Gekkouka (translation)

Janne Da Arc's 'Gekkouka' (translated as 'Moonlight Flower') is a poignant exploration of loss, longing, and the passage of time. The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person grappling with the absence of a loved one, using the metaphor of a flower blooming under the moonlight to symbolize fleeting beauty and ephemeral moments. The imagery of the 'sadly blooming flower' and 'shards of the moon' evokes a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, suggesting that the memories of the past are both beautiful and painful.

The recurring theme of time is central to the song's narrative. The lines 'Even if I scatter the sands of time / I know I can never return to those days' highlight the irreversible nature of time and the futility of trying to recapture lost moments. This sentiment is further emphasized by the changing seasons and the stained forests, which symbolize the inevitable changes and decay that come with time. The song's protagonist is caught in a cycle of yearning and sorrow, searching the sky for traces of their lost love and wondering how long it will take for their tears to transform into strength.

The emotional core of 'Gekkouka' lies in its expression of unfulfilled desires and the cruel distance that separates the protagonist from their beloved. The repeated refrain 'I want to meet you, my beloved / I want to touch you, it's so cruel' underscores the pain of unattainable dreams and the harsh reality that the loved one is no longer present. Despite this, the song also conveys a sense of resilience, as the flower continues to live on with vitality and color, even though it knows it will eventually die and be scattered. This duality of beauty and sorrow, life and death, captures the essence of human experience and the enduring power of love and memory.