神霊 「死せる哲学の袂」 | Divine Spirits 「The Sleeve of a Dead Philosophy」

Requested by Amilka, one of my favourites of the album. I’m no professional when it comes to classical Japanese, by any means, but I’ve done my best. I even feel like there’s something more deep about the title than is really letting on (袂 has quite a few definitions, and is kinda like 手元 too), but as I said, this is all I’ve got. God bless archaic dictionaries and yahoo answers JP, without which this would not be here.

★ Title: 神霊 「死せる哲学の袂」
☆ Album: 奉 -Sasage-
★ Album Artist: 凋叶棕
☆ Vocals: ΦKushiΦ (Φ串Φ)
★ Lyrics and arrangment: RD-Sounds
☆ Original Titles: Desire Drive (デザイアドライブ)
・Starry Sky of Small Desires (小さな欲望の星空)
★ Website: http://www.rd-sounds.com/


叶う術のない欲望を
抱くその内より生まれる影

kanau sube no nai yokubou o
idaku sono uchi yori umareru kage

From the embracement of desires
with no means to grant them, shadows are born

だが全ては か細き声
誰もその耳を 傾けない

daga subete wa kabosoki koe
dare mo sono mimi o katamukenai

Yet it’s all tenuous voices
Nobody is lending an ear

もし生まれたてのあれらを
受け入れるものがいたならば

moshi umaretate no arera o
uke ireru mono ga ita naraba

If only there were someone who
could accept those newborn things

だが彷徨い辿りつく先は
定かならずに消えていく

daga samayoi tadori tsuku saki wa
sadaka narazu ni kiete iku

Yet at the end of wandering and barely making it
they disappear without certainty

哀れかな 何処へともつかずに
最期には 食らわれ夜の闇に消ゆ

aware kana doko e to mo tsukazu ni
saigo ni wa kuraware yoru no yami ni kiyu

Is it pitiful? To be eaten and fade into the dark of night
in the very end, without arriving anywhere

一縷の望みに 求めて加速する
その声を 聞くものは――どこに。

ichiru no nozomi ni motomete kasoku suru
sono koe o kiku mono wa ―― doko ni.

Where is the one who will listen to the voices
seeking, ever hurriedly, for a ――ray of hope.

生きて死ぬ定めにも
人の欲望 果てしなく
何しも求めているのは
甘き哲学の言

ikite shinu sadame ni mo
hito no nozomu koto hateshinaku
dare shimo motometeiru no wa
amaki tetsugaku no koto

In a fate to live and die
the desires of people are endless
What all seek for are the words
of a sweet philosophy

縋る 欲望の捌け先
十の言葉で訴うるは
願い聞き届け給えと
我ら受け容れ給えと

sugaru yokubou no hake saki
too no kotoba de utauru wa
negai kiki todoke tamae to
warera uke ire tamae to

After draining the desires they cling to
all they can plead for with ten words is
“Please let my wishes reach your ears”
“Please accept us”

たとえその体が滅びても
その魂は不滅だと

tatoe sono karada ga horobitemo
sono mikokoro wa fumetsu da to

They say that even if their bodies perish
their souls are immortal

おおいなるものと一体なら
それら一つの価値 いかばかりか

ooi naru mono to ittai nara
sorera hitotsu no kachi ika bakari ka

If they were to be united with the divine spirits
what would their value be as one?

だがそれでも その欲望故
誰もその思い 阻めはせず

daga sore demo sono omoi yue
dare mo sono omoi habame wa sezu

Yet, even so, because of those desires
nobody can hold back their thoughts

そも叶わない願いなら
生まれることさえ過ちか

somo kanawanai negai nara
umareru koto sae ayamachi ka

If those wishes can’t come true in the first place
is being born itself a mistake?

だが彷徨い辿りつく先に
無限の夢を見ていよう

daga samayoi tadori tsuku saki ni
mugen no yume o miteiyou

Yet, at the end of wandering and just making it,
let us witness the infinite dreams

惨めかな 何にもなれもせず
最期には 囚われ星の海に消ゆ

mijime kana nan ni mo nare mo sezu
saigo ni wa toraware hoshi no umi ni kiyu

Is it harrowing? Being caught and disappearing into the sea of stars
in the end, without becoming anything at all

一縷の望みを 迎えてほくそ笑む
その声を 聞くものは――どこに。

ichiru no nozomi o mukaete hokosuemu
sono koe o kiku mono wa ―― doko ni.

Where is the one who will listen to the voices
chuckling, and welcome their ―― ray of hope.

死してなお生きる為
人の欲望 果てしなく
何しも飢えているのは
甘き哲学の言

shishite nao ikiru tame
hito no nozomu koto hate shinaku
dare shimo ueteiru no wa
amaki tetsugaku no koto

In order to live after death
the desires of people are endless
What all starve for are the words
of a sweet philosophy

縋る 欲望の捌け先
十の言葉で訴うるは
願い聞き届け給えと
我ら受け容れ給えと

sugaru yokubou no hake saki
too no kotoba de utauru wa
negai kiki todoke tamae to
warera uke ire tamae to

After draining the desires they cling to
all they can plead for with ten words is
“Please let my wishes reach your ears”
“Please accept us”

人の欲望を礎に
いつか神霊とて顕現せり

hito no omoi o ishizue ni
itsu ka ooi naru mono tote kengen seri

With people’s desires as foundation
someday I’ll even manifest as a divine spirit

死せる哲学の袂は
かくて目覚めのときを今、迎えんとして―。

shiseru tetsugaku no tamoto wa
kakute mezame no toki o ima, mukae n to shite.

The sleeve of a dead philosophy
now thus is about to enter, the time of awakening―.

Engrasp

An Alst album wouldn’t be complete without a Camellia track. The lyrics feel a little abstract in meaning, but I’m imagining it’s another one about Blue Keine x Green Keine.
On an unrelated note, I also have to say that I’ve gotten a new keyboard, and it handles like a dream.

☆ Title: Engrasp
★ Album: POP | CULTURE 2
☆ Album Artist: Alstroemeria Records
★ Vocals:Mei Ayakura (綾倉盟)
☆ Arrangement and lyrics: Camellia
★ Original Title: Plain Asia (プレインエイジア)
☆ Website: http://alst.net/


もしも呼吸が等しいなら (朝と夜 数えて)
空を越えても届くのだろう (数えられない溜息)
言葉が霞んでしまっても (二つの足跡は)
月の明かりは見えるのだろう (まだ遠く歩くまま)

moshimo kokyuu ga hitoshii nara (asa to yoru kazoete)
sora o koetemo todoku no darou (kazoerarenai tameiki)
kotoba ga kasunde shimattemo (futatsu no ashiato wa)
tsuki no akari wa mieru no darou (mada tooku aruku mama)

If we share the same breath (Counting the mornings and nights)
it should reach, even if it exceeds the sky (there are uncountable sighs)
Even if our words become hazy (Our two footprints will)
the moonlight should be visible (continue to walk on far)

離した私の手 途切れた言葉を
離したあなたの手 繋いで

hanashita watashi no te togireta kotoba o
hanashita anata no te tsunaide

My hand that you let go of, connects words that are
Your hand that I let go of, broken up

思い出一つ見つけたなら (秒針が遅くて)
夢の中では会えるのだろう (雲の行き先追って)
星があまりに眩しいのは (二つの手のひらは)
隣が空いているからだろう (もうすぐ出会えるのに)

omoide hitotsu mitsuketa nara (byoushin ga osokute)
yume no naka de wa aeru no darou (kumo no yukisaki otte)
hoshi ga amari ni mabushii no wa (futatsu no te no hira wa)
tonari ga aiteiru kara darou (mou sugu de aeru noni)

If we’ve found a a single memory (The second-hand goes slow)
we should be able to meet in dreamland (Chasing after where the clouds go)
The reason the stars shine overly bright (Both the palms of our hands)
is probably because they’ve got room next to them (will be able to meet soon though)

離した私の手 途切れた言葉を
離したあなたの手 繋いで

hanashita watashi no te togireta kotoba o
hanashita anata no te tsunaide

My hand that you let go of, connects words that are
Your hand that I let go of, broken up

Blossom Flight

Woo, the usual emo lyrics for the Ayame track. My guilty pleasure. Haruka has a weird thing for spacing out the いる after te form verbs this album around.

For this song, I went on the wild assumption that this is coming from the perspective of a spirit tied to a tree.

☆ Title: Blossom Flight
★ Album: POP | CULTURE 2
☆ Album Artist: Alstroemeria Records
★ Vocals: ayame
☆ Arrangement: Masayoshi Minoshima
★ Lyrics: Haruka
☆ Original Title: Night Sakura of Dead Spirits (死霊の夜桜)
★ Website: http://alst.net/


闇の夜に 綺麗に 咲かせて いるのに
いつでも 独りで 散り行く 桜
貴方には みつけて 欲しくて いまでも
貴方の 心に 花びら 残す

yami no yo ni kirei ni sakaseteiru noni
itsu demo hitori de chiri yuku sakura
anata ni wa mitsukete hoshikute ima demo
anata no kokoro ni hanabira nokosu

Though I make myself  prettily bloom this dark night
I’ll always be a sakura that falls alone
I want you to find me, even now
and leave some petals in your heart

貴方に触れたくて 今夜も一人
望んでることさえ叶わず今も
こんなに傍にいるのに気づかない
願いは届かない

anata ni furetakute konya mo hitori
nozonderu koto sae kanawazu ima mo
konna ni soba ni iru no ni kidzukanai
negai wa todokanai

I want to feel you, tonight I’m alone again
Even now, my desires won’t come true
Though I’m so close to you, you won’t notice
My wishes won’t reach

苦しいよ傍にいても 私に気づかなくて
こんなにも綺麗に咲き 貴方を呼んでいても
寂しいよ泣いていても 花びら散り行くだけ
夜桜は独りきりで 貴方を見つめるだけ

kurushii yo soba ni itemo watashi ni kudzukanakute
konna ni mo kirei ni saki anata o yondeitemo
samishii yo naiteitemo hanabira chiri yuku dake
yozakura wa hitori kiri de anata o mitsumeru dake

It hurts so much, though I’m right by you, you won’t notice me
Even though I bloom so prettily and am calling out for you
It’s so lonely, and though I cry, I only shed flower petals
The night sakura, all alone, just gazes at you

いつまでも 貴方を 見つめて いたけど
今宵も 独りで 散り行く 桜
貴方には 心に 残して 欲しくて
貴方の手元に 花びら 落とす

itsu made mo anata o mitsumeteita kedo
koyoi mo hitori de chiri yuku sakura
anata ni wa kokoro ni nokoshite hoshikute
anata no temoto ni hanabira otosu

Though I’ve always had my eyes on you
this evening as well I’m a sakura that falls alone
I want to remain in your heart
I’ll drop my petals at your fingertips

貴方と歩きたい そんな夢みた
ただ虚しいだけわかっているけど
こんなに何度も話しているのに
貴方に聞こえない

anata to arukitai sonna yume mita
tada munashii dake wakatteiru kedo
konna ni nando mo hanashiteiru noni
anata ni kikoenai

I want to walk with you, that was the dream I had
I understand it’s all just in vain though
Though I talk so much, so often
I’m mute to you

苦しいよ声聞けても 私は話せなくて
こんなにも話したい 願いは届かなくて
私から触れることは 花びら散らせるだけ
苦しいよ寂しいのよ 貴方と生きたかった

kurushii yo koe kiketemo watashi wa hanasenakute
konna ni mo hanashitai negai wa todokanakute
watashi kara fureru koto wa hanabira chiraseru dake
kurushii yo samishii no yo anata to ikitakatta

It hurts so much, though I hear your voice, I’m unable to speak
The wishes I want to tell you so much won’t reach
The only way that I can touch you is by making the flower petals fall
It hurts so much, it’s so lonely, I wanted to live with you

Sensitive Crisis

Perhaps my most favourite song from the album, and also the most lyrically difficult to translate, I’d imagine, though I haven’t seen the others yet. It’s important to note this is Yumemi’s theme, a scientist from the outside world that enters Gensokyo in search of magic.

☆ Title: Sensitive Crisis
★ Album: POP | CULTURE 2
☆ Album Artist: Alstroemeria Records
★ Vocals: mican*
☆ Arrangement: Masayoshi Minoshima
★ Lyrics: Haruka
☆ Original Title: Strawberry Crisis!!
★ Website: http://alst.net/


背負うものさえ恐れずに 全てわが身のためにある
何を迷うのこの先に 前も後ろも自分次第なの
君の願いはそこにある 今も気づかずいるだけで
それは隠れた胸の内 はじき出すのは自分次第なの

seou mono sae osorezu ni subete waga mi no tame ni aru
nani o mayou no kono saki ni mae mo ushiro mo jibun shidai nano
kimi no negai wa soko ni aru ima mo kidzukazu iru dake de
sore wa kakureta mune no uchi hajiki dasu no wa jibun shidai nano

Not afraid even of what I bear, everything is for my own good
What will I trouble over after this? Everything ahead and behind me is up to me
Your wish lies there, you’re just not aware even now
It’s hidden in your heart, whether it bursts out depends on you

迷いならば ここにはない あるのはただ自分自身
見つめるもの 見つけるもの 素敵なものばかりだから
ためらわない 逃げ出さない 失くす事は怖くないわ
貴方自身 私自身 変われるなら全て投げ出して

mayoi naraba koko ni wa nai aru no wa tada jibun jishin
mitsumeru mono mitsukeru mono suteki na mono bakari dakara
tamerawanai nige dasanai nakusu koto wa kowakunai wa
anata jishin watashi jishin kawareru nara subete nage dashite

When it comes to doubt, there’s none of that here, all that’s here is me, myself
The things to be seen, the things to be found, it’s all lovely after all
so I won’t hesitate, I won’t run away, I’m not afraid of losing anything
If we can change who our very selves are, I’ll throw everything away

夢を見た 時だけ 自由になれると
思った 自分は なんにも 残らない
空を見て ため息 ついてたあの日に
気づいて いたなら 作れた 物語を

yume o mita toki dake jiyuu ni nareru to
omotta jibun wa nan ni mo nokoranai
sora o mite tameiki tsuiteta ano hi ni
kidzuiteita nara tsukureta monogatari o

Only when I had a dream could I be free
so I had thought, and found myself left with nothing
If I had noticed, on the day when I looked to the skies
and let out a sigh, I could’ve woven a story

迷うことさえ忘れてた 私一人が現実と
何を失うこの先で 失くすものなら自分の過去だけ
今の願いがそこにある ならば恐れず前に出て
それは素敵な宝物 過去のことだけそこに置いてきて

mayou koto sae wasureteta watashi hitori ga genjitsu to
nani o ushinau kono saki de nakusu mono nara jibun no kako dake
ima no negai ga soko ni aru naraba osorezu mae ni dete
sore wa suteki na takaramono kako no koto dake soko ni oite kite

I had even forgotten that I was lost, that I alone am real
What will I lose after this? If I’m to lose something, it’ll just be my past
If now your wishes are there, then go and move onward without fear
It’s a lovely treasure, just leave things of the past in its place

迷うことも いらないから いるのはただ自分自身
信じるもの 裏切るもの それは自分自身だから
ためらえない 逃げ出せない 怖いものは何もないわ
貴方ならば 私ならば 出来る信じ全て変えてみて

mayou koto mo iranai kara iru no wa tada jibun jishin
shinjiru mono uragiru mono sore wa jibun jishin dakara
tameraenai nige dasenai kowa mono wa nani mo nai wa
anata naraba watashi naraba dekiru shinji subete kiete mite

I don’t need to get lost, all I need is me, myself
A believer and a traitor, they’re both who I am after all
I can’t hesitate, I can’t escape, there’s nothing to be afraid of
If it’s you or me, try to change everything with the power of belief

夢を見た 時なら 自分に会えると
思って いたけど そこには なにもない
空を見て 小さな 自分に気づいて
大きな 魔力が 欲しいと 願っていた

yume o mita toki nara jibun ni aeru to
omotteita kedo soko ni wa nani mo nai
sora o mite chiisa na jibun ni kidzuite
ooki na maryoku ga hoshii to negatteita

Only when I had a dream could I meet myselfspan>
so I had thought, but there was nothing
Looking to the sky and noticing my puny self
I wished for a grand magical power