This song came on the radio, and my first thought was, "Wow, this is so good!" I immediately wanted to translate it.
Then I read the lyrics.
The word choices and the amount of hip-hop slang made me realize that, unless you really know the culture, it's the kind of song where you could easily embarrass yourself by getting things wrong. So I decided to leave it alone for the time being.
But... it's such a good song.
So in the end, I asked ChatGPT to do the translation instead.
Intro
Uh, uh, uh あぁ、あぁ、あぁ。
Okay, okay, okay, let's do it(I just wanna dance, I just wanna dance) よし、よし、よし、始めよう。 （ただ踊りたいだけなんだ。）
Slatt, niggas know what the fuck going on ※① （仲間内の掛け声。）みんな何が起きてるか分かってるだろ。
I say (Get groovy, get groovy) さあ、ノっていこう。
Verse 1
Let me tell you about my ghetto lover, a mother of two and she got five brothers 俺の"ゲットー育ちの恋人"について話そう。彼女は二児の母親で、兄弟は五人いる。
Like no other, you can smell her coming 'cause she smell like cinnamon and cocoa butter(Say, uh) 他にはいないタイプで、近づいてくればすぐ分かる。シナモンとココアバターの香りがするから。
She got a man and that shit a bummer(Okay) でも彼氏持ちなんだ。それが残念でさ。
Her and her best friend, dumb and dumber(Dumbass) 彼女と親友は、ほんとおバカコンビ。
Always out gettin' drunk and drunker(What?) いつも飲み歩いては酔っぱらってる。
They say they outside for the summer(Drunk-ass hoes) 「今年の夏は遊び倒す！」なんて言ってる。
I caught her walkin' out the club, I tried to say, "What's up?"(On foenem) クラブから出てきた彼女を見かけて、「よう」って声を掛けた。
She seen my face before, she think I'm tryna set her up(Boy, get the fuck on) 前に俺を見たことがあったらしく、「何か企んでるんでしょ？」って警戒された。
She said she had a man and told my ass to get the fuck 「彼氏いるから。どっか行って。」って追い払われた。
But I'll be damned if I get turned down, baby, I'm not lettin' up(I ain't goin' for that) でも断られたくらいじゃ諦めない。そんなことで引き下がる俺じゃない。
Chorus
Baby, baby, I just wanna dance ベイビー、俺はただ踊りたいだけなんだ。
I just wanna dance ただ踊りたいだけ。
Baby, I won't tell on you 誰にも言わない。
I won't tell on you, I just wanna dance 秘密は守る。だから一緒に踊ろう。
Verse 2
Lil' baby, I'm fly, you fly as fuck なあベイビー、俺もイケてるし、お前も最高にイケてる。
We fly together, we might just glide(We fly as shit) 二人ならもっと映える。空を滑るみたいにな。
Just do not deny it, it might be the best thing you ever had if you try it 否定するなよ。試してみたら人生最高の経験になるかもしれない。
And she said, "Fine," her nerves bad, now she tryna get high(Okay) 彼女は「……分かった」って言った。でも緊張して、気を落ち着かせようとハイになろうとしてた。
She said if her man find out, just like my song, everybody gon' die 「彼氏にバレたら、あんたの曲みたいに"みんな死ぬ"ことになる。」ってさ。
I gave her the bone and sent her home ※② 俺は彼女と一夜を過ごして、そのまま家へ帰した。
I'm young, her boyfriend overgrown 俺はまだ若い。でも彼氏はもういい歳した大人。
She in his face, she feelin' bad because a YN took her soul(On foenem) ※③ ※④ 彼女は彼氏の前で罪悪感を抱えてる。若造（YN）に心を奪われたから。
And she a lil' slow, she gave him access to her phone しかも少し抜けてて、彼氏がスマホを自由に見られる状態にしちゃった。
Her ass got beat, now word on the street, that nigga tryna get me gone ※⑤ 彼女はひどい目に遭って、今じゃ街じゃ「あいつ（彼氏）は俺を消そうとしてる」って噂になってる。
Chorus
Baby, baby, I just wanna dance ベイビー、俺はただ踊りたいだけ。
I just wanna dance(I don't give a fuck about your man) ただ踊りたいだけ。お前の彼氏なんか気にしない。
Baby, I won't tell on you 誰にも言わない。
I won't tell on you, I just wanna dance 秘密は守る。だから踊ろう。
Bridge
I just wanna dance, I just wanna dance, I just wanna— ただ踊りたいだけなんだ……。
Verse 3
Uh, woman, I just wanna dance なあ、俺はただ踊りたいだけなんだ。
I understand that you got a boo, but I can't get jiggy with being friends 彼氏がいるのは分かってる。でも友達止まりじゃ満足できない。
Plus, folks ass can't do what I can ※⑥ それに、あいつには俺みたいなことはできない。
We go together like pots and pans 俺たちは鍋とフタみたいにぴったりなんだ。
Y'all go together like water and sand でもお前とあいつは、水と砂みたいな関係。
That shit don't match if you get what I'm saying 言いたいこと、分かるだろ？ 全然合ってない。
Girl, you hot, you need a fan 君は熱すぎる。扇風機が必要なくらいだ。
You got problems? We gon' solve 'em 悩みがあるなら、一緒に解決しよう。
Drop them drawers, don't do no talking 服なんか脱いで、もう話はいい。
Your boyfriend been stalkin' you, so I'm gon' pick up when he calling 彼氏はずっとお前を監視してる。だから電話が来たら俺が出てやるよ。
Baby, I'm falling for you ベイビー、俺は本気で惚れてる。
I'm young and ready, and I'm going 若いし、何だってやる覚悟はある。
Baby, I'm falling for you 本気で惚れてる。
I think about you every morning 毎朝、お前のことを考えてる。
Chorus
Baby, baby, I just wanna dance ベイビー、俺はただ踊りたいだけ。
I just wanna dance(I don't give a fuck about your man) ただ踊りたいだけ。お前の彼氏なんか関係ない。
Baby, I won't tell on you 誰にも言わない。
I won't tell on you, I just wanna dance 秘密は守る。だから踊ろう。
Outro
I just wanna dance, I just wanna dance, I just wanna— ただ踊りたいだけなんだ……。
初めて聞いたT.M.Revolutionの曲で、私にとっては思い出深い曲です。イントロから何から全部好きだけども歌詞に関しては深く考えたことがなく。タイトルの「Heart of sword」も「るろうに剣心の曲だからSwordなのかな」くらいに思ってたら全然普通に「鋼の心」みたいな内容の歌でした。
After watching THE FIRST TAKE, I decided to translate this song.
It was incredibly difficult to translate into English! Well... technically, Chatty did the translating. 😆
The hard part was breaking the lyrics down into natural Japanese first so Chatty could actually translate them properly.
This was the very first T.M.Revolution song I ever heard, so it has a special place in my heart. I love everything about it—from the opening riff onward—but I'd never really stopped to think about the lyrics.
Even the title, "HEART OF SWORD," I always assumed it was simply called that because it was used for Rurouni Kenshin. It turns out I was completely wrong. The title actually reflects the song itself—it's about having a heart as strong and unyielding as a sword.
独りでは 遠い明日を 夜明けのままで 越えそうで
On my own, it feels like I'd drift into tomorrow without ever seeing the dawn.
ブツかっていきゃ コケる想いよ
These feelings throw themselves at you, only to fall flat.
今夜もまた すれ違い
Once again tonight, our hearts pass each other by.
散々すぎて努力の跡も なくなる結果 ONLY の綱渡り
I'm worn down by life on a tightrope where only results matter, and even the traces of your efforts are erased.
やるだけ損するよな 毎日は 斜に構えてた方こそ 楽になる
When every day makes honest effort feel like a losing game, it's easier to become cynical.
熱くてつらい自分を隠して 短い時代（とき）を生きてる
Hiding the passionate, hurting side of myself, I live through these fleeting days.
独りでは 遠い明日を 夜明けのままで 越えそうで
On my own, it feels like I'd drift into tomorrow without ever seeing the dawn.
放っとけば 走る想いよ 夢もまた すれ違い
If I don't hold them back, my feelings will run wild, and even in our dreams our hearts will keep passing each other by.
完璧とちゃう 人生の収支 プラマイ･ゼロだなんてば ホントかな?
Can a life as imperfect as this really balance itself out in the end?
死ぬまでに使い切る 運の数 せめて 自分で出し入れをさせて
If I'm given only so much luck to spend before I die, then at least let me decide how to spend it.
ワカっちゃいない
You just don't get it.
君ならどーにでも 理屈を変えていいのに
You could make black seem white if you wanted to.
何度君に 蹴つまづいても 戻ってきちゃう 愛情に
No matter how many times our relationship makes me stumble, my love always finds its way back.
信じかねる 打たれ強さよ 今夜も ソートー眠れない
I can hardly believe how resilient my heart is. Once again tonight, I can barely sleep.
何度何回 繰り返しても 戻ってきちゃう 愛だから
No matter how many times it happens, love always finds its way back.
ブツかっていく 消せぬ想いを 責める方が 筋違い
It's misguided to blame these feelings that keep throwing themselves forward and refuse to fade.
独りでは 遠い明日を 夜明けのままで 越えてゆく
Even on my own, I'll make my way into that distant tomorrow before dawn breaks.
相性よりも 深いふたりは すれ違って 構わない
What we share goes deeper than compatibility. So it's okay if our hearts fall out of sync sometimes.
This is a track from Madonna's latest album. It first appeared in Confessions II: The Film, released ahead of the album. If you start watching from around the 3:00 mark, you'll hear this song playing during the scene where Madonna dances with Benedict Cumberbatch. Incidentally, Debi Mazar—who's mentioned in the lyrics—also appears in the film.
In a way, this song is a look back at Madonna's own history, focusing on the days just before her breakthrough. It name-drops a whole series of real people who most likely had a major influence on her early career.In that respect, it's a bit like Vogue—it's packed with name-drops.
Man, this one was a lot of work. Translating the lyrics was actually the easy part—researching all the names that appear in them was the real challenge. Big names like Nile Rodgers and David Byrne were easy enough, since they're still famous today. But when it came to people from New York's underground art scene or the dancers, I was completely lost and ended up asking ChatGPT for help. Of course, I still had to fact-check everything myself (ChatGPT has a habit of making things up sometimes), so I wound up doing plenty of research anyway.
One important detail I forgot to mention: even though it's the title of the song, "Danceteria" is never actually mentioned in the lyrics. Danceteria was the legendary New York club where Madonna worked during the era this song is about. It's also where she and Debi Mazar are believed to have first met.
Talk about, talk about, talk about
話をしよう、話をしようよ
Talk about, talk about, talk about
話をしよう、話をしようよ
I got somethin' I wanna talk about (Talk about, talk about)
話したいことがあるんだ
Talk about, talk about, talk about (Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah)
話をしよう、話をしようよ
Get off the train, four, five, six
電車を降りて、4、5、6
Walk to the club, don't wait for shit
クラブまで歩くの、グズグズしてる暇はないよ
Meet this boy named Martin Burgoyne ※1
マーティン・バーゴインって子に会って
He's my best friend, he's my boytoy
私の親友、私の可愛い子
We see the line, it's way too long
行列を見て、めっちゃくちゃ長い
Cut to the front, there's Haoui Montaug ※2
先頭に行ったら、ハウィ・モンタウグがいる
Waves us in, No Entiendes
『ノ・エンティエンデス』に手招きして通してくれるよ ※3
I'm not sure you understand this
あなたが理解できるかわからないけど
Wait backstage, get into my car
バックステージで待ってて、それから車に乗って
Drive to the disco, have a drink at the bar
ディスコに行って、バーで一杯ひっかけよう
People, they might talk about us, yeah
みんなが私たちの噂話するかも
I don't care
でも私は気にしない
[Pre-Chorus]
It's not what I say, it's not what I do
言ったことじゃないし、やった事でもない
It's how my body language talks to you
ただ私のボディランゲージがあなたに語り掛けるの
I just wanna lose myself in the groove
ただグルーヴに没頭したいんだ
Get over here
こっちに来て
Everybody get up and dance (Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah)
みんな目を覚まして、踊って
Everyone here is a work of art
ここのみんなはアートそのもの
Everybody get up and dance (Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah)
みんな目を覚まして、踊って
Everyone here is a work of art
ここのみんなはアートそのもの
Everybody get up and dance
みんな目を覚まして、踊って
Get on the elevator
エレベーターに乗って
I ran into Debi Mazar ※4
デビ・メイザーにばったり会った
Take us to the third floor
私たちを３階に連れてって
Walk us to the dance floor
ダンスフロアに連れてって
Then I see Mark Kamins is the DJ ※5
見て、マーク・カミンズがDJやってる
He's the DJ, hide the cocaine
彼がDJ、コカインは隠して
He played my tape, "Everybody" (Everybody)
彼が私の”Everybody”のテープをかけてくれる
This is how we start the party
これが私たちのパーティの始め方
Face to face, bodies all around
顔を合わせて、体をぶつけ合って
Temperature is rising and the sweat's dripping down
熱気が上がって汗がしたたり落ちる
Everybody's watching now, oh, yeah
みんなが見てる、そう
I don't care
そんなの気にしない
It's not what I say, it's not what I do
言ったことじゃないし、やった事でもない
It's how my body language talks to you
ただ私のボディランゲージがあなたに語り掛けるの
I just wanna lose myself in the groove
ただグルーヴに没頭したいんだ
Get over here
こっちに来て
Everybody get up and dance (Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah)
みんな目を覚まして、踊って
Everyone here is a work of art
ここのみんなはアートそのもの
Everybody get up and dance (Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah)
※6 Fab Five Freddy / ファブ・ファイブ・フレディ 80年代のニューヨークのヒップホップカルチャーを代表するアーティスト、ラッパー、グラフィティアーティスト。音楽・アート・ストリートカルチャーを結びつけた人物として知られ、マドンナとも交流があった。映画『Wild Style』や音楽番組『Yo! MTV Raps』の司会者としても活躍した。
フランス出身のスタイリスト、写真家、ジュエリーデザイナー。70年代～80年代のニューヨークのクラブシーンで活躍し、マドンナのデビュー当時のファッションやイメージ作りに大きく関わった人物。デビューアルバムや『Like a Virgin』期のスタイルを手がけたことでも知られる。
※11 Rock Steady Crew / ロック・ステディ・クルー 1977年にニューヨークで結成されたブレイクダンス（ブレイキン）の伝説的ダンスチーム。80年代のヒップホップブームを牽引し、映画『フラッシュダンス』やテレビへの出演を通じてブレイクダンスを世界中に広めた。マドンナも活動初期に彼らと同じニューヨークのクラブシーンで交流していた。
※12 Crazy Legs / クレイジー・レッグス ロック・ステディ・クルーの中心メンバーで、本名はリチャード・コロン。80年代を代表するブレイクダンサーの一人で、ブレイクダンスを世界に広めた立役者として知られる。マドンナが活動を始めた頃のニューヨークのヒップホップシーンを象徴する人物の一人。
※13 Nile Rodgers / ナイル・ロジャース もはや説明の必要などないであろう超超超大物プロデューサー、ギタリスト、ソングライター。ディスコバンド「CHIC」の中心メンバーとして活躍し、80年代以降はデヴィッド・ボウイやデュラン・デュランなど数多くのアーティストをプロデュース。マドンナのアルバム『Like a Virgin』全曲のプロデューサーも務め、彼女の世界的ブレイクを支えた人物。
※14 David Byrne / デヴィッド・バーン ニューウェーブバンド「Talking Heads」のボーカル兼ソングライター。80年代ニューヨークのダウンタウン・カルチャーを代表するミュージシャンで、アートやダンスミュージックを積極的に取り入れた革新的な音楽性で知られる。マドンナが活動を始めた当時のニューヨークの音楽シーンを象徴する存在の一人。
Martin Burgoyne A British-American artist. He was one of Madonna's closest friends before she became famous and is credited with introducing her to New York's club scene. He managed her first club tour and designed the cover art for her debut album Burning Up. He died of AIDS in 1986.
By the way, HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, so saying someone "died of HIV"—which you occasionally see—is technically incorrect.
※2 Haoui Montaug
Haoui Montaug A doorman at several of New York's most influential clubs during the 1980s. In those days, a club doorman wasn't just security—they decided who fit the club's atmosphere and who got in, making their approval highly sought after. Montaug also organized various club events, where early performances by Madonna and the Beastie Boys took place.
※3 No Entiendes
No Entiendes The name of a club night/event organized by Haoui Montaug (see Note 2). The name means "You don't understand" in Spanish, so it was probably meant to suggest that anyone who wasn't cool enough to "get it" wasn't invited.
※4 Debi Mazar
Debi Mazar An actress and one of Madonna's closest friends since before her debut. They were both part of New York's club scene in the early 1980s. Mazar worked as the hairstylist and makeup artist for Madonna's debut music video, Everybody. The two met at the legendary New York club Danceteria, where Mazar worked, and she even helped Madonna get her demo tape played by the club's DJs. After Madonna became a star, Mazar also appeared as an actress in the music videos for Papa Don't Preach (1986), True Blue (1986), Justify My Love (1990), Deeper and Deeper (1992), and Music (2000).
※5 Mark Kamins
Mark Kamins A DJ and record producer who was active in New York's club scene during the 1980s. After hearing Madonna's demo tape at Danceteria, he immediately recognized her talent and introduced her to a record label, helping launch her career. He also produced her debut single, Everybody, making him one of the most important figures in Madonna's early career.
※6 Fab Five Freddy
Fab Five Freddy An artist, rapper, and graffiti pioneer who became one of the defining figures of New York's hip-hop culture in the 1980s. Known for bridging music, art, and street culture, he was also part of Madonna's circle during her early years. He later gained wider recognition through the film Wild Style and as the host of Yo! MTV Raps.
※7 Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat One of the most influential painters of 1980s New York. He began as a graffiti artist before becoming an international contemporary art star. Basquiat dated Madonna around 1982 and became one of the defining figures of New York's downtown art scene. He died of a drug overdose in 1988 at the age of 27.
※8 Keith Haring
Keith Haring One of the most recognizable artists of 1980s New York. He first gained attention for his chalk drawings in New York City subway stations before achieving worldwide fame with his bold, pop-inspired artwork. Haring was also a friend of Madonna and part of the downtown art scene during her early career. Even if you don't recognize his name, you've probably seen his artwork. He died in 1990 at the age of 31.
※9 Kenny Scharf
Kenny Scharf One of the leading artists of New York's downtown art scene in the 1980s. Known for his colorful, pop-inspired artwork, he helped shape the era alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Scharf also knew Madonna and was part of the vibrant cultural scene that surrounded her during the early years of her career.
※10 Maripol
Maripol A French stylist, photographer, and jewelry designer. Active in New York's club scene throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, she played a major role in shaping Madonna's early image and fashion. She is best known for styling Madonna's debut album and her Like a Virgin era.
※11 Rock Steady Crew
Rock Steady Crew A legendary breakdancing crew formed in New York City in 1977. They helped bring breaking to an international audience through appearances in films such as Flashdance and on television, becoming one of the defining groups of the 1980s hip-hop movement. Madonna also crossed paths with them in New York's club scene during the early days of her career.
※12 Crazy Legs
Crazy Legs The best-known member of Rock Steady Crew. Born Richard Colón, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest breakdancers of all time and played a key role in popularizing breaking around the world. He was also one of the iconic figures of New York's hip-hop scene when Madonna was just starting out.
※13 Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers One of the most influential producers, guitarists, and songwriters in popular music—he hardly needs an introduction. As the co-founder of the disco band CHIC, he helped define the sound of disco before going on to produce countless artists, including David Bowie and Duran Duran. Rodgers also produced every track on Madonna's Like a Virgin, playing a pivotal role in her rise to global superstardom.
※14 David Byrne
David Byrne The lead singer and songwriter of the new wave band Talking Heads. One of the defining musicians of New York's downtown cultural scene in the 1980s, Byrne became known for blending art, rock, funk, and dance music into an innovative musical style. He was one of the artists who shaped the musical world surrounding Madonna during the early years of her career.
※15 B-52's
B-52's An American new wave band formed in 1976. Their quirky fashion, infectious dance grooves, and distinctive sound made them one of the defining acts of the 1980s club scene. They were already hugely popular when Madonna was beginning her career, which is why they're name-dropped here as one of the iconic bands of that era.
Personally, I first discovered them when vocalist Kate Pierson formed the band NiNa with YUKI from Judy and Mary. That was almost thirty years ago now...
※16 Lounge Lizards
Lounge Lizards An avant-garde jazz band formed in New York City in 1979. Blending jazz, punk, and new wave, they became one of the defining acts of New York's downtown art scene in the 1980s. They were also popular within the cultural circles that surrounded Madonna during the early years of her career.
It's probably a made-up word. Since the following line describes waves rolling in and out, I think it's intended to evoke the image of a sandy beach or something similar. That's why I left it untranslated.
He's a real person. The easiest way to describe him is probably as the lead singer of Crowded House. To be honest, that's about all I know about him myself. Still, Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" has a similarly dreamy atmosphere, so I think it fits the song's overall vibe.
This song is by Scottish singer-songwriter Chris Rainbow. For some reason, it became a surprise minor hit recently. Although it was originally released in 1979, it made its first appearance on several national charts in 2026, reaching No. 82 in the UK, No. 92 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 16 on the Rock chart, and No. 15 on the Indie Singles chart.
According to ChatGPT, the song gained traction on TikTok after being used in videos with a nostalgic aesthetic, which eventually helped it chart. It's a little surprising, considering the lyrics seem like the kind of thing that might put off younger listeners today. Then again, people in the West don't always pay close attention to lyrics, and the song itself is undeniably catchy.
That said, the guy in this song is wonderfully human. He wants to come across as the understanding, open-minded type, but he can't quite pull it off. Modern women would probably respond with, "I'll do whatever I want whether you approve or not." Still, I suspect there are plenty of men today who secretly feel exactly the way he does.
