Author: masawaka

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The Guy Up on the Hill

The Guy Up on the Hill｜Desperately saying, “Hey, we’re alive,” ｜ KAWACHIAN – Kawachi Soul from Osaka, Japan

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🌿 KAWACHIAN 12 Weeks MV Release Project
12 selected songs from a catalogue of over 100 original works.
A new music video is released every 1–2 weeks.
After all 12 music videos are released,
The 1st Album will be available worldwide.
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♬♪　“Work? I couldn’t care less.” That kind of talk just puts folks off. Even when they tell him, “Get your act together,” He’s only listening to the voice of the wind.♩♫
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Kawachi Soul
Masaki Wakabayashi, born and raised in Kawachi, Osaka, shares the spirit of Kawachi Soul with the world.
KAWACHIAN – Kawachi Soul from Osaka, Japan
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🎵 KAWACHIAN10th Song
The Guy Up on the Hill
Written, Composed & Performed by
Masaki Wakabayashi
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Official Website

Home


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“The Guy Up on the Hill” is the 10th song from KAWACHIAN.
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※ About the visuals
The visuals in this music video were created with the assistance of generative AI technology.
The people, places and scenes are fictional artistic expressions created to represent the world of the song.
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English Lyrics

Since morning, there he is again,
Sitting all alone up on the hill,
Doing nothing but staring at the sky,
Grinning away—that strange old guy.

“The guy up on the hill,” they say,
Laughing as they pass him by.
But you know, that guy understands—
Life is easier when you choose to smile.

“Work? I couldn’t care less.”
That kind of talk just puts folks off.
Even when they tell him, “Get your act together,”
He’s only listening to the voice of the wind.

“The guy up on the hill,” they say,
Pointing fingers, making him the joke.
But you know, that guy understands—
The most serious faces often cry the hardest.

Down by his feet, in the grass, tiny creatures—
Look closely, and they’re rushing everywhere.
Desperately saying, “Hey, we’re alive,”
Though no one ever notices.
Maybe they’re not so different from him.

“The guy up on the hill,” they say,
Rolling their eyes and leaving him alone.
But you know, that guy understands—
Time spent alone is something to treasure.

And once again, at sunset,
His shadow stretches across the hill.
He’s the only thing that hasn’t changed,
Just gathering a few more smile lines.
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website Every song is one chapter. Together they become the first album.
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Under the open sky

Under the open sky｜ KAWACHIAN – Kawachi Soul from Osaka, Japan

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🌿 KAWACHIAN 12 Weeks MV Release Project
12 selected songs from a catalogue of over 100 original works.
A new music video is released every 1–2 weeks.
After all 12 music videos are released,
The 1st Album will be available worldwide.
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♬♪　Morning comes somehow,my heart feels a little restless.I step onto the balconywearing only a shirt.
A cat is yawningon the rooftop across the way,while the laundrydances softly in the breeze.　♩♫

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Masaki Wakabayashi, born and raised in Kawachi, Osaka, shares the spirit of Kawachi Soul with the world.
KAWACHIAN – Kawachi Soul from Osaka, Japan
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🎵 KAWACHIAN 6th Song
Under the open sky
Written, Composed & Performed by
Masaki Wakabayashi
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Official Website

Home


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“Under the open sky” is the 6th song from KAWACHIAN.
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※ About the visuals
The visuals in this music video were created with the assistance of generative AI technology.
The people, places and scenes are fictional artistic expressions created to represent the world of the song.
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English Lyrics

Morning comes somehow,
my heart feels a little restless.
I step onto the balcony
wearing only a shirt.

A cat is yawning
on the rooftop across the way,
while the laundry
dances softly in the breeze.

Under the open sky,come on, it’s alright.
let’s leave the heavy talk for later.
Go ahead and laugh
like nobody’s watching.
Just watching the clouds
is more than enough today.

⸻

Riding my bicycle
down the station street,
the guy at the greengrocer
calls out to me,

“Working hard again today?”

I don’t know why,
but somehow
those simple words
make everything feel lighter.

Under the open sky,come on, it’s alright.
everyone has days
when nothing goes right.
Pretend no one’s looking.
At least you
should be kind to yourself.

⸻

I can’t run
like I used to.
But walking slowly,
I notice things
I never saw before.

Even the stones
I once stumbled over
have become little landmarks,
reminding me
how far I’ve come.

Under the open sky,come on, it’s alright.
what’s already gone
can stay in the past.
You don’t have to decide
everything today.
Let’s just let the wind
carry us for a while.
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website Every song is one chapter. Together they become the first album.
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Posted on

Of Summer

Of Summer｜Twinkle, shimmer, sway, and glow
Summer night…｜ KAWACHIAN – Kawachi Soul from Osaka, Japan

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🌿 KAWACHIAN 12 Weeks MV Release Project
12 selected songs from a catalogue of over 100 original works.
A new music video is released every 1–2 weeks.
After all 12 music videos are released,
The 1st Album will be available worldwide.
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♬♪　Red lanterns gently sway　Golden voices drift away　Crooked smiles all blend as one
What’s real anymore? I can’t tell.Something shining behind the glass　Touch it once—it fades so fast　Only roughness on my hands　Feels like all that’s left is real.♩♫

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Masaki Wakabayashi, born and raised in Kawachi, Osaka, shares the spirit of Kawachi Soul with the world.
KAWACHIAN – Kawachi Soul from Osaka, Japan
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🎵 KAWACHIAN9th Song
Of Summer
Written, Composed & Performed by
Masaki Wakabayashi
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Official Website

Home


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“Of Summer” is the 9th song from KAWACHIAN.
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※ About the visuals
The visuals in this music video were created with the assistance of generative AI technology.
The people, places and scenes are fictional artistic expressions created to represent the world of the song.
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English Lyrics

(Twinkle, shimmer, sway, and glow
Summer night…)
Red lanterns gently sway
Golden voices drift away
Crooked smiles all blend as one
What’s real anymore? I can’t tell.
Something shining behind the glass
Touch it once—it fades so fast
Only roughness on my hands
Feels like all that’s left is real.
Round and round
Colors unwind
Dream or real
The line dissolves.
Light keeps falling, breaking free
Words are melting into me
Something laughing calls my name
Feels like I could go anywhere.
Light keeps drifting through the air
Words unravel everywhere
Something whispers through the night
From here, I’ll never make it back.
Strange old toys all line the shelves
Rolling eyes spin by themselves
Funny shapes are grinning wide
Warm somehow when they’re touched.
Beyond the sideshow curtain there
Something’s quietly watching me
Never seen it, yet somehow
It feels strangely like home.
Scared to look—
Still I cannot turn away.
Scents are drifting
Sounds are glowing
Dream or real
The border’s gone.
Light keeps falling, breaking free
Words are melting into me
Something laughing calls my name
Feels like I could go anywhere.
Light keeps drifting through the air
Words unravel everywhere
Something whispers through the night
From here, I’ll never make it back.
Round and round
Sparkling colors
Even my mind
Melts into one.
Light keeps falling, breaking free
Words are melting into me
Something laughing calls my name
Feels like I could go anywhere.
Light keeps drifting through the air
Words unravel everywhere
Something whispers through the night
From here, I’ll never make it back.
Twinkle and shimmer
Swaying with scent
The summer night…
Still goes on.
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And yet,perhap someone will trace it with a fingertip.
As I quietly close the paper,I whisper once more—
“Today will be calm again.”
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website Every song is one chapter. Together they become the first album.
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Silver Hammer

Silver Hammer｜Silver Hammer (No, No)｜ KAWACHIAN – Kawachi Soul from Osaka, Japan

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🌿 KAWACHIAN 12 Weeks MV Release Project
12 selected songs from a catalogue of over 100 original works.
A new music video is released every 1–2 weeks.
After all 12 music videos are released,
The 1st Album will be available worldwide.
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♬♪　With a silver hammer — no, no.Smash your worries? — no, no.
You don’t need another sigh.Just a little tap, and you’ll start to smile.(Hey, here we go!)♩♫

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Masaki Wakabayashi, born and raised in Kawachi, Osaka, shares the spirit of Kawachi Soul with the world.
KAWACHIAN – Kawachi Soul from Osaka, Japan
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🎵 KAWACHIAN8th Song
Written, Composed & Performed by
Masaki Wakabayashi
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Official Website

Home


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“Silver Hammer” is the 8th song from KAWACHIAN.
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※ About the visuals
The visuals in this music video were created with the assistance of generative AI technology.
The people, places and scenes are fictional artistic expressions created to represent the world of the song.
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English Lyrics

Silver Hammer (No, No)

You sure look happy, what’s going on?
Scratchin’ away with your pen all day long.
Shoulders so heavy, your eyes half asleep,
Still there’s a smile that you just can’t keep.

With a silver hammer — no, no.
Smash your worries? — no, no.
You don’t need another sigh.
Just a little tap, and you’ll start to smile.
(Hey, here we go!)

⸻

The neighbor next door keeps mumblin’ low,
“Nothin’ in my life is workin’, you know.”
Here, take this thing—it’s shining bright.
Tap your heart once, it’ll be all right.

With a silver hammer — no, no.
Forget their judgment — no, no.
Yesterday’s mistakes? Let them go.
Just a little tap, then follow the wind.
(Come on now!)

⸻

On nights when tears are ready to fall,
Don’t beat your heart against the wall.
Just tap it softly with your fingertips.
Take one slow breath before your lips.

Before you shout, just wait a beat,
Say, “That’s life,” and let it be.

⸻

With a silver hammer — no, no.
Don’t blame yourself — no, no.
Laugh and say, “Well, I’m just me.”
One little tap… tomorrow will come.
(Yeah, that’s the way!)
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And yet,perhap someone will trace it with a fingertip.
As I quietly close the paper,I whisper once more—
“Today will be calm again.”
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website Every song is one chapter. Together they become the first album.
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Posted on

Safe Driving

Safe Driving｜I’m watching　Only now｜ KAWACHIAN – Kawachi Soul from Osaka, Japan

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🌿 KAWACHIAN 12 Weeks MV Release Project
12 selected songs from a catalogue of over 100 original works.
A new music video is released every 1–2 weeks.
After all 12 music videos are released,
The 1st Album will be available worldwide.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
♬♪　Stop and go　Turn around　Little faster　Ease it down
Eyes ahead　Check behind　Right here　Right now　I’m watching　Only now♩♫

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Kawachi Soul
Masaki Wakabayashi, born and raised in Kawachi, Osaka, shares the spirit of Kawachi Soul with the world.
KAWACHIAN – Kawachi Soul from Osaka, Japan
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🎵 KAWACHIAN 7th Song
Safe Driving
Written, Composed & Performed by
Masaki Wakabayashi
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Official Website

Home


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“SafeDriving” is the 7th song from KAWACHIAN.
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English Lyrics

Turn the key
Engine starts
Dashboard glows
Take my seat

Set the mirror
Slide the seat
Buckle up
Foot on brake

Shift in gear
Signal on
Touch the gas
Rolling out

Look to the right
Look to the left
One more look

Stop and go
Turn around
Little faster
Ease it down

Eyes ahead
Check behind

Right here
Right now
I’m watching
Only now

⸻

Red light shines
Press the brake

Wait a while
Green light comes

Touch the gas
Pick up speed

Cars in line
Keep the space

Maybe danger
Maybe clear

Better wait

⸻

Stop and go
Turn around

Still a little scared
Getting used to it

Eyes ahead
Check behind

Right here
Right now
Only now

⸻

Turn the wheel
Bring it back

Ease the brake
Touch the gas

Join the flow
Feel the flow

My body remembers

⸻

Stop and go
Turn around

Speed keeps changing
Back in balance

Eyes ahead
Check behind

Right here
Right now
I’m watching

Only now

⸻

Foot on brake

Come to rest

Engine off

Silence comes

But when it reflects
upon a clear and peaceful lake
that light becomes
even brighter

Don’t break anything
just leave it be

Comfort the sadness
inside your heart

If you can protect
your feelings with kindness
then a small light
will shine upon your cheeks
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And yet,perhap someone will trace it with a fingertip.
As I quietly close the paper,I whisper once more—
“Today will be calm again.”
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KAWACHIAN Story 002　Sing Again

The Day My Mother Told Me to Sing Again

Around 1962–1965, Coca-Cola vending machines began appearing across Japan. Whenever I see one from that era, I am taken back to one unforgettable day from my childhood.
I was about five years old.
My mother worked at a large factory that manufactured plastic tableware and household products.
One year, the factory held its annual cultural festival.
As part of the celebration, there was a singing contest on a large stage set before nearly two thousand factory workers.
I was still in kindergarten.
Standing beside the stage, my mother watched me with a gentle smile.
As the live band began to play, I started singing “Furusato” (My Hometown).
“I chased rabbits over the hills…”
It was a children’s song.
Most of the performers that day were singing popular songs.
Perhaps my choice felt out of place.
Suddenly, a man with long hair, apparently drunk, shouted from the back of the audience.
“Get off the stage!”
For a brief moment, time seemed to stop.
Then something happened that I have never forgotten.
My mother rushed out from behind the stage.
Standing at the edge of the platform, without a microphone, she shouted across the entire hall with a voice so powerful that everyone fell silent.
“Say that again!
Come up here and say it to me!”
The music stopped.
The audience became completely silent.
The man lowered his head in embarrassment as the people around him tried to calm him down.
Then my mother turned toward me.
She bowed politely to the musicians and quietly said,
“Masaki…
Sing it again.”
The band began once more.
I sang “Furusato” from the beginning until the very end.
When I finished, the audience burst into warm applause.
As a participation prize, I received a double-walled plastic mug made at the very factory where my mother worked.
It was pale blue on the outside and white on the inside.
I was incredibly proud of that little cup.
Even today, I remember every detail of that afternoon as vividly as if it were a scene from a film.
After that day, “Furusato” became the song my mother, my younger sister, and I always sang together.
Years later, after my parents had long since divorced, I visited my father’s home.
He had built a new life with his new family.
That day, he picked up a harmonica and quietly played…
“Furusato.”
Then, about fifteen years ago, at my father’s funeral, the same melody filled the room once again.
For reasons I still cannot fully explain, I found myself overwhelmed with tears.
Perhaps it was because that song had quietly accompanied every important chapter of my life.
Looking back now, I realize that my journey as a singer did not begin on that stage.
It began with a mother’s courage,
and four simple words that have stayed with me ever since.
“Masaki… Sing it again.”

Posted on

KAWACHIAN Story 001　「Shin-Kabukiza」

Osaka Shin-Kabuki-za. From a young age, I grew up surrounded by the heat of this city.

The Streets Where My Songs Began
Osaka Shin-Kabukiza Theatre. From my earliest childhood, I grew up surrounded by the energy of this city.
This photograph was taken in Namba, Osaka, in the late 1960s.
The large building on the left is the famous Shin-Kabukiza Theatre.
To me, this city was one of my hometowns.
My mother was raised in a family deeply involved in Osaka’s entertainment world, organizing theatrical performances, traditional shows, and professional wrestling events.
Because of that, as a small child I often walked beside her through the cultural heart of Osaka—Shin-Kabukiza, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi, and Sennichimae.
The people around me were unlike those most children ever met.
Actors.
Geisha.
Promoters.
Sign painters.
One of the theatre’s sign painters even taught me how to draw.
I remember being lifted effortlessly into the air by enormous professional wrestlers.
I remember walking hand in hand with my grandfather through the bustling streets of Dotonbori.
Wherever we went, people greeted him with warm smiles.
Many of them would gently pat my head.
Inside Shin-Kabukiza, actors and geisha did the same.
As a little boy, I secretly disliked it because every time they did, I felt my body sink under the weight of their hands.
Even that small feeling remains vivid in my memory.
Among those memories is another scene I have never forgotten.
Before my parents divorced when I was two years old, I can still remember them walking together through these streets.
Streetcars quietly rolled through Namba.
That scenery remains in my heart like a scene from an old movie.
Although I grew up in Kawachi, many of the emotional landscapes that later became my songs were already taking shape here.
The warmth of ordinary people.
The kindness shared between strangers.
The deep humanity that still lives within my music.
Perhaps that journey began here, in the streets of old Osaka.
⸻
KAWACHIAN Story is not simply an autobiography.
It is the story of how the songs of KAWACHIAN – Kawachi Soul from Osaka, Japan came to life.

Posted on

KAWACHIAN 12 Weeks MV Release Project

🌿 KAWACHIAN 12 Weeks MV Release Project
12 selected songs from a catalogue of over 100 original works.
A new music video is released every 1–2 weeks.
After all 12 music videos are released,
The 1st Album will be available worldwide.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Posted on

News

🌿 KAWACHIAN 12 Weeks MV Release Project
12 selected songs from a catalogue of over 100 original works.
A new music video is released every 1–2 weeks.
After all 12 music videos are released,
The 1st Album will be available worldwide.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
♬ Open the morning paper… a town whose name I never knew has disappeared…
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Masaki Wakabayashi, born and raised in Kawachi, Osaka, shares the spirit of Kawachi Soul with the world.
KAWACHIAN – Kawachi Soul from Osaka, Japan
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🎵 KAWACHIAN 5th Song
News
Written, Composed & Performed by
Masaki Wakabayashi
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“News” is the fifth original song by KAWACHIAN.
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English Lyrics

Open the morning paper
A town whose name I never knew has disappeared.
In a tiny corner,only the black numbers keep increasing.
⸻
Beside the weather forecast,it quietly says,
“Today will be calm again.”
Yet at the edge of the screen,only distant flames continue to flicker.
⸻
On my way to work,the face reflected in the train window is slowly becoming more and more like somebody else’s.
⸻
Passing through the ticket gate,amid laughter leaking from earphones,an empty can keeps rolling away, seen by no one.
⸻
At lunchtime,wrapped in the silence of a single lunchbox,“It’s nothing serious.”
The words drift by like a signal everyone has learned to accept.
⸻
After the meeting,only one chair is left empty.“There were…some circumstances.”
With just those few words,everything is quietly sealed away.
⸻
The evening news.
As captions race across the screen,the end of the world appears as another bullet point—then quietly disappears.
⸻
A child points and names the shapes of clouds.
Only the news anchor lowers their voice just a little.
⸻
On my way home,the footprints of a dog along the riverbank are washed by rain,their outline slowly fading away.
⸻
Somewhere,someone is ringing church bells.
Yet here,we write tomorrow’s plans on the back of a flyer.
⸻
Late at night,I’m relieved the phone doesn’t ring.
Though deep inside,I’m still waiting for someone to call my name.
⸻
Inside the refrigerator,an old bottle stands quietly,like a letter long past its expiration date.
⸻
After my bath,I stare at the ceiling,tryingto predict tomorrow’s weather.
“Tomorrow,I’m sure…”
At least,that’s what I tell myself.
⸻
With a single press of the remote,the world changes color.
Yesterday’s tragedy is buried beneath tomorrow’s advertisements.
⸻
Beside my pillow,the radiokeeps talking somewhere far away.
Someone’s obituary is placed beside the traffic report.
⸻
Closing my eyes,I whisper,“Good job today.”to myself.
Without ever waking,only the first train’s departure time draws closer.
⸻
I open the morning paper.
Only the smell of ink remains exactly as it was that day.
Along the fold,my fingertips are stained with a trace of black.
⸻
Turning the page,each gentle rustle echoes softly.
For a moment,I think I hear the distant beat of festival drums.
⸻
That sound…I want to know where it’s coming from.
Even when I open the window,only the wind moves the curtain.
⸻
Somewhere today,there are people whose names are never called.
Until they fall asleep,they quietly wonder what tomorrow’s weather will be.
⸻
On the very last page,beside stock prices and horoscopes,a tiny headline goes unread by anyone.
⸻
And yet,perhap someone will trace it with a fingertip.
As I quietly close the paper,I whisper once more—
“Today will be calm again.”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

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Leave It Be

🎵 KAWACHIAN 4th Song Leave It Be

Written, Composed & Performed by
Masaki Wakabayashi

“Leave It Be” is the 4th song from KAWACHIAN.
————————————————–

# English Lyrics

The pain we carry
quietly remains inside
Even if we try to soothe it
it does not simply disappear

What truly matters
is knowing that someday
even that pain
will gently fade away

White breath disappears into the air
The trails of airplanes fade away too

Don’t blame anyone
just leave it be
Comfort the sadness
inside your heart

If you can protect
your feelings with kindness
then you will see
the sky within your eyes

People who connect hearts
bring warmth into this world
People who only take
feel cold somehow

You don’t even need to ask
which one is better
Deep inside
the heart already knows

White breath disappears into the air
The trails of airplanes fade away too

Don’t take anything away
just leave it be
Let the suffering
flow out of your heart

If you can protect
your feelings with kindness
then a small light
will shine upon your cheeks

The sky gives its light
quietly and equally
to everyone

But when it reflects
upon a clear and peaceful lake
that light becomes
even brighter

Don’t break anything
just leave it be

Comfort the sadness
inside your heart

If you can protect
your feelings with kindness
then a small light
will shine upon your cheeks