So there’s this song that really speaks to my heart, called 琥珀 by Mikuni Shimokawa. I’ve known it for years (cue my username), but I couldn’t find the reason why she specifically refers to ‘amber’. Anyone has an idea ? I’m not asking about the translation, i’m curious if there’s any cultural story behind it because I couldn’t find any.
Here is a glimpse of the lyrics :
**琥珀**に染まる路 足跡を刻んで
ここまでやっと来た 今日も前だけを見つめて
Ah 時間だけが私より早く そっと通り過ぎて
振り返った景色 蒼く輝いた
出遭えた生命(いのち)あるすべてのもの
抱きしめたいと思う
この大きな河… 流されぬよう
心をひとつにしたい
だってみんな同じ旅人
On this amber-paved road, I etch my footsteps,
I’ve finally come this far, always looking straight ahead, even today.
Ah, time alone is faster than I.
Quietly passing along,
I look back at the glistening blue landscape behind me.
Every living thing that I have met,
I want to hold them tight in my arms,
So they won’t be swept away by this great river
I want our hearts to join as one
For, in the end, we are all travelers.
2 comments
I’d say there’s no special meaning, but maybe your translation was off slightly!
It’s likely “amber-colored road” and not “paved”–染まる is like “dyed” or “stained,” so it’s just a description of the color of the road, likely for the artistic choice. Maybe it’s referring to a dirt road? A road at sunset? Unsure, but it’s just the color!
Maybe sunset or filled with colored leaves.