The following translations of Yamato songs were originally published on Space Webzine Yamato, the first all-Yamato website and the progenitor of Cosmo DNA. The editor and translator was Jerry Fellows.
Since there is more than one way to translate Japanese, particularly in the realm of poetry and song lyrics, these should be considered no less legitimate than the translations featured on Cosmo DNA, and they are presented to inspire further thought.
Space Battleship Yamato
opening theme
Farewell Earth, the ship we leave in is
Space Battleship Yamato
Through space we travel toward far-off Iscandar
Fate upon our shoulders, we now begin our journey
“Surely we will return here”
We respond, smiling to the waving crowd
Leaving the galaxy, heading toward Iscandar
We face a great distance
Space Battleship Yamato
Farewell Earth, and the people we love
Space Battleship Yamato
We are charged with a mission to save the Earth
Fighting men, burning romance
Someone must undertake this
We are expected to do so
Leaving the galaxy, heading toward Iscandar
We face a great distance
Space Battleship Yamato
saraba chikyuu yo tabidatsu fune wa
uchuu senkan yamato
uchuu no kanata isukandaru e
unmei seoi ima tobi tatsu
kanarazu koko e kaette kuru to
te o furu hito ni egao de kotae
ginga o hanare isukandaru e
harubaru nozomu
uchuu senkan yamato
saraba chikyuu yo aisuru hito yo
uchuu senkan yamato
chikyuu o sukuu shimei o obi te
tatakau otoko moeru roman
dare ka ga kore o yarane banaranu
kitai no hito ga oretachi naraba
ginga o hanare isukandaru e
harubaru nozomu
uchuu senkan yamato
Scarlet Scarf
first series ending theme
See that girl with the scarlet scarf
Who do you think it is for?
It isn’t important,
Let each believe it is for him
As they leave on their journey, each man’s heart
Wants a piece of romance
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la scarlet scarf
I will surely return to the scarlet scarf
So meet with me on that day
While I’m far away at the ends of space
I’ll dream amongst the stars
The eyes of men who journey
Want reflections of romance
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la scarlet scarf
ano ko ga futte ita makkana sukafu
dare no tame da to omotte iru ka
dare no tame demo ii ja nai ka
minna sono ki de ireba ii
tabidatsu otoko no mune ni wa
roman no kakera ga hoshii no sa
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la makkana sukafu
kanarazu kaeru kara makkana sukafu
kitto sono hi mo mukaete okure
ima wa harubaru uchuu no hate
yume o miru no mo hoshi no naka
tabisuru otoko no hitomi wa
roman o itsudemo utsushitai
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la makkana sukafu
The Rival
image song from Farewell to Yamato
Two men bound together
By a thread too strong to cut
You can try to turn away
From that life but
Surely you and I
Cannot fight this destiny
Within the flames I saw a samurai
Dessler, it was you
Our meeting has added
To our life’s burdens
Our spirits burn and
We call each other “enemy”
If we should instead drink sake together
Surely things would be different
Within the flames I saw a samurai
Dessler, it was you
otoko to otoko ni tsukimatou
kitte mo kirenai tsuyoi ito
kao o somukete ikirarenu
sore o sadametoiu keredo
masashiku ore to omae no naka wa
tatakau tame no shukumei datta
honoo no naka ni samurai o mita
desuraa sore wa omae datta
omae to ore to ga deau no wa
inochi no omoni o mochi yotte
teki toiu nade yubi o sashi
atsuku kokoro moyashite ta
sadame ga sukoshi kawatteita ra
tagai ni sake mo nondeta hazu da
honoo no naka ni samurai o mita
desuraa sore wa omae datta
From Yamato With Love
ending song from Farewell to Yamato
If she is more gentle than a flower
If she is more beautiful than the stars
You will willingly die
to reach out and protect her
You have reflected upon this
And act willingly for the benefit
of the one you love
You speak as if this all this were so
Let’s not say goodbye now
Let’s not say goodbye now
Some day a song will return to her lips
Some day love will return to her heart
You spread your arms in an embrace
and proved your love
Though tomorrow seems distant
You act willingly for the benefit
of the one you love
You speak as if this all this were so
Let’s not say goodbye now
Let’s not say goodbye now
sono hito no yasashisa ga hana ni masaru nara
sono hito no utsukushisa ga hoshi ni masaru nara
kimi wa te o hirogete mamoru ga ii
karada o nagedasu neuchi ga aru
hitori hitori ga omou koto wa
aisuru hito no tamedake de ii
kimi ni hanasu koto ga aru toshitara
ima wa soredake kamo shirenai
ima wa saraba toiwase nai de kure
ima wa saraba toiwase nai de kure
itsu no hika kuchibiru ni uta ga yomigaeri
itsu no hika hito no mune ni ai ga yomigaeri
kimi wa te o hirogete idaku ga ii
tashika ni aishita akashi ga aru
toi ashita o omou koto wa
aisuru hito no tamedake de ii
kimi ni hanasu koto ga aru toshitara
ima wa soredake kamo shirenai
ima wa saraba toiwase nai de kure
ima wa saraba toiwase nai de kure
Teresa Forever
ending song from Yamato 2
Teresa – On the other side of the stars
Teresa – This prayer of love is offered up
Your skin is adorned with stardust
And you create love in the hearts of men
If the smile on your face should become obscured
Darkness would surely descend
Teresa, forever may you smile
Teresa, forever may you smile
Teresa – A voice calls from somewhere far off
Teresa – The light is a crying voice
Place your hands to your heart
And speak in the language of love
Within your eyes love glistens
Like a sunken treasure
Teresa, forever may you smile
Teresa, forever may you smile
Teresa hoshi no kanata ni anata wa iru to
Teresa ai no inori o sasagete iru to
hada ni kazatta hoshikuzu ga
hito no kokoro de ai ni naru
hoho ni ukanda hohoemi ga
kagereba itsuka yoru ni naru
Teresa yo towani hohoemi o
Teresa yo towani hohoemi o
Teresa dokoka tookude yonderu koe ga
Teresa hikari nakushite naideru koe ga
munede awaseta te no hira ga
ai no kotoba o katari kake
kiyoku kirameku me no oku ni
ai no takara o shizumeteru
Teresa yo towani hohoemi o
Teresa yo towani hohoemi o
Yamato!! New Journey
launch song from The New Voyage
This rare moment when all is green and shining on Earth
The battles go forgotten, and no one has noticed
Only gentle songs flow within spirits
That have left their fear and sorrow behind
But peace is not yet permanent
And today we can only dream of such a time
Remember Yamato
Remember Yamato
Too many stars in the Galaxy are stained scarlet
And the time of darkness comes once more
New faces, and new resolve,
Arise for a new journey with Yamato
As your ship drifts through space
The approaching storm gives time for recollections of Earth
A hymn revives your spirit
As your wandering continues
The time of grief is past
It is time to step beyond
Remember Yamato
Remember Yamato
A lovely person waits willingly
For when you will hold them tight in your arms
New faces, and new resolve,
Arise for a new journey with Yamato
chikyuu wa itsushika tatakai wasure
kagayaku midori ni tsutsu mare ta
osore mo nageki mo kokoro o hanare
yasashii utadake ga nagarete ta
jikan yo tomare heiwa no mamade
ima kono yume no kono jidai
Remember Yamato
Remember Yamato
ginga ni akai hoshi ga sugete
futatabi kageri ga sashita toki
aratana kao to aratana ketsui
aratana yamato ga tabi ni tatsu
chikyuu wa uchuu o tadayou fune to
arashi ga kuru tabi omoidasu
sasurai tsuzukete inori no uta ga
imamata kokoro ni yomigaeru
jikan yo yuke yo nageki no toki o
harukani koete sugite yuke
Remember Yamato
Remember Yamato
itoshii hito yo matsu ga ii
kanarazu kono te ni dakishi meru
aratana kao to aratana ketsui
aratana yamato ga tabi ni tatsu
Be Forever Yamato
ending song from Yamato III
When one person’s tear
Flows to the cheeks of others
That single drop
Will moisten the ends of space
If we have the power to live through today
If we have the courage to face tomorrow
There is nothing we need to fear
Yamato, in you
Our unending dreams are placed
While there is love, run forever
While there is life, run on
When the song one person sings out
Reaches the mouths of others
That song’s refrain
Will echo to the ends of space
If we have the spirit to live through today
If we have the strength to look to tomorrow
Our belief in one another will result
Yamato, in you
Our great love is placed
While there is song, run forever
While there is prayer, run on
hitori ga otoshi ta namida hitotsu
hitobito no hoho ni nagare ta toki
sono hitotsubu no shizuku ga
uchuu no hate o mo uruosu darou
kyoo o iki nuku chikara ga aru nara
ashita ni mukau yuuki ga aru nara
osoreru mono ha nanimo nai
yamato yo kimi
hateshi nai yume o nosete
ai aru kagiri towani kake yo
inochi aru kagiri kake yo
hitori ga koboshi ta utagoe ga
hitobito no kuchi ni fure ta toki
sono hitofushi no kotoba ha
uchuu no hatemade hibiku darou
kyoo o iki nuku kokoro ga aru nara
ashita o mitsumeru tsuyosa ga aru nara
tagai o shinjite iku ga ii
yamato yo kimi
ooi naru ai o nosete
uta aru kagiri towani kake yo
inori aru kagiri kake yo