More songs by back number
Description
Here, love looks less like a movie drama and more like an awkward party alone: candles are burning, the phone is ringing, but it's not the right voice on the other end. It's funny and painful at the same time - congratulations come from everyone except the one you need. And all that's left is to joke about ‘happy birthday’ to yourself, while your thoughts revolve around the failed ‘what if’.
The song sounds like an admission that falling in love is a strange sport without rules: there are enough words to keep the conversation going, but there is no reason to close the distance. And this makes the simple truth even clearer - one-sided feelings teach you nothing but patience.
Lyrics and translation
Original
いつの間にやら日付は変わって なんで年 取るとるんだろう。
もう背は伸びないくせに 着 信の音で飛び起きたけど。
損したな 君かと思ったのに。
何かの手違いで好きになってくれないかな。
どうに も君のいない場所は 空気が薄くてさ。
くだ らない話は思いつくのに 君を抱きしめていい理由だけが見つからない。
ああそうか そうだよな。
ハッピーバースデー 片 思いの俺。
愛が何かは知らないけれど 好きと いう名前の痛みになら詳しいかも。
君に も教えてあげたいけれど 結局教 わるのは俺だろう。
このまま今日が終わり明日が来れば いつになっても縮まらないこの距離を。
影に君も爪に君もならないやり取りを。
もっ と単純な名前で呼んであげられるよう。
何一つ終われないけど。
つまらない言葉の繰り返しで つ じつまもきっと合ってない物語の続きに。
独 りよがりの毎日に ハッピ ーバースデー 君に言ってほしいだけ。
くだらな い話は思いつくのに 君を抱きしめ ていい理由だけが見つからない。
ああそうか そうだよな。
ハッピーバースデー 片思いの俺。
ハッピーバースデー 片思いの俺。
English translation
Before I know it, the date has changed, and I wonder why I get older.
Even though I haven't grown any taller, I jumped up at the sound of the call.
I thought it was you.
I wonder if I'll fall in love with you because of some mistake.
No matter what, the air is thinner where you aren't.
I can think of all the nonsense I can think of, but I just can't find a reason to hold you.
Oh, I see. That's right.
Happy Birthday to me.
I don't know what love is, but I might be familiar with the pain called love.
I'd like to teach you too, but in the end I'll be the one learning.
If today ends like this and tomorrow comes, this distance will never get smaller.
An exchange where neither you nor your nails become shadows.
I wish I could call her by a simpler name.
I can't finish anything though.
It's a continuation of a story that doesn't really fit together, with boring words repeated over and over again.
I just want you to say happy birthday to me every day when I'm self-centered.
I can think of all the silly stories, but I just can't find a good reason to hold you.
Oh, I see. That's right.
Happy birthday to my unrequited love.
Happy birthday to my unrequited love.