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Sakurazaka46's 'Monshirochou ga Tashika Tondeta' Lyrics Meaning: A Poetic Dive into Fleeting Love
Sakurazaka46’s latest track, Monshirochou ga Tashika Tondeta/紋白蝶が確か飛んでた ("A Cabbage White Butterfly Was Definitely Flying"), is a beautifully crafted song that paints a bittersweet picture of lost love, nostalgia, and fleeting emotions.
With poetic lyrics that mix introspection and nature imagery, the song captures the essence of a romance slipping away like a butterfly drifting in the wind.
Sakurazaka46 Monshirochou ga Tashika Tondeta English Translation of the Lyrics
A cabbage white butterfly was definitely flying,
In the deep blue sky, fluttering gracefully,
Did it get lost on the street corner?
A bit unclear—just my vague memories.
Taking off only the spring-coloured coat,
I hung it on the chair back at a café terrace,
It was about time to act like an adult.
I tried to find a reason or two,
But even now, I still don’t get it,
Of course, even that day, I was just confused.
For some reason, I saw myself objectively,
Even while your lips were moving,
I was looking at another scene.
A cabbage white butterfly near you,
Not worrying about goodbyes at all,
Just joyfully dancing in the air,
Then landing on your shoulder.
Yes, that’s what freedom really means,
It quietly taught me that.
I don’t remember clearly,
But it seems romance has flown away.
"What if..." scenarios
Are just like a rock-paper-scissors game played in hindsight,
Even if I try to explain it, it’s meaningless.
I can’t remember the important things,
Yet I recall the trivial ones,
I just want to deceive myself...
The cabbage white butterfly, like a tear,
Gently falls through the scenery,
We avoided eye contact the whole time,
And stayed completely silent...
Hey, if we didn’t want to hurt each other,
We should’ve just stopped time here,
Sadness may have frozen,
But emotions spread their wings and flew away.
A cabbage white butterfly near you,
Not worrying about goodbyes at all,
Just joyfully dancing in the air,
Then landing on your shoulder.
Yes, that’s what freedom really means,
It quietly taught me that.
I don’t remember clearly,
But it seems romance has flown away.
What Do the Lyrics Mean?
The song metaphorically uses a cabbage white butterfly to represent freedom, fleeting moments, and the transience of love.
The narrator reflects on a past relationship, remembering small, seemingly insignificant details while struggling to recall the deeper emotions and reasons behind their love and its eventual loss.
The butterfly, moving effortlessly through the scene, symbolises how love can be delicate and uncontrollable—something that comes and goes without much notice.
At its core, the song is about the struggle of looking back on a love that has faded.
The narrator realises they were emotionally distant even when together, as if watching their own life from a detached perspective.
The butterfly's carefree movement contrasts with their inability to hold onto the romance, reinforcing the theme of love slipping away like a momentary dream.
With its melancholic yet soothing melody, Monshirochou ga Tashika Tondeta is a reminder that not all questions about love have answers, and sometimes, all that remains are memories that flutter away like a butterfly in the wind.