蛙楽 ‐パレード編‐
agaku –pareedo hen-
The Cries of Frogs –Parade Version–
Vocals: みぃ (Mie)
Lyrics: Kaztora
Arranged by: Kaztora
Album: Doppel
Circle: 森羅万象 (Shinra-Bansho)
Event: Hakurei Shrine Autumn Reitaisai 1 [ARTS1]
Original theme: Tomorrow Will Be Special, Yesterday Was Not [明日ハレの日、ケの昨日]
I struggled away at this for about 2 months, and the end result still doesn’t make sense… I wondered why the lyrics of this track were so different to the other lyrics from this album – and then I found out that Kaztora wrote them, instead of Azuki.
But yeah, this track is like some sort of children’s song. The narrative seems to be a slightly corrupted version of the regular version – this time, it’s told from the frogs’ point of view. There are heaps of references to traditional Japanese children’s games and songs, including ‘Kagome, Kagome.’ I wanted to point out all of them, but then the translation notes would have ended up being longer than the lyrics themselves… Anyway, enjoy it! Try and make up your own story about what’s going on. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer.
非公式の英訳/Unofficial translation
Who’s the one being mean to me? Who might you be?
The chained one who fell, fell down… was that you?
It’s the handicap you were born with. You chickened out,
And you were choked by all those souls…
Who’s the first star in the evening? Who might that be?
It sways to and fro in space… is that me?
All of the people living everywhere,
They’ve all bloomed, you know! That’s right! That’s right!
The moon swelled up, unknown to all. “Who might that child and that child be?”
It’s missing a chunk, so… “We don’t know which child you mean…”
It cried “Let’s go home…!” and after that –
We’re so upset we won! Hana ichi monme. (1)
Your pinky and my pinky:
Come, let’s link and unlink them, now!
Before the gate to the shrine, I wonder what you might have hidden?
There’s no such thing as paradise,
There is no paradise, there is a paradise… that’s a lie!
It’s God’s parade! Even if you shake it off,
Continue down the road, down the road, to the fortress.
Wow! You troublesome child! Come towards the sound of my clapping…
That beautiful lady certainly didn’t call to you.
We can’t offer an appetiser, and we can’t let you pass!
Envy it! Swallow it! 1000 needles down the hatch… (2)
Mr. Demon, come this way!
He won’t let a single hair of you escape!
And if you were blindfolded,
Round things and boundaries would be all jumbled up!
Let’s go! Let’s go! To that mountain…
You and your mum and your dad were all laughing.
It bloomed! That something… And that’s – hip hip hooray!
Somewhere, everywhere, everyone’s going crazy!
A white, a white, a white snake came and,
A red, a red, a red frog was dancing.
The bubble, the bubble, the bubble broke open.
(‘Round and ‘round and ‘round we go!)
Let’s go! You too! To the place where you bloomed.
A white, a red, a broken ball’s origin.
Come now! I’ll borrow your hand,
We’re clapping – let’s all pray together!
Though it rises up, it goes back to the beginning.
This opposite feast is starting, you know!
When you bloom with enthusiasm, you’ll have to go.
(Life, too, goes ‘round and ‘round and ‘round)
But when, oh when will it come out?
(Mixing, mixed, mixed up – come now, farewell!)
When you bloom with enthusiasm, let’s go! Look out!
(A red, a red, a red frog dances)
So we won’t be discovered…
Come along – to Lord Tenjin’s knee!
It’s some kinda kinda procession of the gods…
I’m kinda kinda sticking out…
It’s some kinda kinda procession of the gods…
We’re kinda kinda mixed together…
It’s some kinda kinda procession of the gods…
I’m kinda kinda sticking out…
It’s some kinda party at the procession of the gods…
We’re kinda kinda mixed together…
Translator’s notes
(1) Hana ichi monme is a Japanese game similar to a game called Red Rover. Apparently it translates to ‘a flower is one monme.’ A monme is a type of coin, used as a measure of weight.
(2) This little section uses tousenbou as a springboard to a series of puns based on similar words: senbou, and senbon. I made a note of it because it’s quite cool, and quite untranslatable…
Releska 
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