Komm, süsser Tod

Komm, süsser Tod (German: Come, Sweet Death) is the English-language song which plays during Third Impact when Instrumentality is initiated in The End of Evangelion. The song is performed by Arianne, backed by piano, pipe-organ and various string arrangements by Shiro Sagisu. The original lyrics were by Hideaki Anno which was later adapted into English by Mike Wyzgowski.

Anno's Original Verse

Original Japanese Lyrics: Hideaki ANNO Transliteration & Translation: Rachel CLARK

English Translation

Come, Sweet Death

I'm uneasy.
I'm uneasy.
I'm afraid of being disliked by everyone.
I'm afraid of being hurt.
But I'm even more afraid of hurting other people.
But I've already hurt them.
I've already hurt the people who matter most to me.
That's why I can't let myself like other people.
That's why I hurt myself.

And so, I am disliked.
And so, I am hated.

I mustn't let myself like anyone.
That's why I hurt myself.

Tenderness is the greatest cruelty
If I entrust my heart to another, I'll be devastated in the end
If another heart touches my own, that person will be hurt

And so, I can only be devastated
All I can do is return to nothing

Let me return to nothing
Let me return to nothing
It is a place filled with tenderness
A place without the pain of reality
Where my heart will not tremble

Let me return to nothing
Let me return to nothing
Where there is no one else, let me return to nothing
Let me return to nothing
Let me return to nothing
Where nothing can hurt me, let me return to nothing...(REPEAT)

Translator's Notes

This translation is somewhat dated and needs a good look-over.

For an alternate take, see also Bochan_bird's literal translation. (Note that this contains a couple of technical errors; for example, he transliterates one line as "Kowai dakara" rather than "Kirai dakara", and translates accordingly.)

Romaji

Amaki shi yo, kitare

Fuan na no.
Fuan na no.
Minna ni kirawareru no ga, kowai.
Jibun ga kizutsuku no ga, kowai.
Demo, HITO o kizutsukeru no ga, motto kowai.
Demo, kizutsukete shimau.
Suki na HITO o kizutsukete shimau.
Dakara, HITO o suki ni naranai.
Dakara, jibun o kizutsukeru no.

Kirai dakara.
DaikKIRAI dakara.

Suki ni natte wa, ikenai no.
Dakara, jibun o kizutsukeru.

Yasashisa wa totemo zankoku
Kokoro o yudanetara, watashi wa kowarete shimau
Kokoro ga fure-aeba, ano hito wa kizutsuku

Dakara, watashi wa kowareru shika nai
Mu e to kaeru shika nai

Mu e to kaerou
Mu e to kaerou
Sore wa, yasashisa ni michi-michita tokoro
Soko wa, shinjitsu no itami no nai tokoro
Kokoro no yuragi no nai tokoro

Mu e to kaerou
Mu e to kaerou
Tanin no inai mu e to kaerou
Mu e to kaerou
Mu e to kaerou
Kizutsuku koto no nai mu e to kaerou...(RIPÎTO)

Original Japanese Lyrics

甘き死よ、来たれ

不安なの。
不安なの。
みんなに嫌われるのが、怖い。
自分が傷つくのが、怖い。
でも、ヒトを傷つけるのが、もっと怖い。
でも、傷つけてしまう。
好きなヒトを傷つけてしまう。
だから、ヒトを好きにならない。
だから、自分を傷つけるの。

嫌いだから。
だいっキライだから。

好きになっては、いけないの。
だから、自分を傷つける。

優しさはとても残酷
心を委ねたら、私は壊れてしまう
心が触れ合えば、あの人は傷つく

だから、私は壊れるしかない
無へと還るしかない

無へと還ろう
無へと還ろう
それは、優しさに満ち満ちたところ
そこは、真実の痛みのないところ
心の揺らぎのないところ

無へと還ろう
無へと還ろう
他人のいない無へと還ろう
無へと還ろう
無へと還ろう
傷つく事のない無へと還ろう…(リピート) 　

(日本語原詞:庵野秀明) 

Mike Wyzgowski's English Lyrics Adaption

Komm, süsser Tod

I know, I know I've let you down
I've been a fool to myself
I thought that I could
Live for no one else
But now, through all the hurt & pain
It's time for me to respect
The ones you love
Mean more than anything
So with sadness in my heart
(I) feel the best thing I could do
Is end it all
And leave forever
What's done is done
It feels so bad
What once was happy now is sad
I'll never love again
My world is ending

I wish that I could turn back time
'Cause now the guilt is all mine
Can't live without
The trust from those you love
I know we can't forget the past
You can't forget love & pride
Because of that, it's killing me inside

It all returns to nothing, it all comes tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down
It all returns to nothing, I just keep letting me down, letting me down, letting me down
In my heart of hearts
I know that I could never love again
I've lost everything
Everything
Everything that matters to me
Matters in this world

I wish that I could turn back time
'Cause now the guilt is all mine
Can't live without
The trust from those you love
I know we can't forget the past
You can't forget love & pride
Because of that, it's killing me inside

It all returns to nothing, it all comes tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down
It all returns to nothing, I just keep letting me down, letting me down, letting me down
It all returns to nothing, it all comes tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down
It all returns to nothing, I just keep letting me down, letting me down, letting me down

Japanese translation 1

Interpreted by ジャニス.

そう　私はあなたを失望させてきた　
私は無駄な努力をしていたの
誰のためにでもなく生きていけると思っていた　
でも今や辛い日々は去って
あなたの愛する人たちに　
何よりも大切な人たちに敬意を表す時がきた
私はベストを尽くしたわ　
でも悲しい事に私がしてあげられることは
すべてに終止符を打つこと　そして永遠に去りゆくこと
過去は過去にすぎない　苦しいけれど　
かつて幸せだったことが今は悲しい
もう二度と愛したりしない　私の世界は終わりを告げている

時間を逆戻りさせたい
　 今やすべての罪は私のものになってしまったから
あなたの愛する人たちの信頼なしには生きていけない
そう　私たちは過去を忘れられない　
あなたは愛とプライドを忘れられない
それが私を深く傷付ける

無へ還ろう　みんな崩れていく　崩れていく　崩れていく
無へ還ろう　私は壊れていく　壊れていく　壊れていく

心の底から思う　もう二度と愛など求めないと
私はすべてを失った　すべてを
私にとって意味のあるものすべてを　
この世で意味あるものすべてを

Japanese translation 2

Interpreted by ジャ・クイユ様.

いつもあなたを傷つけてきたけれど
私はなんて愚かだったのかしら
ずっと､独りぼっちだと思ってきたけれど
でも､痛みが教えてくれたの
心を開く勇気と
愛することの尊さを
でも､悲しいけれど全てを終わらせるわ
それが私にできる唯一のことだから
胸が張り裂けそうだけど
あなたを悲しませるくらいなら
愛なんていらない
たとえ独りで生きて行くことになっても

もう一度やりなおして
過ちを取り戻してみたいけど
それは願ってはいけないこと
だって､想い出をなくしてほしくないから
あなたが愛したものを忘れて欲しくないから
たとえ､わたしの心が壊れてしまってもいいから

だから無に還るの　深い､深い闇の底へと
だから無に還るの　遠い､遠い誰もいない世界へと

わたしの心はもう愛を叫ぶことはないわ
すべてを捨てるから
そう､すべてを
絆のすべてを

Notes

• Two versions exist: The "Director's Cut" used in Episode 26', and the version released on the single KICA-155, in which the choir continues after the final chorus in broken, incoherent song.
• The rhythm of the chorus is reminiscent of the second half of "Hey Jude" by The Beatles.
• There is also a remix of the song called "Tumbling Down Remix" which was made for Evangelion Vox. The singer is Loren of Loren and Mash, who also sang "Thanatos~If I Can't Be Yours~", the end credits song for Episode 25'. The style is R&B and is performed in a cheerful manner.
• The chiptune fan album "We Are (Not) Alone" final track, track 22 "“天”き死よ、来たれ", is an interpretation of KsT.

Analysis

• Although the singer is a female, this song seems to be about Shinji's feelings once Third Impact occurs.

Audio Releases

Arranged Albums: Evangelion Symphony | Evangelion Vox | Evangelion Wind Symphony No.1 | Evangelion Wind Symphony No.2 | Evangelion PianoForte #1 | The world! Evangelion Jazz night =The Tokyo III Jazz club= | ShiroSAGISU OUTTAKES FROM EVANGELION (VOl.1) | Shin Godzilla vs Evangelion Symphony

Compilation Albums: The Day of Second Impact | Evangelion: The Birthday of Rei Ayanami | Refrain of Evangelion | Evangelion: Decade | Neon Genesis Evangelion Soundtrack 25th Anniversary Box | Evangelion Finally

Soundtrack Albums: Neon Genesis Evangelion OST I | Neon Genesis Evangelion OST II | Neon Genesis Evangelion OST III | Evangelion Death | End of Evangelion (Soundtrack) | S² Works | Music from Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone | Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone Original Soundtrack | Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Original Soundtrack | Music from Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo | Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo Original Soundtrack | Music from "Shin Evangelion" Evangelion: 3.0+1.0

Studio Albums: Neon Genesis Evangelion Addition | Neon Genesis Evangelion Classical Volume | Refrain, The Songs Were Inspired by Evangelion | Evangelion Extreme

Theme Songs: A Cruel Angel's Thesis | Fly Me to the Moon | Soul's Refrain | Thanatos -If I can't be yours- | Komm, süsser Tod | Beautiful World | Sakura Nagashi | One Last Kiss

Other: After the End | Animate Voice Cassette