忘れないで (Wasurenaide)

Lyrics by: Jaejoong

ROMANISATION

WASURENAIDE

BEDDO ni suwatte kimi no koto wo kangaeteita
Aenakute mo ii aitai kono kimochi dake de ii kara

Tsuyoku nokotteiru kioku kimi kara no mijikai MESSEEJI ga
Setsunaku mune shimetsukeru kedo towa no shiawase boku ga mamoritsuzuketai

* Kaze ni natte sotto tsutsumitai
Kimi ga iru sekai ni sugu tonde yukitai
Aitakute mo aitakute mo
Matteru kara tada wasurenaide

Itsumo no hodou ni kimi no kage wo kanjiteita
Shizuka ni me wo toji inoru itsumademo kienai you ni

Fukaku kizutsuiteita koto kizukasezu waratteita kimi ni
Zutto taisetsu ni suru kara sakebitsuzukeru arifureta kotoba demo

* Repeat

Kimi ni fureta yoru kowareteshimau hodo ni
Tadayou kaori ni mata omoi ga tsunoru baby

Itsumademo hatenai you ni
Motto tsuyoku tsunaida te hanarenai you ni

Kaze ni natte sotto tsutsumitai
Kimi ga iru sekai ni sugu tonde yukitai
Aitakute mo aitakute mo
Matteru kara matteru kara

* Repeat

Koko ni iru yo wasurenaide

Credits: lunatunalover @ LJ (Alicia)

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translation

DON'T FORGET ME


I sit on my bed and think of you
It's alright even if I can't see you...
I miss you, but just this feeling is enough

The memories of you remain, they're so strong
I read a short message from you and it makes my chest tighten painfully
But I want to keep protecting your eternal happiness

* I'll become the wind and wrap gently around you
Right now, I want to fly to a world with you in it
Even though I want to see you so much... I miss you so much...
I'm waiting for you, don't forget me

On the path we'd always walk, I felt your presence
Silently, I close my eyes and pray that it'll never disappear

Without acknowledging the things that hurt you deeply, you just kept on laughing and smiling
I'll always remember and cherish that
And I'll keep yelling out to the world, even if the words I use are but ordinary

* Repeat

The nights touched by you...
It's enough to break me; your fragrance hanging in the air and these feelings that build up, baby
So that this'll never end, I'll hold your hand even tighter
So that we'll never be separated...

I'll become the wind and wrap gently around you
Right now, I want to fly to a world with you in it
Even though I want to see you so much... I miss you so much...
I'm waiting for you... I'm waiting for you

* Repeat

I'm right here, don't forget me

~ Translator's Notes

As usual, there were quite a few places where I chose the more interpretive route over the literal one. I felt the story was one of loss, of a loved one who's died and of the one left behind who has to deal with the pain. But someday, they'll be reunited, and he wants her to know that he hasn't forgotten her, he's waiting until he can see her again, so she shouldn't forget him either. I don't know if Jaejoong or anyone else has really said anything about the song. This is just the feeling I got. Maybe he or one of the other boys will say something about it later on. Anyway, on with the notes...

In the first verse, the verb au (逢う) means 'to meet' but in english I felt we use the idea of wanting to see someone (versus meet with them) more often and translated it as such. Japanese also doesn't have a phrase/word that directly corresponds to the English 'I miss you' and 'aitai' is often used in that way.

For the start of the second verse, I took some creative license. More literally, it would go something like 'The strongly left behind memories, your short message makes my chest tighten painfully.' I got the feeling however that he's both reminiscing and perhaps looking through memories, things like short letters/messages she'd written for him.

For the chorus, I did translate pretty literally, with a bit of creative flair thrown in as far as wording is concerned. I got the feeling here of him wanting to join her right then and there, but he knows she wouldn't want him to throw his life away and so he'll just keep waiting until he's able to see her again.

In the next verse, I took a tiny bit of creative license. Literally, the first line would be 'On the usual path/walkway, I felt your shadow.' I thought the idea here was also that of a memory, a memory of the two of them walking there together, to be more precise. In this scenario, I felt it was fitting to the mood to translate it not so much him literally feeling her shadow itself, but rather feeling a shadow of her, feeling like she was there with him even now. This is why I chose 'her presence' for this part. I also felt this worked well with the next line and his silent prayer that she'll be with him always, even if only in spirit.

This next part was also a pretty literal translation. I think the idea here is that he treasures the way she was, the way she didn't let things get to her and instead smiled/laughed, putting on a happy face. As for what exactly it is that he's yelling/crying out, I got the feeling this was meant almost as a "I won't let anyone else forget it either; I'll honor you memory and keep it alive." This could just be me... if anyone else has any thoughts on this, please do share! ^^

For this verse, I must admit I was a little unsure how to handle it. The whole 'kimi ni fureta yoru kowareteshimau hodo ni' part; I was torn over what exactly was going to break... those nights, or him. Oh Japanese and your vagueness... I decided in the end to go with him because I felt the next line worked a bit better with that idea. It gave a feeling of him being a bit overwhelmed; her scent lingers in the room, all the things he's feeling, it all compounds and builds to the point that he feels he'll burst/fall apart. But even then, he doesn't want to ever forget, he doesn't want their time together to ever really end, so he just holds on even harder. Once again, this is just my interpretation and others thoughts are greatly welcomed.

Overall, I felt this is one of their most beautiful Japanese songs to date, on up there with Love in the Ice in my book. I hope you all enjoyed and that this made sense!

Credits: lunatunalover @ LJ (Alicia)

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kanji

忘れないで


ベッドに座って　君のことを考えていた
逢えなくてもいい 逢いたいこの気持ちだけでいいから

強く残っている記憶　君からの短いメッセージが
切なく胸締めつけるけど　永久の幸せ僕が守り続けたい

風になってそっと包みたい　
君がいる世界にすぐ飛んで行きたい
逢いたくても逢いたくても　
待ってるから だ忘れないで

いつもの歩道に 君の影を感じていた
静かに瞳を閉じ祈る いつまでも消えないように

深く傷ついていたこと　気付かせず笑っていた君に
ずっと大切にするから 叫び続ける ありふれた言葉でも

風になってそっと包みたい　
君がいる世界にすぐ飛んで行きたい
逢いたくても逢いたくても　
待ってるから だ忘れないで

君に触れた夜 壊れてしまうほどに
漂う香りに また想いが募る Baby

いつまでも果てないように
もっと強く繋いだ手 離れないように

風になってそっと包みたい　
君がいる世界にすぐ飛んで行きたい
逢いたくても逢いたくても　
待ってるから 待ってるから

風になってそっと包みたい
君がいる世界に すぐ飛んでいきたい
逢いたくても逢いたくても
待ってるから ただ忘れないで

ここにいるよ 忘れないで