[Music] English translation of the lyrics “鳴らない目覚まし時計 (naranai mezamashi dokei; the alarm clock that doesn’t ring)”

Credits: PONYCANYON
Lyrics: Kato Kanako
English translation: tenshi_akuma and Hazy from ECI

That clock never ticks again.
Just like our current relationship.
[One cannot put back the clock.]

tick tack…
Even though we parted temporarily,
we got together again and had looked forward to a future together.

One day, all of a sudden,
it stopped and never tick again.
Our alarm clock.

If I could reverse the hands of the clock…

I would embrace you once again.
I would run after your lonely back I saw through a door on that day, and would never let you go.
(I understand it’s just a dream never happens in reality, but) I’m still not awake from the dream.
So please wake me up, (the alarm clock)

tick tack…
Time passes, oblivious (to my sufferings) like closed eyes.
Only our memories remain.

When we promised to live together,
I bought this alarm clock with you.

If I could forward the hands of the clock…

I would like to touch your slightly cold finger again.
As the streets where we have walked along changed,
did you know that our season would also change day by day?

Under the dawn sky, where are you sleeping now?

As we can’t see each other again,
you’ll forget both me and our days before long.
But I have to admit,
I’m still waiting for you, staring at the clock hands.
You can laugh at my silliness.

So please mend the clock which had stopped to tick once again.

mou nido to ugoka nai
tokei no hari
marude ima no futari no yoh da ne
(One cannot put back the clock.)

tick tack…
hanare te tatte mata kasane atte
zutto onaji mirai yume miteta no ni

aruhi totuzen ni toma tte shima tta mama
naranai bokura no mezamashi dokei

moshimo hari wo hidari ni modose ru nara

moh ichi do daki shime te
ano hi door no mukou kimi no sabishi ge na senaka
oikake te hanasa naide itara na n te
samenai yume wo mite ru boku wo okoshi te yo

tick tack…
shiranu kao de toki wa nagare te yu ku
omoide dake koko ni nokoshi ta mama

futari de kurasou to kimi to yakusoku shite
issho ni ka tta yo ne mezamashi dokei

moshimo hari wo migi ni susume ru nara

mou ichi do fure taku te
sukoshi tumetai yubi
kimi to aruita matinami
u tu rou yoh ni bokutachi no kisetu mo
ituka kawa tte shimau koto wo kimi wa shi tte tano?

yoake no sora kimi wa ima dokode nemuru no?

mou ni do to ae naku te
yagate kimi mo
boku mo hibi mo wasu rete shimau darou
waka tte iru no ni tokei no hari mitume nagara
mada kimi wo ma tte iru boku wo wara tte yo

ugo kashi te yo
toki wo tome ta futatu no hari wo
mou ichi do

40 thoughts on “[Music] English translation of the lyrics “鳴らない目覚まし時計 (naranai mezamashi dokei; the alarm clock that doesn’t ring)””

  1. Personally this one is tougher to translate than earlier two songs…

    This lyrics have a very deep meaning. The alarm clock is a key item in the song. The songwriter used intentionally various expressions related to time, clock and clock hands.

    The alarm clock is the item the ex-couple bought together to live together. But it doesn’t work anymore like they are now…. His dream (to get together again with her) seems hopeless now, but he’s still wishing to be in reality. He wished he had a time machine. He’s living in a fantasy… He knows that he shouldn’t, so he asked the alarm clock to wake him up to the reality. Very sad song… 🙁

    Reply
    • thanks Tenshi! TT____TT <3

      this song is one of my favorites, I love it, my friend and I have cried reading so deep and sad lyrics. definitely he has his heart broken from pain of their separation. He wants to go back in time in those days where they were happy together like a awake dream, even wanted a future together for that reason they were ready to wake up to this reality, together!. But time stopped as well as their current relationship.
      At present they can’t see each other again, for that reason maybe she will forget him and all their memories before long.

      *+ There are two sentences: "As we can’t see each other again" & "where are you sleeping now?" +*
      maybe she has a new relationship, a boyfriend?!? or maybe she is engaged to be married?!?.
      but He loves her so much that he will follow waiting for her. he has a hope that she will return to his side again ( like Tick the clock).
      I think that He really is deeply in love with her. no doubt. bcos she is his true love.

      Reply
      • now I understand why Sukkie was emphasizing the LYRICS of all songs.
        Sukkie wants to show us his deepest emotions and how he feels now. I know that the writer is another person, but emotions and feelings are only from our Sukkie. I believe that our sukkie has a broken heart from pain for his separation with his loved. my poor sukkie TT.TT. sukkie not deserves to suffer. he is a wonderful boy. I love and respect him. T.T <3
        If He is still waiting for her. then she must to be a wonderful woman. Sukkie must love her a lot. if she means his true love and happiness for his life, then I will pray much so that they can being together again.

        Prince Sukkie, zikzin fighting! will always support you!

      • –> 150213 Sukkie said: This album ‘monochrome’ describes A MAN who FALLS IN LOVE with fear in his heart and also who pursues his dreams.

        *I think that the fear is perhaps she can not return to his side again, even she will finish moving away much more of him. Or probably the people around them do not want to accept their love therefore will exist much discord that maybe will destroy their relationship.
        * pursues his dreams = The HOPE.

        –> 150222 What’s In? March interview:

        Interviewer: Does this ultimately means that the essence of each song represents JANG KEUN SUK’s HEART?
        JKS: OF COURSE, I worked with the lyricists several times to fine-tune the words.

        Interviewer: You are not afraid to break away from your old image?
        JKS: I am not afraid at all. There are many aspects that cannot be seen, but I have a strong desire to show the TRUTH from the HEART.

        Interviewer: The romantic words are also part of the reason.
        JKS: But the soft and melancholy songs like “Pale as snow” makes this album distinctive. Do you not sense an enduring and strong presence? Very few people even myself knows what it represents (laughs).
        Interviewer: It’s one of the unique qualities of Jang Keun Suk (laughs), well, LOVE is DEPICTED HERE here BUT It is a FORBIDDEN LOVE.
        JKS: YES, you are not supposed to love.

        Interviewer: The last verses of “If we see tomorrow” is also very remarkable.
        JKS: Well, coming back home doesn’t mean it’s the end.

      • Hi Fabiland7!
        I love what you had written. It is exactly how I feel. To say it frankly, you are only a minority who shares this feeling (but I agree with you). Most of the eels I know get upset and some even use vulgarities on the woman he used to date.They love to use the phrase, “she is not deserving of him’ which I absolutely HATE.

        I seldom follow all his interview until I chanced upon them or friends post at ECI. So a big thanks to the interview about Monochrome. I will listen to his songs with that in mind.

        xox
        Mandy Pan

      • Interviewer: What caused Jang Keun Suk to think profoundly about his life? Does this represent something in the future?

        JKS: Hmm… It concerned a relationship I had about a year before I graduated from college.

        ♥ omg! Sukkie had a girlfriend (?).

        * When graduated? on February 21, 2014, Sukkie graduated from Han Yang University.
        then Sukkie had a girlfriend in February of 2013 (?) omg!. I guess that their relationship began in 2012.

        2012?!!! omg!. I guess the love of his life is …

      • Hí! MANDY PAN ^^

        I also agree with you, sukkie deserves to be happy, and if he chose her, this is because she must be a wonderful woman, Sukkie is a smart and wonderful man, we should not doubt his choice in love, therefore we should support the and and respect his decision/choice.

      • Hi Fabiland7, I’m afraid that the translation you read seems to include incorrect info. Especially, there is no description at all about his past relationship. I mean this part.

        >Interviewer: What caused Jang Keun Suk to think profoundly about his life?
        >Does this represent something in the future?
        >
        >JKS: Hmm… It concerned a relationship I had about a year before I graduated from college.

        I don’t have time to check all translation you shared here, so maybe there are more. We’re going to post our version here. I hope it’s more reliable for you.

      • Hi Dear Tenshi, I’ll be very grateful with you, if you translate it too ^^, I always appreciate and love your work too. thanks You.

        What’s In? March interview. About this part :

        >Interviewer: What caused Jang Keun Suk to think profoundly about his life?
        >Does this represent something in the future?
        > (korean): 자신의 인생에 관해서 깊게 생각하게 된 이유나 원인은? 무언가 짐작 가는 일이 있습니까?
        >
        >JKS: Hmm… It concerned a relationship I had about a year before I graduated from college.
        > (korean): “뭘까…1년 정도 전에 대학을 졸업한 것이 관계 있으려나..”

        well, I do not speak korean nor japanese, but some people who speak korean says the English translation is well done, could have used other words, but it is precisely what one wants to express. the focus of the question and answer are good.

        of course I’ll be waiting for your translations soon 🙂

        please, Dear Tenshi, you could translate our sukkie interview in the ‘MORE’ Magazine August 2014 issue too. pleaseeeee! thanks You so much.

  2. very profound indeed, and i am truly impressed by the lyrics writer, who cleverly use the alarm clock to bring out several analogies….

    personally i like the contrast in the lyrics “if i could reverse the hands of the clock” (wishing he could go back to the times they were together) vs “If i could forward the hands of the clock” (he is imagining what their life would have been…the future that they had both looked forward to)

    Using the 2 hands of the clock to represent the couple, now that the clock had stopped ticking, signifying that they are forever parted…..truly sad

    Reply
  3. This is a very sad song, its the loss of love. But this song penetrates in my heart. Just sad.

    I hope he is well in real life and lives happily. I hope he is not abandoned. I wish him well in his love life, a woman who can encourage him even when everything is not going well.

    Reply
  4. Feelings come and go, but true love is a decision – unconditional commitment regardless of seasons and time.

    I hope deeply that he finds someone whose love for him is unconditional.

    Apo
    Og

    Reply
  5. Oh, it´s beautiful love song! I didn´t expect that because of the name. I love the part when Suk says “One cannot put back the clock”, …and the guitar starts, “tick tack”…♫♪ Love the sound of the guitar and his voice. It´s even better now when I understand the lyrics. Thank you so much Tenshi and Hazy. You are my heroes. ♥

    Reply
  6. I don’t know why, but For me It seems like he has a broken heart and now he’s suffering from pain of separation !!
    Very very sad 🙁

    Reply
  7. for my own opinion this song represent the feeling of him when he encountered his problem resently , the pain he felt the sadness, the pressure all iin one he gathered all of this feeling to make this songs very meaningful for him, though I dont understand the lyrics so far but when I am listeninh this song I can feel his pain and agony really touches me deeply,

    Reply
  8. He who has achieved so much cannot hold on to any relationship. If he chooses relationship, he loses all he achieved. So how? I always believe that if we love him, we must let him go. So what if eels do not like his choice, in the first place who the hell are we to decide for him. His relationship with eels is only virtual and I hope those possessive eels will realise that HE DOES NOT KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND NEVER WILL. Give him our blessing, please.

    Reply
  9. hello! Hí! MANDY PAN ^^

    I also agree with you, sukkie deserves to be happy, and if he chose her, this is because she must be a wonderful woman, Sukkie is a smart and wonderful man, we should not doubt his choice in love, therefore we should support the and and respect his decision/choice.

    Reply
  10. I always think suk is a mature young man. its normal to love and to get hurt. if the girl was not meant for him..so..they wont get together. I love this song..he really can expressed himself through song because he’s the type who speak frm his heart..it just he cant speak directly to eels about his love relationship because eels may have different mindset..matured and immature eels. I hope eels could be more supportive and open minded..so..he could show his vulnerable side more for us. even I bet he wont do much about that. the only way he feel safe to do it is through this album. so that..this album means so much for him.

    Reply
  11. I came to like the melody and the beat of this song since the first time I listened to it yet had no idea at all about how deep the lyrics were… whoa… it’s frustratingly beautiful :’). If it’s describing his real life experience, he won’t cling too much to the past – to that broken alarm clock- and move on slowly but surely to better and happier days :). zikzin, sukkie! love will find you <3!

    Reply
  12. I’ll be honest, there have been MANY Korean and Japanese lyrics that don’t make sense or have much feeling. And, I think that is why, for a while, I was turned off by listening. Both of the songs you have translated are so deep and meaningful, that even if I didn’t like the beat that went along with the lyrics, I would still listen to these songs because of the heartfelt meaning. JKS and his writers have renewed my interest in listening to JPOP — still not sure about kpop! I can’t wait until my album comes in the mail. 🙂

    Reply
  13. dear Tenshi, Hazy
    thank you for the translation, much appreciated. a sad song indeed, deep in meaning and we can never fully know.

    dear Fabiland7 thanks for the insights into Suk’s interviews, does seem to be something he went or is going through and it affected him deeply.
    sometimes when we watch him in dramas, in the roles he plays, we feel like he is like that…yet we know it is also his superb acting that makes it all so believable. in reality he is human like us, and needs to be himself, and would go through relationships and challenges like we all do, but perhaps even at a more difficult level because he is such a celebrity and star, and everything he does or happens, is under great scrutiny.

    we can only love and support him by being behind him, behind his drama works and music and concerts and let him know it – and hopefully it lifts his spirits and he knows we are always here for him.
    we wish him every success and happiness of course, as much as he has given to us so here’s to Sukkie with all our love.
    here’s to the great success of Monochrome.

    Reply
    • welcome aileeneel ^^
      You are absolutely right, I agree with U, he is human like us, and needs to be himself and would go through relationships and challenges like we all do, but perhaps even at a more difficult level because he is such a celebrity and star. therefore, we must support him in his decision.

      I have to admit I’m excited because probably (not totally sure) our sukkie finally found the love of his life.
      our sukkie is a wonderful man, and deserves to be happy in his private life too.
      I admire his courage as sukkie is trying to share his deep emotions and feelings with us through his music/lyrics. I when I read the lyrics, I fell in love him many more, because here reflects his deep side so full of love, lonely (sometimes), pain, hope, happinest, sensitive and with a pure, strong and noble heart.

      his feelings are true. I love and admire our sukkie.

      I need to emphasize again ^^ that Sukkie said: This album ‘monochrome’ describes A MAN who FALLS IN LOVE with fear in his heart and also who pursues his dreams.

      and of course, I too wish him every success and happiness <3

      Reply
      • thanks Fabiland7 we all want the best for Sukkie.
        life in the fast lane of fame and fortune can sometimes be a very slippery road, and when one is a young star, one needs much care…so i often pray that all the people around Sukkie, take good care of him to ensure his well-being physically, mentally, emotionally and that he always has good friends and close family around him that he can rely on. super-stardom can be a tough and lonely place too.
        wishing him love and happiness always! 🙂
        golly gee whizzz still waiting for my album will get it wed night from my friend just returned from Tokyo!!!

  14. TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY, SUKKIE IS MY BEST PRESENT!! I LOVE YOU SUKKIE WITH ALL MY HEART!!! LOOKING AT YOUR EYES, YOUS SMILE AND KNOWING THAT YOU ARÉ DOING GOOD IS MY BEST PRESENT!! SARANGAE FOR EVER!!!

    Reply
  15. The message of the song is sad,it tells how deep is his love to a girl who he wants to comeback to his life but he knows it’s never gonna happen because of some situation that had changed and sad thing is he cannot turn back the time that they were happy together and deeply in love. I do appreciate the lyrics,it deep and meaningful.Prince JKS had delivered the song nicely with lots of emotion and feelings.We can feel and understand his true feelings through his songs. It goes directly into our hearts. ^_^

    thank you for translating the lyrics, it is a big help for us to understand the message of all songs and especially the feelings of Prince JKS. ZIKZIN!!

    Reply

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