M

"Maria" There is someone I should love;
every person who has ever been hurt...

As I look around,
everyone busily
hurries on by.

I noticed that this year, too,
the signs of winter have
come very soon.

Again, somewhere in this city today
two people will meet and fall in love;
the curtains are violently opened.

Even so, everything eventually,
someday, has an end.

Again, somewhere in this city today
two people split apart;
the curtains are quitely dropped.

"Maria" There is someone I should love.
At times I feel very lonely.
But my needs are all filled
by the person I should love.

"Maria" There is someone I should love.
At times I bear very deep wounds.
But my they are all healed
by the person I should love.

"Maria" Everyone is crying.
"Maria" But I want to believe.
"Maria" So I'm praying now
that this is my final love.
Beginnings come at random,
but endings always have a reason.

too late

The world has started spinning backwards.
Only the acceleration has increased.
When you noticed, it was dark before your feet.
You were standing at the edge of a cliff.

You can't pull back.
Even if you turn pale nothing will happen.

With the light you've sharpened to the utmost,
you continue persistently even if the end of this path is
the end of the world.

There's more to life
than money or honor.
You will forever pretend not to understand.
It's frightening to notice and get hurt.

Your dream at that time, your wishes,
They were all granted, but...

Faster than everyone, you even pass the wind.
Higher than everyone, you even pierce the clouds.
Even if you live too quickly.

GREEN

The brilliant trees standing in the cool air
Are losing the colors as if hiding themselves
Just like me who is afraid of the warmth
Keeping myself away from anything leading to hope

The smiling face of that person
Looks dazzling and so tender
I'm afraid I might show my weakness
And start crying

* I noticed this love
The moment my fingertip touched his
And my feelings were
About to flow out

I wonder why it's difficult for us
To walk as we wish

Actually I've always
Realized for sure
But I turned my eyes from the reality
And denied the truth

** I'm staring at my dear person
I might tell him
Of this feeling
Around the time the wind changes

* (repeat)
** (repeat)

When the trees come into bud again
And the leaves are freshly green
I want to show my smile
More natural than now

rollin'

That we expected was
Just the beginning of failure"
Don't say such a thing with a cold look
Staring into my eyes

I can't nod
Though I know it was predictable

The world is rolling around at the speed of rebirth
The world is rolling around at the speed of rebirth
It's falling into confusion, and despair and desire come to us alternately
We can't continue to live in the traditional way

All gets broken into dusts
In an instant
And we wonder what on earth we have spent
Time and thought for

Pretend to stop the dangerous current
Instead of telling an idealistic theory, please

* The age is rolling around at the speed to the end
The age is rolling around at the speed to the end
It has crossed the border line, and disappointment and hope are fighting with each other
We can never return again to the place we used to be

The world is rolling around at the speed of rebirth
The world is rolling around at the speed of rebirth
It's falling into confusion, and despair and desire come to us alternately

count down


In Shangri-la where I had been longing for
The strong and very cold wind
Woke me up
And at the same time, disappeared

I don't laugh nor cry
I experienced despair so much in the past
That I became empty, I feel nothing

I hear some distant sound
You see? The end will begin soon
I'll accept it as it is
On my left side
I need no compassion

"Supposing you are in the abyss
All that is left is to go up"

You said so with no hesitation
It's not important what on earth it meant
There is something more important

* I hear some distant sound
You see? The end will begin soon
Pretend to watch me until the end
I'll be on your left side
I need nothing else

I hear some distant sound
You see? The end will begin soon
I'll accept it as it is
On my left side

alliteration: Connected
I've picked just the first 2 verses for example, but this continues through the whole song. "Mikakete Mitsukete Misadameteiru, Mitsumete Mitorete Mitasareteiru. Demo, Miagete Mikakete Mikuraberu. Hora, Mikubiru Midareru Mihanasareteru" Obvious alliteration here. The entire thing is written in katakana too, which emphasizes the sound of the words instead of the meaning.

onomatopoeia: Will
Double repeats in Japanese play a role in onomatopoeia, aside from your usual "BAM" and "DON" kind. In Will, "Hira hira" is the sound of fluttering, "yura yura" is the sound of trembling/shaking, "kira kira" is the sound of sparkling/shining, and "kura kura" is the sound for dizziness. So we can translate the 2 choruses as

Flutter, flutter, flutter, flutter, like falling petals
Tremble, tremble, let my trembling heart, soar high with pride

Shine, shine, shine, shine, like the sun's rays
Dizzy, dizzy, let me give off light so bright

Doesn't sound very poetic (most English trans don't), but that's the most literal translation I can come up with.

personification: GREEN
First line of first verse:
"The shining and dignified trees have lost their colours, as if to hide their faces."

BALLAD: first lines of first chorus
"The sunset sky today is as gentle as you"

Verbal irony: (d)lma
I can provide a translation of the song if you need it, but the main point is just that for the entire song, the lyrics go on about how ayu is irritated/frustrated at this person and wishes him to stop doing things and leave her alone. But the very last line "But don't leave me alone" sort of breaks this whole idea down and makes you wonder if her angry cries and complaints earlier in the song were intended to cover up her need to not be left alone. I read this from wiki and I think it fits quite well to (d)lma.

Simile: all over the place
Lol, similes are quite prevalent in ayu's lyrics. Everytime she uses "you ni" or "you na", she's making a simile. Here's one from Marionette's first chorus:
"We, with our masks, are like the dead
We are not born to go through life with our faces hidden"

Situational irony: appears
From the first chorus:
"The lovers seem so happy, holding hands and walking together
As if everything is well and perfect, for everyone to see
But only they know the truth"

The last chorus emphasizes this too, with the last line changed to "But nobody understands the truth"

apostrophe: Microphone
The whole song, in fact, is her speaking directly to her microphone (an object) and her music (an idea).