Translation of the song とんぼ artist Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi

コツコツとアスファルトに刻む

Every time I stamp

足音を踏みしめるたびに

steadily on asphalt roads,

俺は俺で在り続けたい

I just hope to survive

そう願った

by and as myself.

裏腹な心たちが見えて

Seeing those duplicitous hearts,

やりきれない夜を数え

counting the countless nights;

のがれられない闇の中で

In the darkness without an exit,

今日も眠ったふりをする

tonight I pretend to sleep again.

死にたいくらいに憧れた

I was once a thorough admirer

花の都“大東京”

of Great Tokyo, the floral metropolis.

薄っぺらのボストン・バッグ

So I took my thin Boston bag

北へ北へ向かった

then trekked to north, northward.

ざらついたにがい砂を噛むと

Chewing the dirt so tough and bitter,

ねじふせられた正直さが

My honesty was knocked out by reality,

今ごろになって

and now that is

やけに骨身にしみる

immersed in my spirit.

ああ しあわせのとんぼよ どこへ

Ah, dragonfly of joy, whither -

お前はどこへ飛んで行く

Whither are you flying?

ああ しあわせのとんぼが ほら

Ah, dragonfly of joy, look here,

舌を出して笑ってらあ

Stick your tongue out and smile!

明日からまた冬の風が

Tomorrow will winter winds

横っつらを吹き抜けて行く

blow by my face again;

それでもおめおめと

It may make me feel ashamed,

生きぬく俺を恥らう

though I'm determined to live a shameless life.

裸足のまんまじゃ寒くて

I bare my feet,

凍りつくような夜を数え

Counting the frozen cold nights;

だけど俺はこの街を愛し

I used to love this city, however,

そしてこの街を憎んだ

this love turned into hate.

死にたいくらいに憧れた

I was once blindly longing

東京のバカヤローが

for the fuckers of Tokyo;

知らん顔して

But they're just standing, watching,

黙ったまま突っ立ってる

numb as if they were dumb.

ケツの座りの悪い都会で

In this city lacking of my position,

憤りの酒をたらせば

the drink of ire I drink is

半端な俺の骨身にしみる

immersed in my useless spirit.

ああ しあわせのとんぼよ どこへ

Ah, dragonfly of joy, whither -

お前はどこへ飛んで行く

Whither are you flying?

ああ しあわせのとんぼが ほら

Ah, dragonfly of joy, look here,

舌を出して笑ってらあ

Stick your tongue out and smile!