01. I am...

Lyrics and music by Ayumi Hamasaki

Listen closely...
because I'll keep screaming until I reach someone.
I will be here, here, here, forever...

Chased by time, living partly against my will.
What is at the end of these tiresome days?
As I rush through life, does it amuse you to see
my unpainted face?
Go ahead and laugh...

I want you to stare into these eyes and try calling out my name.
I want you to take my hand and tell me it will be okay.
Push me forward*, otherwise I don't think I can go on.
If this is a lie, at least maintain the lie true til the end.

I entrust my body to the flow of time.
At what kind of place will I wash ashore?
Despite the faults of such an inconsistent me,
will I be forgiven?
Tell me...

Please understand, that isn't what I'm saying.
Please realise, this isn't what I want.
Please free me.
I don't want to go to such a place.
I'm forever searching for just one word...

(Repeat both choruses)

*NOTE: This line means to bolster or support someone's back so that they can go on. I chose "push me forward" instead of "support me" or "help me", because I think it highlights the kind of help she's asking for.

03. Connected

Lyrics by Ayumi Hamasaki

They notice
They discover
They investigate
They are transfixed
They are fascinated
They are satisfied

But then they look up
They see
They compare
Seen how they despise*
They are understood
They are abandoned.

Ah, but you and I...
At each and every place, we are connected.
I only have to think of a word
and you already know what it is.

Ah, by the time we fall into the eternal sleep,
how many unspoken words
will we have exchanged?

They notice
They discover
They investigate
They are transfixed
They are fascinated
They are satisfied

But then they look up
They see
They compare
Seen how they despise*
They are understood
They are abandoned.

Ah, but you and I...
At each and every place, we are connected.
I only have to think of a word
and you already know what it is.

*NOTE: This literally means: "Look at how they despise". But because of the next two lines, I think she could mean that their betrayed lover realises how they are despised and sees the person for who they really are.

EXTRA NOTE: The verses are cleverly done. Ayu doesn't actually name the person/people she is talking about, but you can tell she isn't referring to herself because of the chorus. I think "Connected" is about all the shallow and ever-changing relationships of the world, and how disatisfaction and betrayal are so common. But Ayu is saying that her relationship with Tomoya is not like that. They are one, and they will never be seperated.

04. UNITE!

Lyrics and music by Ayumi Hamasaki

Oh...
May we never again
be seperated from each other...

Hey listen, I've got something
I want to tell you.
I can share the fun times with anyone.
But when it comes to the painful, sad times,
yeah, you know,
there has to be no one else but you.

Living in such a day and age,
when it's difficult even to dream,
I never want you to forget this:

Holding freedom in our right hand,
and love in our left hand,
we will keep walking,
while we stumble from time to time.

Another gloomy day came
just like the last, and suddenly
the great square sky looked so empty.

When facing such a dawn,
there have been times when I wept.
I told you in tears:

"You know, humans are so transient,
but we are strong creatures..."

As the one I must protect,
I have you.

(Repeat chorus 1)

Wow wow wow...

05. evolution

Lyrics and music by Ayumi Hamasaki

La, la la la...

It's true, isn't it? It looks like
we're heading for a new era.
Maybe it's a miracle,
something that can only be tasted once.
One more time, just think back...

The day we were born into this world
was certainly a happy day,
though we experienced great pain,
and we were born crying.*

Wow yeah...

Because reality betrays us
it is easy to misjudge things.
Therefore, with the eyes you have,
you must make sure of your own reality.
According to your own standards...

What a time we've been born in.
But even though we are all dying,
we are all standing
and living through today.

Wow yeah...

What a world we've been born into.
Somehow we can experience great joy
while we experience great pain,
and scream at the top of our lungs.

Wow yeah...

What a time to be born in.
But here I met you.
What a world I've been born into.
It's why I met you.

(Repeat chorus 1 & 2)

*NOTE: Although she doesn't actually say "we were born crying", she says "we were crying", and from the context I assume she means on the day we were born into the world.

07. NEVER EVER

Lyrics and music by Ayumi Hamasaki

Some time before you were born, I remember
I was searching for something unchangeable.
Sometimes I'd find it, sometimes I'd lose it,
and there were nights when I hurt people.

If you could have just one wish granted...
If you could have just one wish granted,
what would you pray for?
To these heavens, what would you pray?

Though my desire remained strong with me,
somewhere along the way I started to give up.
Sometimes I'd find it, sometimes I'd let it go,
and there were nights when I hurt myself.

If I had something I could offer you...
If I had something I could offer you,
it would be my certain, unchanging feelings.

If you would, just a little, smile for me,
there would still be meaning to be being here.
If you would, even a little, need me,
I'd have reason to go on living here.

If you could have just one wish granted...
If you could have just one wish granted,
what would you pray for?
Oh, if I had something I could offer you...
If I had something I could offer you,
it would be my certain, unchanging feelings.

Yes, my certain, unchanging feelings.
They're right here...

11. M

Lyrics and music by Ayumi Hamasaki

Maria, there exists one I am meant to love,
and for every person who has ever been hurt...

As I look around, everyone is in a hurry,
scurrying away to somewhere or other.
This year, too, I didn't notice
until it was right beside me,
the aura of winter has returned.

Today, I know, somewhere in this city,
two people will meet, and at locking eyes,
the curtain is thrown open.*

Even so, there is a day for everything
when it must come to an end.

Today, also, somewhere in this city,
two people will choose seperate paths
and the curtain falls in silence.

Maria, there exists one I am meant to love.
At times I feel a strong loneliness,
but perhaps my destined love
will eventually be able to fill my void completely.

Maria, there exists one I am meant to love.
As time goes on my deep wounds keep multiplying,
but perhaps my destined love
will eventually be able to heal me completely.

Maria... We are, all of us, crying.
Maria... But I still want to believe.
Maria... So I'm praying now
that this one will be my final love.

Beginnings find us so easily,
but endings always have meaning.

*NOTE: Ayu uses the metaphor of a curtain drop/raise when referring to the end/beginning of a romantic relationship. Compare "End roll".

EXTRA NOTE: Ayu wrote this song after hearing a story from her friend about a lonely woman called Maria. Incidentally, this was the first song that Ayu composed herself.

13. Dearest

Lyrics and music by Ayumi Hamasaki

If we could throw away
all but that which is truly important,
wouldn't that be wonderful?
When reality is just cruel,
at such times, unfailingly,
if I close my eyes,
there smiling, is you...

Ah~ until the day
I fall into eternal sleep,
please let that smiling face
be with me constantly.

Are all humans full of sorrow?
Though we are such forgetful creatures,
for that which we should love,
for that which gives us love,
we give our all...

Ah~ when we first met
we were uncertain about everything.
We took the long way, didn't we?
And how we hurt each other...

Ah~ until the day
I fall into eternal sleep,
please let that smiling face
be with me constantly.

Ah~ when we first met
we were uncertain about everything.
And though we took the long way,
we've finally arrived.