Thanks for Waiting! Hopefully, it was worth it.

Translator’s Note: In the song the singer and his friend switch backpacks which becomes important when trying to interpret his lines about “the things which I left in your care” which presumably means the things in his backpack. He says he doesn’t need them which may harken back to his line about those things we carry with us  being fakes, and that the important thing is that they mean something to us, not that they have meaning. He’s basically saying, I could lose all those things and as along as I have you I can still be who I am. This is metaphorically speaking of course.

Bump of Chicken - Arrows

we pretended we were explorers on a great adventure, on a scribbled map
one lost child met another, in front of the area for nonflammable trash
with baggage packed full of all my most despised memories
“I’m never going anywhere, just bury me here,” I laughed.

of course we resemble each other, it’s just that kind of place.

we ask one another where we each came from, it’s silly
what were we thinking, telling each other how we got here.
I’ve been everywhere I ever wanted to go, underneath the clouds about to burst forth with tears.
I haven’t lost anything, but I feel somehow empty, and yet still…

I have to tell you, “It’s OK”
but I’m not OK, in fact I’m not moving at all. Ah, well…

What I found was real. Finding you was real.
If it’s something that’s going to get thrown away, I’ll hold it. So give it here.
I see, as long as I have this, I won’t ever go hungry
let’s leave this place together, let’s go.

we pretended we were explorers making new friends, in a sudden downpour
one lost child met another, and we switched backpacks
when we’ve been everywhere we want to go, and we’ve seen quite enough
we’ll climb those clouds, so close and yet so very far away.

we’re fooling ourselves about just one thing
and we both see it
if no matter what we carry with us, it will never be ours
then no matter how much it means to us, it’s fake
but that doesn’t change that it means something to us
that which I left in your care, I don’t need it
no doubt if you’re with me, I can be a lost child and still be true to myself
let’s leave this place together

we pretended we were explorers on a great adventure, underneath the clouds that had stopped crying
even though we were apart, we were still in front of that area for nonflammable trash.
I was shocked when we did it again, switching our backpacks
my baggage became packed full of wonderful memories

I have to say this right now
I have to say it to myself, to that part of me that can’t let you go.

It’s ok. What we found was real. Finding you was real.
I can’t throw it away so I take it with me, that time I spent as a lost child
those I met were alive, and so were you, laughing
You walked with me when I was lost. It’s not fake baggage.
With this, I think I can stay true to myself.
Let’s leave this place together.

Tears meet other tears and build this arc of song
if we meet again after I’ve been everywhere I wanted to go
without the baggage, we’ll cross that arc just two bodies
and climb that cloud, so close and yet so very far away.

Translated By: Brian Stewart & Takako Sakuma