永啼鳥 || The Songbirds of Eternity

永啼鳥
naganakidori
The Songbirds of Eternity

Vocals: 中恵光城 (Mitsuki Nakae)
Lyrics: RD-Sounds
Arranged by: RD-Sounds
Album: 薦 (Susume) [Official site]
Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao ye zong)
Event: C85
Original Themes: Reach for the Moon, Immortal Smoke [月まで届け、不死の煙]
Extend Ash ~ Person of Hourai [エクステンドアッシュ ～ 蓬莱人]
Flight in the Bamboo Cutter ~ Lunatic Princess [竹取飛翔　～ Lunatic Princess]
Plain Asia [プレインエイジア]

Requested by: Dasty Enoch

I went with the plural form because I think this song talks about more than one ‘Songbird of Eternity,’ though sometimes there’s a greater focus on just one. It’s complicated.

The main focus is on Mokou (the ‘crimson child’) and Kaguya, but Keine’s also there. She’s just… doing what she does, I suppose. Like the other tracks in this album, this song is based on a doujin work – this one is DELI-TRE’s work of the same name. Petalite Yuu has provided a summary of the doujin work in the comments section [thank you!], so scroll down and take a look if you’d like some more context.

Also, in true RD style, some lines are sung differently to how they are written. As always, the crossed out part is based on the written lyrics. There are also several perspective shifts throughout the song, given that we have three main characters. I was going to go through and try to identify them all, but I didn’t want to in case I was wrong…

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Unofficial translation/非公式の英訳

The songbird of eternity sings. She weeps, burdened with the night.
Her tears form an ocean. Someday, it will illuminate the moon.

My lonely footsteps echo, one by one.
I was driven away to a gap in a forgotten history.

Nobody, anywhere, knows of me.

It is the lot of humans to eventually fade away,
Though I lived without changing. Can that be called being ‘eternal?’

I cannot even die. Leave me be.

I believe that the feelings
That continue to rest in my heart
Cannot be known by any other name
Than ‘hatred.’

-I cut you. Deeply. Life trickles into your scar…

It is crimson and repulsive,
Yet, it is more sinister, more beautiful than anything else.

Whilst questioning the meaning of eternity, I played my part in that distorted forgery.

O, Princess Kaguya, who I still hate even now! I shall not forget you for ‘eternity.’

The songbirds of eternity are weeping. The night is still long…

Softly, softly, so I will not be defiled.
My existence was like that of an ornamental doll.

Nobody, anywhere, will satisfy me.

Though I sought value in life,
It lay beyond death: a place eternity cannot reach.

If an answer will not come, then I shall not surmount these countless nights.

The war cries resound. Amidst wishes and forgiveness,
An inevitable order: “Continue to kill me, for eternity!”

-I wounded you. Deeper than anything else. Life – a soul – smoulders in that scar.

My body harbours a grave sin. Make your body like mine, and live on!

“Now, come!” I smile at you. Like that time, straight at you.

O, bird! O, defiled crimson child!
Let us play for ‘eternity.’

-Aah! How skilfully you return to my hand, my bird!

The songbird of eternity is singing.
“Even death is life,” she cries.

-Aah! How could you appear before me, Princess Kaguya? I loathe you!

The songbirds of eternity are weeping.
Only the nights they have been burdened with are still intense.

-I wounded you. Deeper than anyone else.
That grave sin is the meaning of eternity.

If you want to know so badly,
Then I shall tell kill you to the limits of my life!

You are still so dear to me sorrowful.
You’re so dear to me I want to make love to you!
I hate you so much I want to kill you!

But why are you so dear to me? I am still bewildered.

I search for an eternity.

I was trapped in eternity.

Whilst hoping that ‘eternity’ lies at the end of this night.

The songbirds of eternity were singing.
They wept, burdened with the night.

And if, in the dawn,
They can find ‘eternity,’ then…