NGT48 – We’re Growing Up. Lyrics Meaning: The Beautiful Thorn of a Past Love

Why do some memories feel like a thorn you just can’t remove? NGT48’s song “We’re Growing Up” totally dives into that feeling. It’s a track about looking back at a past love with a mix of sweetness and sharp regret.

    The Story Behind “We’re Growing Up” by NGT48

    This song tells a story that’s probably super familiar to a lot of us. It’s about someone who is completely stuck on an old flame, replaying every moment and wondering what went wrong.

    A Kiss Without True Meaning

    The story kicks off with a look back at a younger, more innocent time. The singer remembers a moment that should have been perfect, but they were too naive to understand its weight. They shared a kiss without really getting what love was all about.

    Ai no imi mo wakarazu ni
    Without even knowing the meaning of love
    KISU o shita koto
    We kissed
    Furimukeba itoshikute
    Looking back, it’s so dear to me
    Sotto kuchibiru kamu
    And I gently bite my lip

    Now, looking back, that memory is filled with a bittersweet ache. Biting their lip is such a small action, but it says so much about the frustration and regret they feel now.

    The Unforgettable Thorn

    Here’s where the song gets really poetic. The memories aren’t just happy or sad; they’re described as a “beautiful thorn.” It’s a perfect way to explain how something that was once lovely can now cause so much pain.

    Omoide wa itsu datte
    Memories always
    Utsukushii toge ni naru
    Become beautiful thorns
    Wasureru ni wa dousureba ii?
    What should I do to forget?

    The only solution they can think of is to find a new love. But it sounds more like a desperate wish than a real plan, right? It shows how trapped they feel by this old memory.

    Stuck on “What Are You Doing Now?”

    The chorus is basically the anthem for anyone who can’t stop thinking about their ex. It’s a frantic, repeating question that shows just how obsessed they are. They’re torturing themselves with thoughts of what their former partner is up to.

    Whatcha Gonna Do ima doko de
    Whatcha Gonna Do, where are you now
    Whatcha Gonna Do dare to iru?
    Whatcha Gonna Do, who are you with?
    Whatcha Gonna Do nani o shiyou to shiteiru n’darou?
    Whatcha Gonna Do, what are you trying to do?

    This part is just so raw. It’s that spiral we all get into after a breakup, imagining every possible scenario. The singer even admits they hate this side of themselves, but they just can’t stop.

    The Heart of the Story

    At its core, “We’re Growing Up” is all about regret. The singer is haunted by the “what ifs.” They believe that if they had just held on tighter, the relationship wouldn’t have ended. That realization is a cruel kind of pain that never really goes away, resurfacing day after day like a dull ache.

    The Lesson in the Heartbreak

    So what’s the big takeaway? The song suggests that growing up means collecting a few of these “thorns.” Some emotional wounds don’t heal cleanly. The pain of regret teaches a tough lesson about appreciating people while you have them. It’s not about finding a magic cure to forget, but learning to live with the scars that shaped you.

    So, What’s Your Take?

    This song is so powerfully relatable, but maybe you hear something different in it. What do you think the “beautiful thorn” really represents? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the story NGT48 is telling here.

    Lyrics: "We're Growing Up" by NGT48


    NGT48 – We’re Growing Up [Lyrics KANJI]


    人間はどうして大人になっても
    こんなに涙を流すのだろう?
    悲しみはずっと この胸のどこかで
    堰き止められて消えはしないのに…

    愛の意味もわからずに
    キスをしたこと
    振り向けば愛しくて
    そっと唇 噛む

    思い出はいつだって
    美しい棘(とげ)になる
    忘れるにはどうすればいい?
    新しい恋を
    見つけるしかない

    Whatcha Gonna Do 今 どこで
    Whatcha Gonna Do 誰といる?
    Whatcha Gonna Do 何をしようとしているんだろう?
    Whatcha Gonna Do まだ 君を
    Whatcha Gonna Do 想ってる
    Whatcha Gonna Do こんな自分が嫌になるんだ

    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do)
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do…)

    例えばライオンも誰かに振られたら
    少しは涙を流すのかな?
    どんなに強くても 心のどこかに
    脆(もろ)い何かはあるのだろう

    その手を離さなければ
    終わらなかった
    もう一度会えるなら
    二度と離しはしない

    後悔はあの日から
    残酷な棘(とげ)のように
    鈍い痛みずっと消えない
    夜明けが来る度
    疼(うず)き出すんだ

    Whatcha Gonna Do 今 僕は
    Whatcha Gonna Do 一人きり
    Whatcha Gonna Do ここでしたいことは何もないよ
    Whatcha Gonna Do まだ 君が
    Whatcha Gonna Do 気にしてる
    Whatcha Gonna Do 夢を何度も見てしまうんだ

    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do)
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do…)

    サヨナラと言えたなら
    一瞬の棘(とげ)だった
    いつのまにか抜けることない
    今もまだ
    愛しているんだ

    Whatcha Gonna Do 今 どこで
    Whatcha Gonna Do 誰といる?
    Whatcha Gonna Do 何をしようとしているんだろう?
    Whatcha Gonna Do まだ 君を
    Whatcha Gonna Do 想ってる
    Whatcha Gonna Do こんな自分が嫌になるんだ

    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do)
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do…)

    NGT48 – We’re Growing Up [Lyrics ROMAJI]


    Ningen wa doushite otona ni nattemo
    Konna ni namida wo nagasu nodarou?
    Kanashimi wa zutto kono mune no dokoka de
    Sekitomerarete kie wa shinai noni…

    Ai no imi mo wakarazu ni
    Kisu wo shita koto
    Furimukeba itoshikute
    Sotto kuchibiru kamu

    Omoide wa itsu datte
    Utsukushii toge ni naru
    Wasureru ni wa dousureba ii?
    Atarashii koi wo
    Mitsukeru shikanai

    Whatcha Gonna Do Ima doko de
    Whatcha Gonna Do Dare to iru?
    Whatcha Gonna Do Nani wo shiyou to shite iru n darou?
    Whatcha Gonna Do Mada kimi wo
    Whatcha Gonna Do Omotteru
    Whatcha Gonna Do Konna jibun ga iya ni naru n da

    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do)
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do…)

    Tatoeba raion mo dareka ni furaretara
    Sukoshi wa namida wo nagasu no kana?
    Donna ni tsuyokutemo kokoro no dokoka ni
    Moroi nanika wa aru nodarou

    Sono te wo hanasanakereba
    Owaranakatta
    Mou ichido aeru nara
    Nido to hanashi wa shinai

    Koukai wa ano hi kara
    Zankoku na toge no you ni
    Nibui itami zutto kienai
    Yoake ga kuru tabi
    Uzukidasu n da

    Whatcha Gonna Do Ima boku wa
    Whatcha Gonna Do Hitori kiri
    Whatcha Gonna Do Koko de shitai koto wa nani mo nai yo
    Whatcha Gonna Do Mada kimi ga
    Whatcha Gonna Do Ki ni shiteru
    Whatcha Gonna Do Yume wo nando mo mite shimau n da

    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do)
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do…)

    Sayonara to ieta nara
    Isshun no toge datta
    Itsu no ma ni ka nukeru koto nai
    Ima mo mada
    Aishite iru n da

    Whatcha Gonna Do Ima doko de
    Whatcha Gonna Do Dare to iru?
    Whatcha Gonna Do Nani wo shiyou to shite iru n darou?
    Whatcha Gonna Do Mada kimi wo
    Whatcha Gonna Do Omotteru
    Whatcha Gonna Do Konna jibun ga iya ni naru n da

    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do)
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do…)

    NGT48 – We’re Growing Up [English translation]


    Why do people, even when they become adults,
    still shed so many tears like this?
    Sadness always lingers somewhere in my heart,
    dammed up and never truly disappearing…

    Not even understanding what love meant,
    we shared a kiss.
    When I look back, it’s so precious,
    I softly bite my lip.

    Memories always
    turn into beautiful thorns.
    What should I do to forget?
    I guess I just have to
    find a new love.

    Whatcha Gonna Do Where are you now?
    Whatcha Gonna Do Who are you with?
    Whatcha Gonna Do What are you planning to do?
    Whatcha Gonna Do I’m still
    Whatcha Gonna Do thinking of you.
    Whatcha Gonna Do I hate this part of myself for doing that.

    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do)
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do…)

    Like, if even a lion got rejected by someone,
    would it shed a few tears too?
    No matter how strong they are, somewhere in their heart,
    there must be something fragile.

    If only I hadn’t let go of your hand,
    it wouldn’t have ended.
    If I could see you one more time,
    I’d never let go again.

    Regret, ever since that day,
    is like a cruel thorn.
    A dull ache that never fades.
    Every time dawn breaks,
    it starts to throb.

    Whatcha Gonna Do I’m all alone right now.
    Whatcha Gonna Do All by myself.
    Whatcha Gonna Do There’s nothing I want to do here.
    Whatcha Gonna Do I’m still seeing dreams
    Whatcha Gonna Do where you care,
    Whatcha Gonna Do over and over again.

    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do)
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do…)

    If only I could have said “goodbye,”
    it would’ve been just a fleeting thorn.
    But without me realizing it, it’s something that won’t come out.
    Even now,
    I still love you.

    Whatcha Gonna Do Where are you now?
    Whatcha Gonna Do Who are you with?
    Whatcha Gonna Do What are you planning to do?
    Whatcha Gonna Do I’m still
    Whatcha Gonna Do thinking of you.
    Whatcha Gonna Do I hate this part of myself for doing that.

    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do)
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH OH
    WOWOW WO OH WO OH
    (Whatcha Gonna Do…)

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