“Devil by Domoto Tsuyoshi”

I originally translated this for yesterday’s post, but then I ran it through my “ordinary-person” mental filter (Yes, I have one. Don’t most people? I would assume not, but then how do they act like it? I may not use it often – I may not even realize I need to use it which of course is the point – but if I can get just a hint of a niggle that “this is not-good” then I can try to stop, figure out what is socially acceptable in this situation, and replace it. Assuming I have any idea of what *is* ordinary – it’s an ongoing process.) and realized it was little too strange to qualify as romantic. I used to get in trouble in creative writing classes, when the teacher would tell us to write something romantic and my result, invariably, would just perplex everyone. All that aside;

“Devil” is one of my favorite of Tsuyoshi’s songs. It’s short in lyrics but long in emotion, the repetition layering and building and sustaining until it’s almost unbearable. No matter how many times I hear it it makes me ache inside, in no small part because I have yet to see Tsuyoshi do a performance of it where he does not get choked up. And in that world of his, and when the songs he writes are known for being so self-referential – watching this one, I have to wonder… oh, Tsuyoshi, what did they do to you?

I do love…
I want to love…
I do love…
I want to love…

If the devil who punishes purity
Should scowl at the two of us,
I would definitely not hesitate.
I would say that
From you to me, from me to you,
Things like love vanished a long time ago.

If the devil who punishes purity
Should scowl at the two of us,
I would definitely not hesitate.
I would say that,
While acting unconcerned, pretending.
I would gently brush your hand.

I do love…
I want to love…
I do love…
I want to love…
I do love…
I want to love…
I do love…
I want to love…