Thus, I take the slow road
Absent-minded, in a livelihood that feels like surrender
Whether this is fate, a miracle—it just won’t come to me
I’m thinking about those sorts of things
If, say, the both of us were linked by a previous life
Or by strange circumstances,
And came across one another by chance
Then the night’s when all my thoughts are being driven by you
As a consequence of experiencing so many forks in the road
That finger missed out on being connected
As did those words that blocked my throat;
I feel like your existence is the reward for
This life that seemed like a failed work of art
Is it ordinary? Or a fantasy?
I change my point of view
So that these days will continue
If, say, the both of us were linked by a previous life
Or by strange circumstances,
And the both of us were separated
Then let’s just be thankful we could meet in this present life,
To give one another an ordinary miracle of a kiss
No matter how much I cry
No matter how angry I get
There is no straying from the miracle before my eyes
If one day I lose face, tumble down from on high, ¹
I will go to to meet you
If, say, the both of us were linked by a previous life
Or by strange circumstances,
And the both of us were separated
Then let’s just be thankful we could meet in this present life,
To give one another an ordinary miracle of a kiss
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NOTES / INTERPRETATION:
Thoughts. Even though the title immediately calls to mind the cycle of birth and death in a religious, spiritual sense, the lyrics themselves involve the speaker’s struggle with the idea of fate, destiny, and spirituality in favour of the notion of ordinary, day-to-day, down-to-earth connection. The lyrics of this song are quiet and pensive, and I really like many of the turns of phrase that Show used here. The way that a kiss is referred to as an ‘ordinary miracle’ is particularly beautiful, in the way that this small gesture is given more weight and importance than the possibility of being linked through destiny or past lives. A deep value is given to the relationship that the speaker has in the present, just as it is, in all its ordinary ups and downs. A love song from the point of view of an earnest agnostic. I find the lines I feel like your existence is the reward for / This life that seemed like a failed work of art to be particularly poignant and beautiful.
.
アリス九號. ★ 輪廻と一夜の物語 → IDEAL (将・2017)
ALICE NINE. – rinne to ichiya no monogatari | From IDEAL (Show – 2017)
Original text translated from Japanese.
Song composed by ヒロト (HIROTO).
Listen on Apple Music/Spotify.