千の風になって (A Thousand Winds)

About This Song | Music Video | Lyrics | Meaning

About This Song

Title: 千の風になって

Lyrics Translation: 新井　満

Music: 新井　満

Song By: 秋川　雅史

Release Date: 24 May 2006

千の風になって (sen no kaze ni natte) is the biggest hit song in 2007 and the first No.1 ranked song performed by a classical music singer.

The lyrics of this song are the translation of well known English poem "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep". Japanese singer-songwriter 新井　満 (Man Arai) translated this poem into Japanese and composed the song. Tenor singer 秋川　雅史 (Masafumi Akikawa) made the song popular after performing it during the biggest year-end song festival on 31 December 2006.

This song is popular not only at the Karaoke places but also at the funeral. As in the West, the lyrics of this song have relieved grief and pain of many Japanese who have lost the loved ones.

Masafumi Akikawa - Official Site

Masafumi Akikawa - Wikipedia

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

(original poem) - Wikipedia

Music Video

See Karaoke Song Album page before you start.

Live Performance by Masafumi Akikawa

Karaoke with lyrics

Click here to view in larger size.

Lyrics

Meaning

Please note that song lyrics (and any art works) can have different interpretations.

Please do not weep in front of my grave.

私 watashi	I
...の no	Particle which indicates possessive 私の watashino: my
お墓 ohaka	grave お o (Prefix indicating politeness) + 墓 haka: grave, tomb
...の前で no mae de	in front of ...の no: of + 前 mae: front + で de: in (particle which indicates location)
泣かないで　ください nakanaide kudasai	Please don't weep. 泣く naku: to weep, to cry + ない nai: not (verb-negating suffix) + ください kudasai: please do for me

I am not there. I am not sleeping.

そこ soko	there
...に ni	Particle which indicates location
私 watashi	I
...は wa	Particle which indicates the main topic of a sentence
いません imasen	I'm not there, I don't stay いる iru: to be, to stay + ません masen: not (verb-negating suffix, present form)
眠ってなんかいません nemuttenanka imasen	I'm definately not sleeping. 眠る nemuru: to sleep + なんか nanka: (indicates strong negation) + いません imasen: not ...ing (verb-negating suffix, present progressive form)

A thousand winds. I became a thousand winds and am blowing across that open sky.

千 sen	thousand
の no	Particle which connects a noun with another noun. No particular meaning.
風 kaze	wind
...に ni	Particle which indicates the outcome of changes or transformation
なって natte	to become, and ... なる naru: to become ⇒ なって natte (Verb ending [て te] is used when two or more actions take place in succession)
あの ano	that
大きな ōkina	big, large
空 sora	sky
...を o	Particle which indicates the object of a verb
吹きわたっています fukiwatatte imasu	I'm blowing across 吹きわたる fukiwataru: to blow across = 吹く fuku: to blow + わたる wataru: to go across + います imasu: ...ing (present progressive form)

In autumn, I become a sunlight and fall onto farm lands.

秋 aki	autumn
に ni	in
...は wa	Particle which indicates the main topic of a sentence
光 hikari	light
...に ni	Particle which indicates the outcome of changes or transformation
なって natte	to become, and ... なる naru: to become ⇒ なって natte (Verb ending [て te] is used when two or more actions take place in succession)
畑 hatake	farm
...に ni	Particle which indicates the destination of action
降りそそぐ furisosogu	to fall onto 降る furu: to fall (e.g. rain) + そそぐ sosogu: to pour

In winter, I become snowflakes sparkling like diamonds.

冬 fuyu	winter
...は wa	Particle which indicates the main topic of a sentence
ダイヤ daiya	diamond
のように no yōni	like, similar to
きらめく kirameku	sparkling, glittering
雪 yuki	snow
...に ni	Particle which indicates the outcome of changes or transformation
なる naru	to become

In the morning, I become a bird and awaken you.

朝 asa	morning
...は wa	Particle which indicates the main topic of a sentence
鳥 tori	bird
...に ni	Particle which indicates the outcome of changes or transformation
なって natte	to become, and ... なる naru: to become ⇒ なって natte (Verb ending [て te] is used when two or more actions take place in succession)
あなた anata	you
...を o	Particle which indicates the object of a verb
目覚めさせる mezamesaseru	to awaken 目覚める mezameru: to wake up + させる saseru (Auxiliary verb indicating the causative)

At night, I become a star and watch over you.

夜 yoru	night
...は wa	Particle which indicates the main topic of a sentence
星 hoshi	star
...に ni	Particle which indicates the outcome of changes or transformation
なって natte	to become, and ... なる naru: to become ⇒ なって natte (Verb ending [て te] is used when two or more actions take place in succession)
あなた anata	you
...を o	Particle which indicates the object of a verb
見守る mimamoru	to watch over

Please do not weep in front of my grave.

I am not there. I did not die.

死んでなんかいません shindenanka imasen	I definately didn't die. 死ぬ shinu: to die + なんか nanka: (indicates strong negation) + いません imasen (verb-negating suffix, indicates continuous state)