オールド・モチーフ
oorudo mochiifu
Old Motif
Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop), nayuta
Lyrics: RD-Sounds
Arranged by: RD-Sounds
Album: 随 (Manima) [Official site]
Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao ye zong)
Event: Reitaisai 14 [RTS14]
Original theme: Old Adam Bar [バー・オールドアダム]
This track appears to be based on ZUN’s afterword from Dateless Bar “Old Adam.” In it, he discusses his thoughts regarding 中二病 (Chuunibyou). It’s a tough term to pin down, but it basically refers to the phase people go through in their early teens when they want to be cooler or more unique than everyone else. The term is discussed in more detail here. ZUN has some interesting things to say about it, so if you get a chance, please read it before reading through my translation!
I toyed around with the idea of colour-coding the lyrics to indicate who speaks when, but I decided against it. Also, I noticed and deeply appreciated the references to ‘Hangover of Bedfellows Dreaming Differently’ near the end. RD’s the best at doing stuff like that!
非公式の英訳/Unofficial translation
Everyone bears their own mysteries…
Everyone searches for their own mysteries…
In the depths of the dark night, they secretly sneer
So nobody will sense them.
Nobody knows their true motives
And their authenticity is even vaguer.
This sky belongs to the descendants
Of the satellites that first covered it.
They stride across this dark planet,
Peeking into hollows in the heavens. (1)
“Everyone’s different to me…”
They coldly murmur.
Their hearts will never thaw.
They have a disease…
Everyone questions their worth.
They know their worth and then surpass it. (2)
Yes… initial purity and overflowing creativity—
This is the luscious, forbidden fruit that humans obtained.
Yes… baseless self-confidence and the strength of our passion—
We hope to always keep this old motif in our grasp. (3)
Ambition pollutes and whirls around
And plans lurk in the darkness.
But my eyes will not be deceived.
There’s only one truth.
They don’t even want someone to understand them
Nor do they share common ground with anyone else.
Even while they embrace isolation,
They gloat with pleasure.
If an illusion—“us”
And reality—“me”
Are mere creations…
Then what about you?
Everyone possesses their own meaning.
They know what their meaning is, and within—
Yes… initial purity and ripening defiance—
Humans bear original sin, a heavy burden they will never release.
Yes… free will, seeking a world where nobody is bound—
We hope to always keep this old motif in our grasp…
Everyone possesses their own world.
They look upon their own ideals, and beyond that illusion lies— (4)
Yes, everyone is the same in the beginning, and they’re all ‘special’ in the end.
They continue to carry their own disease, their own mysteries. (5)
Yes, the unstoppable strength to live and limitless imagination—
We hope to always keep this old motif in our grasp…
“Take my hand and we’ll go to our own world!”
I think such ideas are selfish and egotistical. Still…
You’re here with me and we’re sharing the same bed
So you should know that we’re not necessarily dreaming differently…
Translator’s notes
(1) The original term for ‘satellites’ used in the text is ‘sputnik’ (スプートニク)
(2) In these sections, one vocalist starts her line, then the second vocalist sings her line, then they both finish the first line together.
(3) In all three of these sections, ‘old motif’ is sung, but it is written as ‘original imagination’ (原初の想像), ‘original conception’ (原初の発想), and ‘original fantasy’ (原初の空想) respectively.
(4) World, ideals, and illusion are all sung as ‘dream/s’ (夢)
(5) ‘Mysteries’ is sung, but ‘Chuunibyou’ (中二病) is written.
Releska 
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