Young Writers Society

A Love Song from the Netherlands 阿蘭陀(オランダ)からの恋物語

The JP line above the EN line is the original that I wrote, and the EN below is the rough translation with a little rhyme and rhythm added to fit the lyricalness(??) of the JP text.

Background: In traditional Chinese culture, a red knot (or just knots in general,) have various amounts of meanings. One of which, is the meaning of reunion. A couple from the Netherlands embark on a journey together, but not long after embarkation, the girl falls ill. Not being able to go on the journey together, the boy then goes alone, promising that he’ll bring back a gift from the other side of the world, so she can experience it as well.
He reaches port Arthur (a port in modern day Liaodong, China) and gleefully purchases a nice Jade necklace placed in a tiny box wrapped in red string. He learns what knots symbolize in Chinese culture a couple days into his journey through China and uses the string that wrapped the box to make a knot, failing many times before making one that was presentable.
However, the boy tragically passes away on his way back home in a shipwreck, just before he could make it back.
A Japanese poet overhears this story from one of the Westerners in the city and creates lyrics based off it.

(This is a fictional story made to set up the setting for this song)

Lyrics

貴方と末永く

For an Eternity and Beyond,

切れない結び目で繋がりたい

I Want to be Next to You, Connected Through this Knot.

彼方へ行きましょう

Let’s Go and Reach Over Yonder

一緒に旅立ちましょう

Let’s Embark on a Journey Together

崩れ落ちそうな古い船で

On this Run-Down Withering Boat

今更咲けそうなチューリップの鱗茎(りんけい)と

Bringing Along a ‘Bout to Bloom Tulip Bud

貴方と二人で行きましょう

I’ll Go With You, Just the Two of Us.

囁きの要らない海原ならば

When I Look Upon this Vast, Wide Sea, a Place Free of Judgement,

星空に向けれる水平線が

I Look Over the Starry Skies, Over the Horizon,

どこまで続けるのか気になり

Curious as to How Far We’ll get to reach

満月の月明かりの下で

Under this Full Moon’s Illumination, I’ll Stay With You.

貴方と末永く

For an Eternity and Beyond,

切れない結び目で繋がりたい

I Want to be Next to You, Connected Through this Knot.

過去は完全に置き去り、

Forget the Past, Let’s Move on From It,

郷里で貴方の心は残り、

Forget Your Heart in This Hometown of Yours,

もう二度と戻れない旅に立ち

Let’s Embark on this Journey With No Way Back

辛い記憶は残せて来い

Leave Your Painful Memories, and Come With Me

囁きの要らない海原ならば

When I Look Upon this Vast, Wide Sea, a Place Free of Judgement,

星空に向けれる水平線が

I Look Over the Starry Skies, Over the Horizon,

どこまで続けるのか気になり

Curious as to How Far We’ll get to reach

満月の月明かりの下で

Under this Full Moon’s Illumination, I’ll Stay With You.

貴方と末永く

For an Eternity and Beyond,

切れない結び目で繋がりたい

I Want to be Next to You, Connected Through this Knot.

行けなくなっても大丈夫よ

It’s Okay if You Can’t Go No More.

彼方からの贈り物を買って

I’ll Bring a Gift From Overseas to You.

それと一緒に来た

And Along With that Gift I Bought,

赤糸とそこに隠れている

From Port Arthur, Comes a Little Red Knot

言葉を貴方へ伝える

With a Hidden Meaning That I Hope Reaches You.

囁きの要らない海原ならば

When I Look Upon this Vast, Wide Sea, a Place Free of Judgement,

星空に向けれる水平線が

I Look Over the Starry Skies, Over the Horizon,

どこまで続けるのか気になり

Curious as to How Far We’ll get to reach

満月の月明かりの下で

Under this Full Moon’s Illumination, I’ll Stay With You.

貴方と末永く

For an Eternity and Beyond,

切れない結び目で繋がりたい

I Want to be Next to You, Connected Through this Knot.