I posted a translation of this song yesterday based on the lyrics as I heard them only, since official lyrics haven’t been published online and my digital copy of The Only Garden and the “Existence” single didn’t come with liner notes. Reader Silphion was gracious enough to show me the liner notes from his physical copy so I’m now able to post a proper translation!

I wasn’t too far off though. I’m particularly amused at how I thought I was mishearing 傷 (kizu, wounds) when it was actually the 見えないで (mienaide, don’t see/look) that I had wrong. It’s actually 癒えないで (ienaide, won’t heal). I’m also kicking myself for going with 夢 (yume, dream) rather than 意味 (imi, meaning) in the second line of the second pre-chorus. From context I figured the latter made the most sense, but I was so certain I was hearing a “y” sound at the beginning there. *sweatdrop* Oh well.

I have only one note so I’ll just say it here: where I’ve written “Leave the proof that you’re here,” the verb is actually left unstated. Only the object-marker particle を (wo) tells us that some transitive verb must follow. “Leave” makes the most sense IMO, but “make” would make sense too, or “carve out” which would echo a verb that is used elsewhere in the song.

Edit, April 21, 2021: I was so excited to do this song that I didn’t check miko’s blog for any posts about it. She did do a track-by-track explanation series for The Only Garden. But I don’t think it’s necessary to do a full translation of her post for “EXISTENCE.” To summarize some interesting points:

• miko came up with the intro phrase first and built the song out from there. At first she wanted to be the one to play it, but when she imagined Omi playing it, it was too cool so she gave the phrase to Omi.
• When Mally was recording, the door to her booth was closed, but all other studio doors and windows were open as a coronavirus prevention measure, so miko apologizes to studio staff and the neighborhood for all the noise.
• The intro was lengthened relative to the live version of this song, but that was how long it had been in the original demo.
• Jyou discovered a “new singing voice” over the course of live performances of this song and miko notes that there’s no such thing as “finished” in music and that’s part of what makes it fun.
• Songwriting is hard work but knowing that the world needs this music right now and imagining live shows pushes her through.
• “Living” is a major theme of the mini album.

Alright, now without further ado, on to it!

☆

EXISTENCE

me wo tojireba hitori kimi wa iru ka inai ka
fureru kanshoku sae mo boku no souzou ka?

hitori umare hitori kieru sekai de
kowadaka ni sakebitai kono shoudou wa nan da

tadayou youna ikikata ja kagirinaku tarinai
ikiru nara ikiru nara saa
koko ni iru shoumei wo
daiya mo hikigane demo kono mi ni tsumekonda
ikiru kara ikiru kara ima
koko ni aru kono inochi kizame

hito wa kantan ni kieru itami made yuruyaka ni
wasureteku nara isso kizu wa ienaide

hitori umare hitori kieru sekai de
imi ga aru to suru nara kono shoudou ga kotae ka?

tadayou youna ikikata ja koukai mo kienai
boku ga ita, kimi ga ita
shoumei wo ima koko ni

tadayou youna ikikata ja kagirinaku tarinai
ikiru nara ikiru nara saa
koko ni iru shoumei wo
daiya mo hikigane demo kono mi ni tsumekonda
ikiru kara ikiru kara ima
koko ni aru kono inochi kizame

EXISTENCE

I close my eyes and find myself alone; are you there or not?
I feel your touch, or is it just my imagination?

In a world where we’re born alone and die alone
What is this urge to scream out loud?

A life of aimless drifting isn’t remotely close to enough
If you’re gonna live―if you’re gonna live
Leave the proof that you’re here
I’ve made the diamonds and triggers a part of me
Because I’m living―because I’m living
I’m engraving this life that I’ve got right now

If people can gradually forget even the pain of losing someone
Then I’d rather the wound not heal

In a world where we’re born alone and die alone
If there’s to be some sort of meaning, then is this urge the answer?

Your regrets won’t go away living a life of aimless drifting
The proof I was here, the proof you were here
Let’s leave it right here and now

A life of aimless drifting isn’t remotely close to enough
If you’re gonna live―if you’re gonna live
Leave the proof that you’re here
I’ve made the diamonds and triggers a part of me
Because I’m living―because I’m living
I’m engraving this life that I’ve got right now