Requested by: pH7

This track ended up reaching a level of difficulty I wasn’t expecting. It’s definitely the sort of track I’d love to read more interpretations of.

The title ‘Melas’ is Latin for ‘black.’ One version of the song even includes lytics in Latin!

I found a summary of the track on a blog post written by someone connected to the circle (see this link). Some important things to take from the post include the following:

• This track is a story concerning two children born in unique circumstances (illness). The lyrics depict the feelings of their parents. They change as the scenes and the song change. The lyrics are impressionist.
• Another version (Re:quiem[Melas]) was created that emphasises the feelings and perspectives of the children.

It also contains a vignette:

“Coral, born in a pure ocean, is stolen away by humans. They come from somewhere, saying “if we do this, it’ll shine more brilliantly.” The coral, which once shone white, gradually turns black. The humans mustn’t have intended to make it black, so why did the coral lose its light? With that reality left in our hands, we, who live in the ocean, just watch the coral as they lose their lives.

Still, their screams reached her. Eventually, her lamentations became a terrifying song, which sank the humans’ ships.”

To make things even more complicated, the lyrics on the official site don’t match what’s sung. To get around this, I’ve provided two translations. The top translation (in red) matches what’s written, and the bottom translation (in blue) matches what’s sung. They are by no means definitive, but may help us get closer to the heart of the song.

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君は宝物だから
なにかをしてあげよう、と
わからなくなる

kimi wa taisetsu na ko dakara
nanika wo shite ageyou, to
wakaranaku naru

Because you’re my treasure
I want to do something for you
but now I don’t know what to do…

Because you’re my precious child,
I want to do something for you
but now I don’t know what to do…

暗夜へ歩く速さを変え
鎮るよ
このためなら 真心を撒いて

yoru e aruku hayasa wo kae
mamoru yo
kono tame nara kokoro wo maite

I change how quickly I walk into the dark night.
I’ll calm you.
If it’s for that sake, I’ll scatter my devotion all around.

I change how quickly I walk into the night.
I’ll protect you.
If it’s for that sake, I’ll scatter my heart all around.

控えた視点まで また俯かせる Ａ→Ｇ
撫でつける赤い冠　ねぇ可愛そうでしょう？
近似さえ捨て 誤砂を求める
踵の消えた　覚悟の前傾

hikaeta senobi made mata utsumukaseru ei to jii
nadetsukeru tiara nee kawaisou deshou
kinji sae sute gosa wo motomeru
kibisu no kieta Light and Dash

I hang my head in shame again, even up to my held-back gaze. A toG.
I smooth down my redcrown. I’m pitiful, aren’t I?
I throw away our resemblance, seeking grains of errors.
The tilt of my resolve has lost its heel.

I hang my head in shame again, even up to my held-back stature. Ato G.
I smooth down my tiara. I’m pitiful, aren’t I?
I throw away our resemblance, seeking grains of errors.
Light and dash have lost their heels.

「私達の娘には 神の祝福が無かった」
哀しみの披露から 羞じめましょう
白い瑞 映える見世物
矯めた路地裏　金と銀　違う色

“watashi-tachi no musume niwa kami no shukufuku ga nakatta”
kanashimi no butai kara hajimemashou
shiroi mizu haeru Show time
tameta rojiura kin to gin chigau iro

“Our daughters did not have the blessing of the Gods.”
I shall feel shame from my showcase of sorrow.
This spectacle shines with a white lustre.
The straightened back alley is neither gold or silver.

“Our daughters did not have the blessing of the Gods.”
Let’s begin with this stage of sorrow.
This show time shines with a white lustre.
The straightened back alley is neither gold or silver.

欠け征く器官を ただ脱力させない叡と自慰
くすませる赤い帽子　ほら可哀想でしょう？
品詞さえ捨て　語差を求める
頭の折れた　想い手と乞運

kakeyuku karada wo tada tomarasenai ei to jii
kusumaseru tiara hora kawaisou deshou
hinshi sae sute gosa wo motomeru
shikaku no oreta Wight and Luck

Wisdom and self-consolation won’t exhaust my breaking organs.
The red hat quietens me. Look, isn’t it pitiful?
I throw away even parts of speech. I search for errors.
The head of this hand of feeling and luck have been broken.

Wisdom and self-consolation won’t stop my breaking body.
The tiara quietens me. Look, isn’t it pitiful?
I throw away even parts of speech. I search for errors.
The qualifications of the wight and luck have been broken.

「私達と娘には　神の祝福は無かった」
金浸みの披露から始めましょう
黒い瑞 栄える店物
褪めた口裏　今のため、同じ事

“watashi-tachi to musume niwa kami no shukufuku wa nakatta”
kanashimi no butai kara hajimemashou
kuroi mizu haeru Show time
sameta kuchiura ima no tame, onaji koto

“We and our daughters did not have the blessing of the Gods.”
Let’s begin with this exhibit steeped in gold.
This display shines with a black lustre.
My discoloured intentions, for the sake of now, are the same thing.

“We and our daughters did not have the blessing of the Gods.”
Let’s begin with this stage of sorrow.
This show time shines with a black lustre.
My discoloured intentions, for the sake of now, are the same thing.

君は源泉だから
なにかをしてあげよう、と
わかれなくなる

kimi wa taisetsu na ko dakara
nanika wo shite ageyou, to
wakarenaku naru

Because you’re the source,
I want to do something for you.
Now, we can no longer be separated.

Because you’re an important person to me,
I want to do something for you.
Now, we can no longer be separated.

杜森へ向かう遠廻りを代え
狼檻の寄り道から
催期を飾れ

mori e mukau sanpo wo kae
suana no yorimichi kara
saigo wo kazare

I adjust my detour, heading towards the shrine’s grove.
From my stopover at the wolf’s cage,
Decorate this finale!

I adjust my walk, heading towards the forest.
From my stopover at the den,
Decorate this forced moment!

抱えた銀貨まで もう事実だけの Ａ→Ｇ
差し出した赤い布切れ　ほら可藍そうでしょう？
瀕死さえ棄て 御詐を留める
誰かに捧ぐ　ぶどう酒とお菓子

hikaeta kimochi made mou jijitsu dake no ei to jii
sashidashita tiara hora kawaisou deshou
hinshi sae sute gosa wo todomeru
kanojo ni sasagu Wine and Pop

Even the silver coins I carried are just the truth now: A to G.
I presented a red cloth. Look, isn’t it pitiful?
I even cast away my moment of death. I stop lying.
To somebody, I offer wine and sweets.

Even the feelings I carry are just the truth: A to G.
I presented a tiara. Look, isn’t it pitiful?
I even cast away my moment of death. I stop these errors.
To her, I offer wine and pop.

「私達の過族には　神の祝福は無かった」
泡裂みの茶番　まだ続くでしょう
空洞の渦 響く演劇
枯れた水差しに　白と黒　同じ色

“watashi-tachi no kazoku niwa kami no shukufuku wa nakatta”
awaremi no butai mada tsuzuku deshou
kara no uzu hibiku Show time
kareta utsuwa ni shiro to kuro onaji iro

“Our family did not have the blessing of the Gods.”
Is the farce of bursting bubbles still continuing?
Drama resounds through the hollow vortex.
In the dried-up pitcher, black and white are the same colour.

“Our surplus family did not have the blessing of the Gods.”
Is this stage of sorrow still continuing?
This show time resounds through the empty vortex.
In the dried-up vessel, black and white are the same colour.