ストラトスフィア（Stratosphere）-Translation-

Unexpectedly (to me anyway) Stratosphere scored the most points in my recent translation poll on Twitter so here it is! I have to say that before I got to translating I hadn't realized how terribly sad this song actually is. I mean, it also is imbued with hope, but yeah, also still very sad too.

I'm sure this will be felt deeply by everyone who has been hit hardest by Covid and lost people they care about; for me as well it makes my heart ache for all the time I have lost with the those dear to me due to essentially being stuck in Japan these past few years, such as with my parents who aren't getting any younger - I'd be lying if I said I wasn't terrified of facing the truth of how time has chipped away at them when I finally can visit again.

QC shoutout goes once again to Chinatsu. \o/

ストラトスフィア (Translation)
作詞：松井五郎
作曲：BOUNCEBACK
編曲：ats-

Japanese	English
ふいにひどい嵐が来なければ あの　空を憎まない いつも　そばに　いてくれる誰かを なぜ　時は　また奪う	As long as a raging storm isn't suddenly looming, I don't hate that sky Why does time rob me of someone who's always been by my side yet again
必ず　来る　明日など ないかも　しれないと　泣いたね だけど胸を巡る 朝に涙は乾くだろう	Something like a tomorrow that will surely come might not even exist, we cried didn't we but it keeps going around in your head The tears will dry in the morning won't they
瓦礫に　埋もれた花にも　その手は 光を諦めようとはしない わずかな水滴も　いつか石を砕くよ 生きるのは　苦しむためじゃない (Don’t cry)	Even for a flower buried in rubble, those hands won't give up on the light Even the smallest drop of water, will one day break the stone Living is not for suffering (Don't cry)
それがただの架空の果実だと そう　人は騙される 分かれ道で枯れた枝の先に まだ希望(ゆめ)はあるんだと	It's just a fictional carrot Yes, people are deceived that there is still a hopeful dream at the end of the withered branch of a crossroads
大事なもの守りたい 選べる答えがかけらでも 深い傷があれば (愛を)込めて抱きしめよう	I want to protect the things dear to me Even if the choices I can make are fragments If there are deep wounds Let's embrace them (with love)
すべてひとつの空 同じ鼓動　刻んでいる	It's all one sky the same heartbeat we chip away at
孤独に　埋もれた　心に　その瞳(め)は 未来を探し出そうとしている 風上を信じて　現実(いま)は続いてゆくよ 生きるのは　悲しむためじゃない (Don’t cry)	In a heart buried in loneliness, those eyes are trying to find a future Believe in where the wind is blowing from, the now will continue on Living is not for grieving (Don't cry)