Branch Road

Luna Sea's song 'Branch Road' delves into the complex emotions surrounding a painful separation. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a relationship at a crossroads, where the lovers are entangled in a web of conflicting feelings. The imagery of 'kura-garite' (entangling) and 'karami-au' (intertwining) tongues suggests a deep, intimate connection that is simultaneously sharp and painful. The 'wakare michi' (separation road) symbolizes the inevitable parting of ways, while the blooming flowers represent the beauty and fragility of their relationship, which once enveloped everything.

The recurring motif of 'kobore-ochiru' (spilling) breath and voice that 'ima mo mimi o hanarenai' (still cannot leave the ears) highlights the lingering impact of the separation. The lovers' voices and breaths, once a source of comfort, now haunt the narrator, emphasizing the enduring pain of the breakup. The 'chi-mamire no hanabira' (blood-stained petals) serve as a powerful metaphor for the wounds inflicted by the separation, suggesting that the relationship, though beautiful, was also marked by suffering.

As the song progresses, the narrator reflects on their past beliefs, such as thinking they could never hurt each other and that their bond would never disappear. These lines reveal a sense of disillusionment and the harsh reality of love's impermanence. The poignant musical interlude and spoken word section further underscore the emotional turmoil. The final lines, 'tsukami-kakete ita zetsubou' (grasping at despair), encapsulate the narrator's struggle to come to terms with the end of the relationship, leaving listeners with a profound sense of melancholy and introspection.