“Athazagoraphobia”, the fear of being forgotten, ignored or forsaken. This whole song is about this. Somehow, I expected lyrics to be a little more “deep”, but well, this doesn’t mean they’re bad. On the contrary, they’re awesome. They’re a bit bipolar –contradictory- in the second stanza, but my guess is that this is the purpose: making a “phobia” actually a “phobia” and not an attempt to describe it. To be more specific, I think the second stanza is simply an gimmick done to deceive oneself and to make oneself believing that they fear is irrational and that it’s not real. But well, in the end this doesn’t work.
Notes
“生きながら | To be condemned”; literally, “While living/being alive to be punished by the capital punishment of oblivion/forgetfulness”. While this phrase can be seen as “I am afraid to forget things”, considering the title I’ve seen this phrase as “I’m afraid of being forgotten”. Because this is what “athazagoraphobia” is: the fear of being forgotten.
“天空映す | The dew”; note that the phrase construction actually puts “the sky” as the subject –“The sky reflected upon the morning dew”- if take by itself, but overall, what’s done in the Japanese phrase can’t be done in English and well, I only hope the translation works in this way.
Title: Athazagoraphobia
Vocal: 華憐 (Karen)
Lyrics: 華憐
Composition: 紫煉 (Shiren)
Circle: 電気式華憐音楽集団 (Denkare)
Album: DETONATOR
Athazagoraphobia
この身体絶え間なく 怯え続けていた
生きながら忘却の 極刑に処されて
kono karada taemanaku obietsudzukeita
iki nagara boukyaku no kyokkei ni shosarete
This body has always, always been afraid
To be condemned to be forgotten while alive
例え身体なくしても
記憶の中で生き長らえさせて
tatoe karada nakushite mo
kioku no naka de ikinagaraesasete
Assuming I lose this body
I would survive within memories
Come on. Welcome to my darkness world.
I will lead you in my voice.
Welcome to my darkness world.
I will lead you.
友達も両親も 私の目を見えない
飼い猫も野良犬も 私に近寄らない
tomodachi mo ryuushin mo watashi no me wo mienai
kaineko mo noroinu mo watashi ni chikayoranai
My friends and my parents can’t even look in my eyes
Little cats and stray dogs don’t come near me
天空映す朝露にも
きっと私の姿は映らない
sora utsusu asatsuyu ni mo
kitto watashi no sugata wa utsuranai
The dew reflecting this sky
Surely will not reflect myself
Come on. Welcome to my darkness world.
I will lead you in my voice.
Welcome to my darkness world.
I will lead you.
私を見て声を聞いて
皆の中に私が居ない
watashi wo mite koe wo kite
minna no naka ni watashi ga inai
Look at me, hear my voice
Within everyone, I am not there
Come on. Welcome to my darkness world.
I will lead you in my voice.
Welcome to my darkness world.
I will lead you in my voice.
Come on. Welcome to my darkness world.
I will lead you in my voice.
Welcome to my darkness world.
I will lead you in my voice.