List of Translations

These translations are predominantly of lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto, originally of Happy End. There are a few Haruomi Hosono, Eiichi Ohtaki,...

May 04, 2025

Translation: Expecting Rivers (Yellow Magic Orchestra)

I've been wrestling with the lyrics to Expecting Rivers (Takahashi's; music by Takahashi and Sakamoto) for over a year, on and off. Here's the least unsatisfactory version I've managed to date. I hope someday I can figure out a better one.

As for the song itself, well — what's there to say? If you swear by Naughty Boys the way I do, then it's already taken up residence in your heart.



:::



Dreams fly by
In the starless sky
Dreams fly by

Now and then, on pitch-black nights, I go out walking.
We get swept away as we fumble along.

The river is splashing and flowing in its banks.
The water is the color of tears.
You are wavering, you’ve lost your way.
And me, I go wandering around.

Dreams fly by
In the starless sky
Dreams fly by

The river is splashing and flowing in its banks.
The water is the color of tears.
You are wavering, you’ve lost your way.
And me, I go wandering around.

Dreams fly by
In the starless sky
Dreams fly by

Now and then, on pitch-black nights, I go out walking.
We got swept away as we fumbled along.

Above the gliding river
where the water is brimming over,
you are shaking, you are trembling,
and I get up, since it's time.

We put the oars to the water
and the boat makes good progress.
Let's ply onward, you and I,
laughing as we go.

Dreams fly by
In the starless sky
Dreams fly by

We put the oars to the water
and the boat makes good progress.
Let’s ply onward, you and I,
laughing as we go.

Dreams fly by
In the starless sky
Dreams fly by



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