Mono no a-wa-re

  • At 115-130 BPM
  • this Japanese-English soul ballad opens with brushed drums
  • soft sub bass
  • jazzy guitar and piano chords
Mono no a-wa-re

Lyrics

Concept: Mono no a-wa-re

Theme: A philosophical song reflecting on the transience of painful experiences — like cherry blossoms falling. They are beautiful because they pass. Don't cling to what’s meant to fade.

- When I write philosophical songs, I have a bad habit: I cram in too many meanings and metaphors.In the end, it gets bloated...So I end up speeding up the tempo just to fit everything in.

- The lyrics may sound sad, but they’re not. That’s why I dropped the R&B and leaned into Jazz instead. I also added traditional Japanese instruments to match the sakura mood.

- Burned quite a bit of credit too — because I didn’t want Mono no a-wa-re to just “pass by” in the chorus.I wanted it to mean something every time it’s sung.

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Verse 1

どれだけ try しても still alone

失うたび 声が small

大切だった愛も dream も

手のひらすり抜けて gone

抱きしめた hope は fade

別れは goodbye じゃなくて blade

自分の痛みだけじゃない

他人の sorrow まで soak inside

胸の奥に crack が増え

眠れぬ夜に弱さが増え

誰も見てない silent cry

Just emotions I can’t even classify...

この涙、どこへ流せばいい?

When it’s not mine — can I just set it free?

気づかぬうちに 沈んでた mind

How do I float when the weight’s not mine?

Chorus

桜が舞えば 心は sway

儚さの中に truth だけ

消えてく光 still we stay

Mono no a-wa-re — we feel, not pray

美しさは ここにある

散る前にだけ 見える flower

Not forever — but that’s okay

瞬間こそが realest way

Verse 2

悲しみは bad じゃない

It means I saw what fades — that’s right

永久 とわ じゃないものに涙した

That’s not weak — it’s proof I tried

別れに慣れたんじゃない

I just learned to bow, then let it slide

「変わる」ことに 怯えずに

I breathe with change — no need to hide

Regret は過去の mirror

未練は “still” を映す trigger

でも今ここに I’m alive

失うたび I see light

逃げなくていい — just let it stay

悲しみも friend, not something to slay

そっと beside you, not in your way

It won’t drown you — if you don’t look away

静けさの中で 涙は光る

In stillness, sorrow learns to bloom

愛したことの証なら

Let it echo — not consume

Chorus

桜が舞えば 心は sway

儚さの中に truth だけ

消えてく光 still we stay

Mono no a-wa-re — we feel, not pray

美しさは ここにある

散る前にだけ 見える flower

Not forever — but that’s okay

瞬間こそが realest way

【Final Chorus – Simple, Soft, Elongated】

桜が舞えば 心が sway〜〜

儚さの中に truth stays〜〜

Mono no a-wa-re — we feel, not pray