Tohoshinki - Stand By U translation

Aaand because I've translated their newest single, I figured I might as well post it before I forget. I've had this done for a while now but of course failed to put it up >.<

TRANSLATION

Ever since the day you left without saying goodbye,
It feels like the scenery and scent of this city have changed
I wanted to be your everything and the promise I made remains unfulfilled,
Becoming but a memory

And when you cried all alone,
If I'd flown to your side, would you still be beside me?
If only I could, I want to tell you once more that I love you
My feelings for you and these words that have overflowed... now they won't reach you

* Where are you? Who's with you there?
How are you dressed? I wonder, what are you laughing at?
I'm here, even now I'm here
Believing that you and I will see each other again

My feelings haven't changed... I'm thinking only of you...

Seeing someone from behind with their hair tied back, I think it's you
But she turns around and it's a stranger; I've been disappointed this way so many times
And whenever a call comes in, I hope to see your name
I spend every day like this, it's pathetic

"I can't forget you"... that's a lie, the truth is I don't want to forget
I don't need to pretend to be strong anymore
Without you here, I'll never feel happiness again...
No matter how hard I try, the tears that overflow won't stop any time soon

* Repeat

So now, here I am, alone and calling your name again
I can't bear any more pain than this
But I have no other choice

Just you being here, everything seemed to shine
And though those days won't return,
Whatever happens, whatever I lose,
I never want to forget that I loved you

Wherever you are, whoever you're with,
Whatever you're dreaming about, whatever you're laughing about,
The whole time, I'll be here, even now I'm here
Believing that one day I'll see you again

My feelings haven't changed... I'm thinking only of you...
My feelings haven't changed... I'm thinking only of you...


Translator's Notes

I wanted to be your everything and the promise I made remains unfulfilled,
Becoming but a memory
Literally, the verb in the second line would be "changing" into a memory. I struggled a bit here, not because this was a difficult verse, but because I felt 変わる (kawaru / to change) was chosen to emphasize/continue the 'changes' that have happened since 'she' left, the way the scenery and scent of the city seem to have changed now that she's gone. The use of 'mo' (even, also) after 'yakusoku' (promise) also acts as an emphasizer. The other fun part was the 'shimau' attached to the verb that adds a sense of finality and sometimes, as in this case, a sense of regret. I chose to use "becoming" because of the phrase "becoming but a ...." I felt it has a sense of longing to it, that whatever the new outcome is, it's not the preferred one. I felt it was most fitting with the mood of the lines even though the verb changed (lol no pun intended)

My feelings haven't changed... I'm thinking only of you...
I took a little creative license with the first part of this line. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what would be the most accurate expression of 変わらず思っているよ (kawarazu omotte iru yo) in English. Very litterally, it could be 'without changing, I'm thinking of/feeling for (you).' In this case, I think it was being used moreso in emphasis of the line to follow than to stand on its own yet at the same time I felt something was lost by condensing it into something like 'I'm still thinking only of you.' I justed wanted to note that in an attempt to prevent 'that's not what that part means' comments ^^;; Though, if anyone has any thoughts/suggestions, please let me know!

Seeing someone from behind with their hair tied back, I think it's you
I spend every day like this, it's pathetic
I've clumped these two lines together here since they're from the same verse. The 'kasanete' in the first line rather threw me off but I think this is pretty accurate nonetheless. Kasaneru can be used to mean 'overlap, add, pile up' but it's also used in a variety of other ways to the extent that I was rather unsure exactly what role it played here. As close as I got was thinking that since the object is kimi (you), there was the idea of 'adding' the person he's wanting to see to other people? The idea of her (the 'you' in the song) is being placed/put onto this figure he sees from behind. Sort of that 'I see you everywhere' feeling? I could be way off with this, so once again any input is much appreciated.

In the second line here (and the last line of the verse), it would more literally be translated as 'I spend everyday in this ridiculous/uncool way' or perhaps 'Everyday passes in this ridiculous/uncool way.' Kakkowarui is probably most commonly translated as 'uncool' but that doesn't really work here. It also carries a sense of absurdity/ridicule and I've seen it translated as 'clunky' too. This got me thinking that maybe the image here is one of him as a sort of... sad excuse for a human being? He can't get over her, he's seeing her everywhere and is always hoping she'll show up on the caller ID. This is why I translated it as 'pathetic.' As usual, if anyone has any thoughts on this, I'd love to hear them.

I don't need to pretend to be strong anymore
Once again, this is a somewhat lose interpretation. I couldn't get the verse to flow smoothly when I was translating it more literally, so I finally decided to basically nix the 'rashisa naraba' bit in the Japanese >.<>one but couldn't get the literal English into a neat little connecting line. I think the 'pretending to be strong' bit is in reference to the pretending he can't forget her but there's no point in lying when it won't make a difference? And then of course come the tears. Any thoughts on this? I was seriously like 'argh what is up with this line??' for quite a while, so I'd love it if anyone else speaks some Japanese and has thoughts on this! ^^;;;

I feel like my notes have somewhat become a 'if you know Japanese, what do you think?'-plead for help XD Unfortunately, my contact with native speakers and second language Japanese speakers is pretty much nonexistant now that I've graduated, so I'm rather literally on my own and tend to fret about mistranslating/interpreting so... yes, if anyone knows some Japanese, I would love some feedback ^^;;;