ALICE NINE - "13"

"13"
Lyrics: Shou
Music: alice nine.

kizukanu ma ni ruuretto wa mawari hajime
tonari no dareka ga mikkokusha na koto nado shiru yoshi mo nai
kono ibara no kanmuri kaburu no wa aisu beki "anata"

fukai nemuri ni ochita sukuiyou mo nai youna inga no hate ni
daremo ga itami wo motte naku naru hazu no nai fuan wo kakae me wo fuseta

sore nara toou itami wo shiri tsugunau mono yo
omae wa nani wo shiri nani wo motomeru tame chi wo hau no ka
kono ibara no kanmuri kaburu no wa aisu beki "anata"

fukai nemuri ni ochita sukuiyou mo nai youna inga no hate ni
itsuka wa ayamari, ochite hajimete itami wo shiri manabu no nara amanjiyou

sorrow on brier,regret at treason
If you noticed that sin and lies
why not tell me
why not tell me

aa myoujyou ni terasareta jyuuji ni
kono kegarekitta ryoute de inori wo

fukai nemuri ni ochita sukuiyou mo nai youna inga no hate ni
anata ga nokoshita hana wo karasanu youni kitto sakase tsuzuke sodateyou

---

"13"

In the time when we are unaware, the roulette starts spinning
There isn't a reason for someone beside to know about the betrayer and the like
The one who wears this crown of thorns is the "You" that I should love

I fell into a deep sleep, at the end of the cause and effect that doesn't hold any salvation (1)
Everyone holds pain, embracing the uneasiness that probably won't disappear; I cast down my eyes

If so, let's ask: The person who knows pain and atones for it
What do you know? What are you wishing for, that makes you crawl along the ground?
The one who wears this crown of thorns is the "You" that I should love

I fell into a deep sleep, at the end of the cause and effect that doesn't hold any salvation
Someday I made a mistake and fell, and knew of pain for the first time; If I learn from it, I'll resign myself to this fate (2)

sorrow on brier,regret at treason (3)
If you noticed that sin and lies
why not tell me
why not tell me

Ah, on the cross that the bright star shone upon (4)
With this dirtied pair of hands, I pray

I fell into a deep sleep, at the end of the cause and effect that doesn't hold any salvation
The flowers that you left behind will surely continue to bloom without withering, they'll grow

Translator's Note:
1. cause and effect: Also known as "karma"
2. fell: In this instance, the kanji used is more likely interpreted as "fallen", as in fall from a higher position to a lower one. Refer to explanation below.
3. brier: Thorny plants or shrubs, also known as "briar"
4. bright star: Could be a reference to the morning star, Venus, or also Lucifer. Refer to explanation below.

Interpretation Notes

Shou said in the 2007/May issue of SHOXX that these lyrics portray the story of Christ and Judas. (For those unfamiliar with the Biblical story, these lyrics basically tell the story of Judas's betrayal of Christ.) I'll attempt to deconstruct the lyrics with reference to what I know of the story, but I've never read the Bible, so please bear with my amateur understanding. Also, even though my interpretation is based on what Shou has revealed, my analysis is still my personal interpretation and may not be correct. Feel free to interpret them your own way!

The first clue is the person who wears the "crown of thorns", which can be taken as a reference to Jesus. This is further supported by the use of the "anata" in inverted commas. Shou rarely uses "anata" in other songs, usually he uses "kimi, so "anata" here with its inverted commas must carry a certain weight. Placing it in the context of the lyrics, even without bringing in the Biblical reference, it can already be inferred that the "anata" refers to a higher being. (This was what triggered my curiosity in the first place, and on further questioning I realised that the song would fit the story of Judas's betrayal very aptly.) The last line of the first stanza explains Judas's feelings towards Jesus.

Next, there is the reference to Judas's death. (I'm just hazarding a guess here, it could mean something else too.) According to the Gospel of Matthew, Judas regretted his betrayal and committed suicide. Hence the "cause and effect that holds no salvation" - his actions caught up with him and there is no salvation for him.

In the fourth stanza, "I made a mistake and fell" ties in with Judas's betrayal. Having betrayed Jesus, he has 'fallen'. In this line, Shou uses a different verb for "fall". Previously, the English word "fall" was sufficient as a translation, but for this particular line, the "fall" is more of falling from a higher place to a lower place. In a sense, to degenerate.

The next stanza in English is interesting. "Sorrow on brier" could be a reference to Jesus's feelings about Judas's betrayal, while "regret at treason" would be Judas's regret. "If you noticed that sin and lies / why not tell me" refers to Jesus's knowledge that Judas would betray him. It can be interpreted as Judas saying to Jesus: 'If you knew that I was going to betray you, why did you not tell me?' The following stanza is more ambiguous, because of the noun "myoujyou". Literally translated, it would mean "bright star", which could be a reference to the Star of Bethlehem (the star that Jesus was believed to have been born under) or the star which Jesus pointed out to Judas as 'the one that showed the way' (Gospel of Judas), or any of the other stars mentioned at various points in the Gospels.

The last line of the last stanza seems slightly out of place with the story, unless you look upon the "flowers" as 'seeds', perhaps the seeds of religion (the Church) or faith sown by Jesus.

Once I reached this point, the reference in the song title was very obvious - there were 13 people at the Last Supper. 

Credit : http://akatsuki.wareta.net/a9/