Lyrics and translation Shinji Tanimura - Gionmatsuri

Gionmatsuri

化野をぬけて 清滝へ向かう 祇園祭りの遠ばやしを
逃がれるように 宿につけば 心細さもつのる
渡月の橋を 渡りきるまでは
振り向いちゃいけない自分の過去だけは
真顔になった君は去年 確かにこの宿にいた
あー宵山の人波にまぎれて
あー握りしめた 君の手を覚えてる今も

祗王の夢と祇女の涙 庭に佇み夕暮れまで
悲しすぎるわ女はいつも 男の為に生きてくなんて
結婚するより このままの方が 一生懸命生きれるみたいと
つぶやく君は僕よりずっと 大きく見えた旅の宿
あー宵山の人波にのまれて
あー流れてゆけ 若すぎる恋の痣よ

風の噂に聞くこともない 祗園祭りにさらわれたまま
君の写真も少し黄ばんで 僕もいくつか年老いた
もっと男で いられたならば 君も女でいられたならば
恋に走れたあの年の夏 帰ることない暑い夏
あー宵山の人波のどこかを
あー愛している あの人も流れているだろう

あー祗園祭りの 遠ばやしが聞こえる
あーあの日のまま あーあの日のまま
あーあの日のまま あーあの日のまま

Gionmatsuri

Passing through Sagano, toward Kiyotaki, the distante sound of the Gion Festival drums
As if trying to escape them, staying an inn, the loneliness begins to grow
Until I cross the Togetsukyo Bridge
I must not look back, only my past
With a serious expression, last year, you were definitely at this inn
Ah, among the crowds of the evening festival
Ah, I still remember the hand I held, yours

Standing in the garden until dusk, the dreams of Princess Gi-O and the tears of the geisha
How deeply sad, women always living for the sake of men
Rather than marry, I can live more earnestly like this," you muttered
Looking far larger than me, my companion in that transient inn
Ah, swallowed by the crowds of the evening festival
Ah, flow away, scar of a love too young

No news from the wind, stolen away by the Gion Festival
Your photo has yellowed somewhat, and I have also aged some
If only I had been more of a man, if only you could have been more of a woman
That summer we ran away together, that hot summer with no return
Ah, somewhere among the crowds of the evening festival
Ah, the one I love, she too must be drifting

Ah, the distant sound of the Gion Festival drums can be heard
Ah, just as that day, ah, just as that day
Ah, just as that day, ah, just as that day