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. Although this song is sung by a female, it seems to be about Shinji's bitter feelings upon Third Impact.
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
cos 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 called 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
cos 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
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'. It's sung in a more cheerful manner, reminiscent of funk.
