BEGIN – Shimanchu nu takara [Japanese lyrics with English translation]

artist: BEGIN
title: Shimanchu nu takara | The Treasure of the Islanders
discs: Shimanchu nu Takara (single)
            BEGIN no Shimauta ~OMOTE TAKEO 2~ (mini album)
            BEGIN Single Daizenshuu (compilation album)

lyrics, music, arrangement: BEGIN

Romanization

boku ga umareta kono shima no sora wo
boku wa dore kurai shitteirundarou

kagayaku hoshi mo     nagareru kumo mo
namae wo kikaretemo wakaranai

demo dare yori     dare yori mo shitteiru
kanashii toki wo     ureshii toki mo
nandomo miageteita kono sora wo

kyoukasho ni kaitearu koto dake ja wakaranai
taisetsu na mono ga kitto koko ni aru hazu sa
sore ga shimanchu nu takara

boku ga umareta kono shima no umi wo
boku wa dore kurai shitterundarou

yogoreteku SANGO mo     hetteyuku sakana mo [1]
doushitara ii no ka wakaranai

demo dare yori     dare yori mo shitteiru
suna ni mamirete     nami ni yurarete
sukoshi-zutsu kawatteyuku kono umi wo

TEREBI de wa utsusenai RAJIO demo nagasenai
taisetsu na mono ga kitto koko ni aru hazu sa
sore ga shimanchu nu takara

boku ga umareta kono shima no uta wo
boku wa dore kurai shitterundarou

TUBARAAMA mo     DENSAA bushi mo [2]
kotoba no imi sae wakaranai

demo dare yori     dare yori mo shitteiru
iwai no yoru mo     matsuri no asa mo
doko kara ka kikoetekuru kono uta wo

itsu no hi ka kono shima wo hanareteku sono hi made
taisetsu na mono wo motto fukaku shitteitai
sore ga shimanchu nu takara

English translation

How well do I know
These island skies that I was born under

The shining stars,     the passing clouds
Even if you ask me, I don’t know their names

But more than anyone, I know them
In joy and in sorrow
I’ve gazed up at this sky countless times

You can’t understand it just by what’s written in a textbook
Surely, there is something precious here
That is the treasure of the island people

How well do I know
The seas of the island where I was born

The wounded reefs and dwindling fish [1]
I don’t know what to do about them either

But more than anyone, I know
Caressed by the sand, tossed by the waves
This ocean that keeps changing little by little

You won’t see it broadcast on TV or playing on the radio
But surely, there is something precious here
It’s the treasure of the island people

How well do I know
The songs of this island where I was born

The Tubaraama, and the Densaa Bushi, [2]
I don’t even know what the words mean

But, more than anyone, I know
On celebration nights and festival mornings
The songs that drift over me from somewhere far

Until that someday when I part from this island
I want to understand the precious things here more deeply
That’s the treasure of the island people

Japanese

僕が生まれたこの島の空を
僕はどれくらい知っているんだろう

輝く星も 流れる雲も
名前を聞かれてもわからない

でも誰より 誰よりも知っている
悲しい時も 嬉しい時も
何度も見上げていたこの空を

教科書に書いてある事だけじゃわからない
大切な物がきっとここにあるはずさ
それが島人ぬ宝

僕がうまれたこの島の海を
僕はどれくらい知ってるんだろう

汚れてくサンゴも 減って行く魚も
どうしたらいいのかわからない

でも誰より 誰よりも知っている
砂にまみれて 波にゆられて
少しずつ変わってゆくこの海を

テレビでは映せないラジオでも流せない
大切な物がきっとここにあるはずさ
それが島人ぬ宝

僕が生まれたこの島の唄を
僕はどれくらい知ってるんだろう

トゥバラーマも デンサー節も
言葉の意味さえわからない

でも誰より 誰よりも知っている
祝いの夜も 祭りの朝も
何処からか聞えてくるこの唄を

いつの日かこの島を離れてくその日まで
大切な物をもっと深く知っていたい
それが島人ぬ宝

> download as rich text file

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[1] Yogoreteku SANGO: lit: “the increasingly polluted reefs”
[2] Tubaraama, Densaa Bushi: Specific songs and legends of Ryuukyuu

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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2015 Japanese lyrics

2 Comments to BEGIN – Shimanchu nu takara [Japanese lyrics with English translation]

  • John Devaraj says:

    I am working for the worldpeacemuseum and i find this
    beautiful song of Peace from Okinawa. I want to understand the meaning of it and also use to tach it to children on Peace

    • iconoclastiac says:

      Hi John! I’m glad to hear that you liked this song. The feeling of it and the meaning are both very important to me. Please feel free to use the translated lyrics in your project. I would greatly it appreciate if you credit the translation to ico at melodycafe.iconoclastiac.net. Best wishes on your project with the World Peace Museum. It is a worthy cause!

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