Coming to my senses from the dream takes me unawares;
Tragedy sweetly paints the inside of my chest
The leading actor went and vanished in the interlude;
Comedy conveyed the reality to me painfully
Turn, merry-go-round, light up with misery
Sinner, yet without a name ²
Let’s share in the same dream —
Because you’re still in the world
The sounds of destruction are gentle
Singing, dancing in the town of sand
I sweep away tears, and steal a name
Even being someone’s substitute would be enough —
I crossed my fingers, as if to pray, and made that vow
Turn, merry-go-round, light up in those eyes ³
Miracles start to overflow
I expect nothing will be a waste
Even if someone calls you a tragedy
I’ll hold you tenderly
Sinner, yet without a name
Let’s share in the same dream —
Because you exist in this world
The sounds of destruction are gentle
Dear to me
.
NOTES / INTERPRETATION:
oo1. In an interview with DECOLUM, Show explained that these lyrics were greatly inspired by a series called Children of the Whales (クジラの子らは砂上に歌う), and that this song could be thought of as a theme song for it.
oo2. The kanji used for the title of the song (罪人) could be read in two different ways. It could be read as “zainin”, which would be translated as “criminal” (a moral and legal connotation), and it could be read as “tsumibito”, which would be translated as “sinner” (a moral and spiritual/religious connotation). Saga confirmed in a tweet that the second reading (tsumibito – Sinner) was the correct one. And of course, if you listen to the song itself, tsumibito is the reading that is sung.
oo3. I paraphrased this line. The word being used here, “ai”, contrasts with the “ai” (of a different meaning) which was used in an earlier line of the song. There is some interpretation wiggle room possible here, but I chose to translate the word as “eyes”. In the first iteration of the line, the metaphorical merry-go-round lights up with grief; in this iteration, it lights up in the eyes of the sinner without a name, which seems to be a positive thing. After this line, the tone of the song softens further and loses some of its earlier grief. Truly a moving, beautifully emotional ballad…
.
アリス九號. ★ 罪人 → 不夜城エデン (将・2020)
ALICE NINE. – tsumibito | From NIGHTLESS CITY EDEN (Show – 2020)
Original text translated from Japanese.
Listen via your preferred digital platform.