“Raining” by Cocco

Raining

作詞: Cocco

ママ譲りの赤毛を
2つに束ねて
みつあみ 揺れてた
なぜだったのだろうと
今も想うけれど
まだわからないよ

静かに席を立って
ハサミを握りしめて
おさげを切り落とした

それは とても晴れた日で
未来なんて いらないと想ってた
私は無力で
言葉を選べずに
帰り道のにおいだけ
優しかった
生きていける
そんな気がしていた

教室で誰かが笑ってた

それは とても晴れた日で

髪がなくて今度は
腕を切ってみた
切れるだけ切った
温かさを感じた
血にまみれた腕で
踊っていたんだ

あなたが もういなくて
そこには何もなくて
太陽 眩しかった

それは とても晴れた日で
泣くことさえできなくて あまりにも
大地は果てしなく
全ては美しく
白い服で遠くから
行列に並べずに少し歌ってた

今日みたく雨ならきっと泣けてた

それは とても晴れた日で
未来なんて いらないと想ってた
私は無力で
言葉を選べずに
帰り道のにおいだけ
優しかった
生きていける
そんな気がしていた

教室で誰かが笑ってた

それは とても晴れた日で

* * *

Raining

Lyrics: Cocco
Trans.: Alex Fyffe

The red hair I inherited
from my mother
was pulled back into 2 bouncing braids
I still
wonder why I did it
but I couldn’t tell you

I stood quietly on the chair
grabbed the scissors
and cut off my braids

It was a very sunny day
I had no need for the future
powerless
unable to choose my words
only the smell on the way home
was peaceful
I suddenly felt
I could live

Someone was laughing in the classroom

It was a very sunny day

My hair all gone,
I tried cutting my arms
I just cut and I cut
and I felt a kind of warmth
and danced around
with my arms smeared in blood

You’re no longer here
There’s nothing here
The sun shone so brightly

It was a very sunny day
I couldn’t even cry
The world was limitless
Everything was beautiful
I stood out of line
in my white dress, and sang a little

I would have cried had it rained like today

But it was a very sunny day
I had no need for the future
powerless
unable to choose my words
only the smell on the way home
was peaceful
I suddenly felt
I could live

Someone was laughing in the classroom

It was a very sunny day

Notes:

Trans. April of 2008.

One of the loveliest songs ever to capture the confusion of youth.

“Chiisana ame no hi no KUWAAMUI” by Cocco

小さな雨の日のクワァームイ

作詞: Cocco

小さく泣いた
大きな空が泣いていた
芽吹いたゴーヤー
遠い潮に祈りながら
海を知らない雨 食べた

天まで伸びて
たくさんの実をつけたなら
島に届くね

だけどここは寒いと言って
夢を見ながら
ほんの少しだけ泣いた

* * *

Lullaby for a Rainy Day

Lyrics: Cocco
Trans.: Alex Fyffe

It cried a little
The enormous sky was crying
Bitter melons in bloom
The unknowable rain swallowed the sea
As you prayed on a distant shore

If you reach for heaven
And pluck as many fruits as you can
You will arrive at that island

But you only say, It’s so cold here
And you cry a little
When you dream

Notes:

Trans. April of 2008.

The title, “Chiisana ame no hi no KUWAAMUI” was confusing at first until I found a site that told me KUWAAMUI is an Okinawan word meaning “Lullaby.” The title more literally means “Lullaby for a Day of Small Rain” (which I take to mean “light rain”).