I don't feel like there's much need for annotation on this one, either because I'm so used to Sawao Yamanaka's lyrical style that I don't notice the oddities as much, or because it's legitimately a bit more straightforward lyrics here.
Anyway, a very cute, sad song reflecting on the pillows' eventual end. There have been a few songs with this theme in recent years, notably "Quarter Bakugeki no Tomo" (Quarter-Century Friends). Yamanaka has stated in several recent interviews that the 4th Movement will be the pillows' final chapter (in case you're not a pillows fan, each "era" of the pillows' history is referred to as various "Movements," based loosely on a combination of changes to the lineup/label backing and evolution through various styles).
the pillows - Chelsea Hotel
Translated by Alan Rice
When I flip open the lid on this familiar music box
the melody ringing out goes round and round, as if it were writing out eternity
From the old tune that came through faintly, a new dream came
And time flowed on, as if to hide my loneliness
Please don't forget, my friend
how we shook up Chelsea Hotel
dancing about on an empty floor
Free, oh, free
It's such a funny story you could weep
but I don't know how to cry
I opened my eyes and stood up, looking from the light to the darkness
Unable to erase the pain of the sound I was drinking in
Please don't forget, my friend
how we lit up Chelsea Hotel
The lights and the shadows and the rock music with you
Free, oh, free
It's a fairy tale that can't be told
but I don't know how to try
Please don't forget, my friend
how we shook up Chelsea Hotel
dancing about on an empty floor
Free, oh, free
It's such a funny story you could weep
but I don't know how to cry
It's a fairy tale that can't be told
but I don't know how to try
The original Japanese lyrics:
懐かしいオルゴールの蓋を外せば 響くメロディー
永遠を刻むように 回り続ける
ぼんやりと染み渡った 古い旋律 新しい夢
寂しさを覆うように 時は流れた
忘れないでくれ my friend
チェルシーホテル揺らして
人気のないフロアではしゃいだ
free oh free
泣きそうな笑い話
But I don't know how to cry
目を開けて立ち上がって 光の方へ闇の方へ
飲み込んだ音の痛み 今も消せない
忘れないでくれ my friend
チェルシーホテル照らした
光と影とキミとロックミュージック
free oh free
語られないおとぎ話
But I don't know how to try
忘れないでくれ my friend
チェルシーホテル揺らして
人気のないフロアではしゃいだ
free oh free
泣きそうな笑い話
But I don't know how to cry
語られないおとぎ話
But I don't know how to try
