Yano Akiko - Hoshi no Ouji-sama

[EJTranslations]

This song heavily references Antoine de Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince, so some of my translation choices here are based on... well, the English translation of it. Mainly, I translated "呑み助" as "tippler" because that's how the version I've read refers to the character, and "What is essential is invisible to the eye" is a direct quote. I kind of worry that the rest of my translation doesn't match the tone/diction of that line... well, anyway, enough of my babbling, here it is. As usual, tell me what I'm doing wrong.

ぼくらは故郷をさがして
旅をつづけている　夢見てる
王さまも、うぬぼれも、実業屋も
昔は子どもだったこと　忘れただけさ

bokura wa furusato o sagashite
tabi o tsudzukete iru yume mite'ru
ou-sama mo, unubore mo, jitsugyouya mo
mukashi wa kodomo datta koto wasureta dake sa

We're searching for our home
Continuing our journey, dreaming
The king and the conceited man and the businessman
Have simply forgotten that they once were children

友達になろう
好きな花を育てよう
たいせつなこと　目には見えない

tomodachi ni narou
suki na hana o sodateyou
taisetsu na koto me ni wa mienai

Let's become friends
And grow the flowers we like
What is essential is invisible to the eye

君がもし砂漠で迷ったら
ぼくは君の井戸になりたい
呑み助も、点燈夫も、地理学者も
気づかずに暮してる儚いもののこと

kimi ga moshi sabaku de mayottara
boku wa kimi no ido ni naritai
nomisuke mo, tentoufu mo, chirigakusha mo
kidzukazu ni kurashite'ru hakanai mono no koto

If you are lost in the desert
I will be your well
The tippler and the lamplighter and the geographer
Live without noticing ephemeral things

友達になろう
心の花をさがそう
たいせつなこと　目には見えない

tomodachi ni narou
kokoro no hana o sagasou
taisetsu na koto me ni wa mienai

Let's become friends
And find the flowers of our hearts
What is essential is invisible to the eye

はなれていても
君の声がきこえる
輝く星は笑っているよ

hanarete ite mo
kimi no koe ga kikoeru
kagayaku hoshi mo waratte iru yo

Even if we're far apart
I can hear your voice
The shining stars are laughing too

友達になろう
心の花をさがそう
たいせつなこと　目には見えない

tomodachi ni narou
kokoro no hana o sagasou
taisetsu na koto me ni wa mienai

Let's become friends
And find the flowers of our hearts
What is essential is invisible to the eye

[Soulshift]

ペンギンさん、お久しぶりです～

> 昔は子どもだったこと　忘れただけさ
> Have forgotten that they once were children

How about, "Have simply / just forgotten that they once were children" (to capture the だけさ at the end)

> I want to become your well

"I will be your well" would perhaps flow better / follow English lyric conventions.

[EJTranslations]

Those are both good suggestions -- thanks!