Sung by Kenshi Yonezu

English version by Gene Hsu

How I wish it were only a dream

Even now I still dream of you

I brush the dust off from old memories

Like returning home to retrieve a forgotten item

In the end it was you who taught me that

Some happiness can’t be reclaimed

My dark, hidden past I dared not speak of

Without you, they would have remained forever dark

I know there is no way I could ever hurt

More than I do now

Even the sadness from that day, even the pain from that day,

I loved it all, together with you

The bitter scent of lemons remains embedded in my heart

Can’t make my way home ’til the rain lets up

Even now you remain my light

In the darkness I traced outlines of your back

I remember it’s contour so clearly

Every time I encounter something that’s all too overwhelming

That’s the tears that won’t stop overflowing

What were you doing, what were you watching

Your face in profile, with a look I’d never seen

If you are out there somewhere now

Lost in the same tears, same loneliness as I

Please won’t you just erase me from your memory

This I pray from the bottom of my heart

More than I knew

I was in love with you

Since then I can’t

Breathe easy

It seems so unreal

How you were always by my side back then

But I will never forget

That is the certain truth

Even the sadness from that day, even the pain from that day,

I loved it all, together with you

The bitter scent of lemons remains embedded in my heart

Can’t make my way home ’til the rain lets up

Like a piece of sliced fruit

Even now you remain my light

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Lemon レモン

Japanese lyrics (Original)

夢ならばどれほどよかったでしょう

未だにあなたのことを夢にみる

忘れた物を取りに帰るように

古びた思い出の埃を払う

戻らない幸せがあることを

最後にあなたが教えてくれた

言えずに隠してた昏い過去も

あなたがいなきゃ永遠に昏いまま

きっともうこれ以上　傷つくことなど

ありはしないとわか

あの日の悲しみさえ　あの日の苦しみさえ

そのすべてを愛してた　あなたとともに

胸に残り離れない　苦いレモンの匂い

雨が降り止むまでは帰れない

今でもあなたはわたしの光

暗闇であなたの背をなぞった

その輪郭を鮮明に覚えている

受け止めきれないものと出会うたび

溢れてやまないのは涙だけ

何をしていたの　何を見ていたの

わたしの知らない横顔で

どこかであなたが今　わたしと同じ様な

涙にくれ　淋しさの中にいるなら

わたしのことなどどうか　忘れてください

そんなことを心から願うほどに

今でもあなたはわたしの光

自分が思うより

恋をしていたあなたに

あれから思うように

息ができない

あんなに側にいたのに

まるで嘘みたい

とても忘れられない

それだけが確か

あの日の悲しみさえ　あの日の苦しみさえ

そのすべてを愛してた　あなたとともに

胸に残り離れない　苦いレモンの匂い

雨が降り止むまでは帰れない

切り分けた果実の片方の様に

今でもあなたはわたしの光

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About Verse & Voice

Gene Hsu, a singer-songwriter-ethnomusicologist and professional interpreter and translator. Gene is engaged in intercultural and interdisciplinary research in music and translation. She has presented her papers at academic and professional conferences around the world. Furthermore, her research draws attention to the historical and intercultural significance of traditional languages, song writing and song translation. Gene hopes her work can contribute to bridge intercultural and language gaps and towards better understanding and world peace.

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