ)んでいる
Through the crack of the door, you have been calling for me

あなたが泣(な)きながら私(わたし)を呼(よ)んでいる
While you cry, you have been calling my name

どうしよう
What shall I only do

ドア を開(ひら)けようか
Should I open the door?

ゆれうごく女心(おんなごころ)
The trembling heart of a women

もう一度死んだ気になって欺(ぎ)されてみようか
Shall I assume nothing ever happened and have myself tricked once more?
(alternative 1: Shall I assume I never ever happened and see if I’ll be tricked once again?)
(alternative 2: Shall I be tricked again with the feeling as I died?)
(lit. to go on like one died and see if one happens to be tricked once again)

終(お)わった恋(こい)ならば忘(わす)れてしまいましょう
If it’s for faded love, let’s leave it for what it is

不幸(ふこう)の扉(とびら)なら開(ひら)かずにおきましょう
The door of sorrow, let’s don’t open it (again)

どうしよう
What shall I only do

男の涙(なみだ)に耐(た)えきれぬ女心(おんなごころ)
A woman’s heart that can’t bear a man’s tears

好きだけど　とても好きだけど
I love you, I very much love, but

さよなら を つぶやく
I murmur goodbye

あなたの靴(くつ)音(おと)が静(しず)かに遠(とお)ざかる
The sounds of your shoes quietly lose them in the distance

扉(とびら)に身(み)をよせて私はしのび泣く
I press my ear against the door  to secretly shed tears

There was one particular difficulty I faced when translating the lyrics. It was the phrase ‘もう一度死んだ気になって欺(ぎ)されてみようか’. ‘死んだ気になって’ derives from the samurai mindset that when one has given in totally to the notion of being on the brink of death, one will view every act, as if it was the last. Basically one throws in all the heart, living every moment of life to the fullest, purely focusing on what really matters. In the days of old, this was legitimate because as a warrior, death could strike at any moment. These days it is conveyed through teachings of Bushido (武士道・ぶしどう; the way of the warrior), as life-strategy to make the most out of one’s lifetime (despite the absence of eminent treat), for instance in the Book of Five Rings (五輪書・ごりんのしょ; book on strategy, tactics as well as philosophy) from Miyamoto Musashi (宮本  武蔵・みやもと  むさし; Japan’s legendary swordsman for his unique swordsmanship). In the lyrics though, I could not quite word it in this way, therefore decided for ‘to assume nothing ever happened’, which makes sense in this context. Just like giving it another shot and forget about what happened before.

By the way, here some more examples for the expression with ‘死んだ気になって’:

死ぬ気になれば､なんでもできるはずだ｡
If one acts with the spirit as if about to die, everything is possible to achieve.

死んだ気になって一生懸命生きていく。
Go on living as if one were dead.

Source:

• YouTube
• Lyrics Wikia

You might also be interested in the following article(s)/page(s):

• Kaji Meiko – New Single out now!
• あかね雲 – Rosy Shimmering Cloud by 梶 芽衣子・Meiko Kaji
• The unfulfilled Ambition of an Edo Police Chief Inspector

Article Guide:

• Words in indigo color link to other articles/pages on MyLittle Dejima
• Words in teal color link to external references/pages
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Edition History: 

• First published: February 15th, 2015
• Revision (minor changes/additions): March 24th, 2017

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