SKE48 – Koi yori mo Dream. Lyrics Meaning: When Your Dream is Bigger Than Love

What do you do when you feel like you’re starting way behind everyone else? This SKE48 song is a super-charged anthem for anyone who has a big dream and no time for distractions. It’s all about putting your goals first.

    The Underdog’s Sprint in “Koi yori mo Dream”

    This song isn’t just a tune; it’s a whole story. You can almost see the girl in the lyrics, running, out of breath, but with a fire in her eyes. She knows she’s not the chosen one, so she has to make her own path.

    Starting from the Back

    Right from the beginning, you get this feeling of urgency. She feels like she’s the only one who’s late to the party. There’s zero time to chill when you believe you’re already playing catch-up.

    Watashi dake ga deokureteru shi
    I’m the only one who’s late
    (Ima wa)
    (Right now)
    Yasunderu
    Resting
    Hima nante nainda
    I just don’t have the time

    She’s not waiting for someone to notice her or give her a chance. She knows she has to be the one to step up and prove herself, because no one is expecting anything from her. That’s some serious motivation right there.

    A Diamond in the Rough

    My favorite part of this whole story is how she sees herself. She’s not discouraged. Instead, she compares herself to a diamond before it’s been polished. It might look like just a rock now, but she knows what it can become.

    Daiyamondo datte
    Even a diamond
    (Migakareru mae wa)
    (Before it’s polished)
    Tada no ishikoro sa
    Is just a stone
    (Doro ni mamireteru)
    (Covered in mud)
    Itsu no hi ni ka
    Someday
    (Kirakira)
    (Sparkle sparkle)
    Kagayaku
    It will shine

    She knows she has potential, even if she’s a little messy and unrefined right now. It’s a promise to herself that all the hard work will eventually pay off and make her shine.

    The Core Story of This SKE48 Song

    The main plot of “Koi yori mo Dream” is simple but so powerful. It’s about a girl who makes a conscious choice: her dream is more important than love right now. She’s not looking for a distraction or a shortcut. She’s running a marathon for her future, and she can’t afford to take a detour for romance. Everything she does is laser-focused on that one big goal.

    Finding the Bright Side of the Grind

    So what’s the big takeaway here? The song is telling you that your dream is worth fighting for, even if you feel like an underdog. It’s about embracing the struggle and learning to love the hard work itself. The lyrics even say to “fall in love with the effort!” That’s a cool way to think about it, right?

    This song is a reminder that potential isn’t enough. You have to put in the work to polish your skills and become that shining diamond you know you can be. It’s a pure shot of motivation for anyone chasing something big.

    That’s my take on this awesome SKE48 track! It’s a total pump-up song. What do you hear when you listen to the story in “Koi yori mo Dream”? Let me know your thoughts!

    Lyrics: "Koi yori mo Dream" by SKE48


    SKE48 – Koi yori mo Dream [Lyrics KANJI]


    恋よりもDream
    寄り道はできない
    走れ!
    (走れ!)
    急げ!
    (急げ!)
    全力でこの道

    私だけが出遅れてるし
    (今は)
    休んでる
    暇なんてないんだ

    誰からも期待をされない
    (だから)
    自分の方から
    行くしかないでしょう

    ダイヤモンドだって
    (磨かれる前は)
    ただの石ころさ
    (泥にまみれてる)
    見てくれは
    悪くても
    いつの日にか
    (キラキラ)
    輝く

    恋よりもDream
    脇目も振らずに
    前を
    (前を)
    向いて
    (向いて)
    がむしゃらに進もう
    目指すのはDream
    それ以外見えない
    行くぜ!
    (行くぜ!)
    絶対!
    (絶対!)
    私の生き甲斐はDream

    「あれ、何で谷がいるの?」
    「はい。私も同じジャンルってことで…」
    「谷が入ると”企画もののユニット”になっちゃうじゃない?」
    「いえ、”頑張ってるユニット”ってことで…」
    「まっ、いいか」

    ライバルとは昨日の自分
    (負けない)
    チャンスは平等
    そう信じている

    焦ってもしょうがないから
    (コツコツ)
    今できることを
    やるしかないんだ

    悔しくて泣いたり
    (あきらめかけたり)
    ちょっと拗ねてみたり
    (誰かに当たったり)
    大好きな
    道ならば
    楽しもうよ
    (努力を)
    好きになれ!

    恋よりもDream
    寄り道はできない
    走れ!
    (走れ!)
    急げ!
    (急げ!)
    全力でこの道
    青春はDream
    ぶつけよう すべてを…
    汗と
    (汗と)

    (涙)
    力を振り絞れDream

    「私たちって、まだまだ、原石ですよね?」
    「”私たち”ってひとくくりにするなよ」
    「まあ、谷も這い上がって来ようとしてるんだからいいじゃない?」
    「ありがとうございます」
    「歌のパートが3分割になっちゃったじゃない」
    「ダイヤモンドを磨くにはダイヤモンドしかないんですよ」
    「3人で磨き合うってことね?」
    「はいっ!谷じゃなくて、”に~た~”でお願いします」
    「キャラかぶるわあ」

    出しゃばるなと言われたって
    もっと前に出なきゃ(もっと前に出なきゃ)
    頑張ったらなれるはず
    キラキラの
    ダイヤモンド

    恋よりもDream
    脇目も振らずに
    前を
    (前を)
    向いて
    (向いて)
    がむしゃらに進もう
    目指すのはDream
    それ以外見えない
    行くぜ!
    (行くぜ!)
    絶対!
    (絶対!)
    私の生き甲斐はDream

    「でも、に~た~は暫定的だよね?」
    「そうね、あかりたちがユニット貰えるまで苦節5年かかってるからね」
    「ええ~っ?入れてくださいよぉ~」
    「でも、に~た~、全然苦労してないでしょ?」
    「これから苦労しますからぁ~、入れてくださいよぉ~」
    「しょうがないなぁ~、じゃあ、入れてあげる」
    「やったー!!」
    「ウッソピョーン」
    「え~っ、ちょちょちょっと、待ってくださいよー、谷も、あー間違っちゃった
    に~た~も入れてくださいよぉ~」

    SKE48 – Koi yori mo Dream [Lyrics ROMAJI]


    Koi yori mo Dream
    Yorimichi wa dekinai
    Hashire!
    (Hashire!)
    Isoge!
    (Isoge!)
    Zenryoku de kono michi

    Watashi dake ga deokureteru shi
    (Ima wa)
    Yasunderu
    Hima nante nai nda

    Dare kara mo kitai o sarenai
    (Dakara)
    Jibun no hou kara
    Iku shika nai deshou

    Daiyamondo datte
    (Migakareru mae wa)
    Tada no ishikorosa
    (Doro ni mamireteru)
    Mitekure wa
    Warukute mo
    Itsunohika
    (Kirakira)
    Kagayaku

    Koi yori mo Dream
    Wakime mo furazu ni
    Mae o
    (Mae o)
    Muite
    (Muite)
    Gamushara ni susumou
    Mezasu no wa Dream
    Sore igai mienai
    Iku ze!
    (Iku ze!)
    Zettai!
    (Zettai!)
    Watashi no ikigai wa Dream

    「Are, nande Tani ga iru no?」
    「Hai. Watashi mo onaji janru tte koto de…」
    「Tani ga hairu to “kikakumono no yunitto” ni nacchau janai?」
    「Ie, “ganbatteru yunitto” tte koto de…」
    「Ma’, iika」

    Raibaru to wa kinou no jibun
    (Makenai)
    Chansu wa byoudou
    Sou shinjite iru

    Asettemo shou ga nai kara
    (Kotsukotsu)
    Ima dekiru koto o
    Yaru shika nai nda

    Kuyashikute naitari
    (Akiramekake tari)
    Chotto sunete mitari
    (Dareka ni atattari)
    Daisuki na
    Michi naraba
    Tanoshimou yo
    (Doryoku o)
    Suki ni nare!

    Koi yori mo Dream
    Yorimichi wa dekinai
    Hashire!
    (Hashire!)
    Isoge!
    (Isoge!)
    Zenryoku de kono michi
    Seishun wa Dream
    Butsukeyou subete o…
    Ase to
    (Ase to)
    Namida
    (Namida)
    Chikara o furishibore Dream

    「Watashit-te, madamada, genseki desu yo ne?」
    「”Watashit-te” hitokukuri ni suru na yo」
    「Maa, Tani mo haiagatte koyou to shiteru ndakara ii janai?」
    「Arigatou gozaimasu」
    「Uta no paato ga san bunkatsu ni nacchattajanai」
    「Daiyamondo o migaku ni wa daiyamondo shika nai n desu yo」
    「Sannin de migaki au tte koto ne?」
    「Haitt! Tani janakute, “Niitaa” de onegai shimasu」
    「Kyara kaburu wa~」

    Deshabaru na to iwareta tte
    Motto mae ni denakya (motto mae ni denakya)
    Ganbattara nareru hazu
    Kirakira no
    Daiyamondo

    Koi yori mo Dream
    Wakime mo furazu ni
    Mae o
    (Mae o)
    Muite
    (Muite)
    Gamushara ni susumou
    Mezasu no wa Dream
    Sore igai mienai
    Iku ze!
    (Iku ze!)
    Zettai!
    (Zettai!)
    Watashi no ikigai wa Dream

    「Demo, Niitaa wa zanteiteki da yo ne?」
    「Sou ne, Akari-tachi ga yunitto moraeru made kusetsu go-nen kakatteru kara ne」
    「Ee~t? Irete kudasai yo~」
    「Demo, Niitaa, zenzen kurou shite nai desho?」
    「Korekara kurou shimasu kara~, irete kudasai yo~」
    「Shou ga nai naa~, jaa, irete ageru」
    「Yatta~!!」
    「Usso pyooon」
    「E~t, chotto chotto chotto, matte kudasai yo~, Tani mo, aa machigatchatta
    Niitaa mo irete kudasai yo~」

    SKE48 – Koi yori mo Dream [English translation]


    Dream over love,
    No detours allowed!
    Run!
    (Run!)
    Hurry!
    (Hurry!)
    Give it your all on this path!

    I’m the only one falling behind,
    (Right now)
    I don’t have
    Time to rest!

    No one expects anything from me,
    (So)
    I have no choice but to
    Go for it myself, right?

    Even a diamond,
    (Before it’s polished)
    Is just a pebble,
    (Covered in mud)
    Even if its appearance
    Is bad,
    Someday it will
    (Sparkle!)
    Shine!

    Dream over love,
    Without glancing aside,
    Let’s face
    (Face)
    Forward,
    (Forward)
    And rush ahead relentlessly!
    What I aim for is a Dream,
    I can’t see anything else!
    Let’s go!
    (Let’s go!)
    Absolutely!
    (Absolutely!)
    My reason for living is a Dream!

    “Huh? Why is Tani here?”
    “Yes. Well, I’m in the same genre, you see…”
    “If Tani joins, won’t it just become a ‘special project unit’?”
    “No, no, it’ll be a ‘hardworking unit’!”
    “Oh, well, fine then.”

    My rival is my past self!
    (I won’t lose!)
    Opportunities are equal,
    That’s what I believe!

    There’s no use in rushing,
    (Step by step)
    I just have to
    Do what I can now!

    Even if I cry from frustration,
    (Or almost give up)
    Or get a little sulky,
    (Or lash out at someone)
    If it’s a path
    I truly love,
    Let’s enjoy it!
    (Fall in love with)
    Effort!

    Dream over love,
    No detours allowed!
    Run!
    (Run!)
    Hurry!
    (Hurry!)
    Give it your all on this path!
    Youth is a Dream,
    Let’s throw everything into it…
    Sweat and
    (Sweat and)
    Tears,
    (Tears)
    Squeeze out all your strength, Dream!

    “We’re still just rough gems, aren’t we?”
    “Don’t lump ‘us’ all together!”
    “Well, Tani is trying to crawl her way up, so isn’t that okay?”
    “Thank you very much!”
    “Now the singing parts are split into three, aren’t they?”
    “To polish a diamond, you need another diamond!”
    “So, the three of you will polish each other, right?”
    “Yes! Not Tani, please call me ‘Niitaa’!”
    “Our characters are going to clash!”

    Even if they tell me not to butt in,
    I have to step forward more (I have to step forward more)!
    If I work hard, I should be able to become
    A sparkling
    Diamond!

    Dream over love,
    Without glancing aside,
    Let’s face
    (Face)
    Forward,
    (Forward)
    And rush ahead relentlessly!
    What I aim for is a Dream,
    I can’t see anything else!
    Let’s go!
    (Let’s go!)
    Absolutely!
    (Absolutely!)
    My reason for living is a Dream!

    “But ‘Niitaa’ is temporary, right?”
    “That’s right, it took Akari and the others five years of hardship to get a unit, you know.”
    “What?! Please let me in!”
    “But Niitaa, you haven’t struggled at all, have you?”
    “I’ll struggle from now on, so please let me in!”
    “Oh, fine then~, I guess I’ll let you in.”
    “Yay!!”
    “Just kidding!”
    “Huh?! Wait, wait, wait a minute! Tani too, ah, I messed up,
    Please let Niitaa in too!”

    Related Post