NMB48 – Ikenai Koto. Lyrics Meaning: The Thirst for Forbidden Freedom
Why is the forbidden stuff always the most tempting? This catchy track from NMB48 captures that exact moment when you are totally over being told what to do. It is a bold anthem for anyone tired of being the perfect student or the good kid.
- NMB48 – Densha wo oriru | Escaping the Tracks for True Freedom
- NMB48 – Hajimete no hoshi | Becoming the Star You’ve Been Chasing
- NMB48 – Bokura no Regatta | Rivals on the River, Friends for Life
- Tate McRae – No I’m not in love | The hilarious denial of a massive crush
- Ozzy Osbourne – Crazy Train | Riding the Rails of a Mad World
- LANY – Know You Naked | The Raw Truth of Intimacy and Present Love
- AKB48 – 100 Meter Conbini | The 100-Meter Dash for a Glimpse of Love
- SKE48 – Koakuma Blueberry | A Sweet and Strategic First Crush
- AKB48 – 365nichi no kamihikouki | Your Life is a Paper Airplane
The Rebellion in NMB48 – Ikenai Koto
Ditching the Protective Bubble
The story starts with a girl who is basically done with being babied. She is out late at night and someone is trying to play the hero by acting all worried. She is not having any of it. She tells them to stop fussing because she can hail her own taxi and take care of herself. It is that classic teenage vibe where you just want to scream because everyone is being so annoying.
[su_quote]
Mou watashi ni wa kamawanaide
Don’t worry about me anymore
Konya wa kaeritakunai no
I don’t want to go home tonight
Takushii kurai tomerareru wa baka ni shinaide
I can stop a taxi myself so don’t treat me like an idiot
[/su_quote]
Searching for the Wrong Things
She is literally asking where she can find something bad to do. It sounds funny but it is actually pretty deep. She is tired of everyone saying certain things are too early for her or just plain wrong. She wants to know who decided those rules anyway. Instead of just hearing words, she wants to see what the real world looks like without a filter.
[su_quote]
Ikenai koto dokoka ni ochitemasenka? nante oogoe dashitaku naru
Where can I find something forbidden? I feel like shouting it out loud
Are wa dame toka kore wa mada hayai sonna ruuru ni shibararetakunai
That is no good or this is too early—I don’t want to be tied down by those rules
Ikenai koto ittai donna koto desu ka? ichido kiite mitakatta no yo
Just what kind of thing is a forbidden thing? I wanted to ask at least once
[/su_quote]
The Narrative of Breaking Free
The core story here is about a girl standing on the edge of adulthood. She is wearing lipstick and high heels but people still treat her like a child. She is annoyed by people who act like prophets and try to warn her about every little danger. She is ready to trip or make mistakes if it means she actually gets to live her own life. She wants to know what a good thing looks like too because everyone talks about it like it is a mystery.
[su_quote]
Ii koto to wa donna katachi shitemasu ka? nanka mejirushi arimasenka?
What kind of shape does a good thing have? Isn’t there some kind of sign?
Zen-aku nante sonna kantan ni sen wo hikeru mono ja nai deshou
Good and evil aren’t things you can draw a line between so easily, right?
[/su_quote]
Finding Your Own Moral Compass
The big takeaway from this song is that you cannot really know what is right or wrong just by listening to others. Sometimes you have to step out into the dark to find your own light. It is about the transition from being told how to live to deciding how to live. The song suggests that life is not just black and white. It is okay to want to explore the gray areas and figure things out for yourself. Even if you stumble in those high heels, at least they are your steps to take.
What do you think about her attitude? Is she being too reckless or do you totally get where she is coming from? I would love to hear how you interpret her late-night adventure!
[su_spoiler title=”
Lyrics: "Ikenai Koto" by NMB48
” open=”no” style=”fancy”]
NMB48 – Ikenai Koto [Lyrics KANJI]
もう 私には構わないで
今夜は帰りたくないの
タクシーくらい止められるわ 馬鹿にしないで
過剰に心配されたって余計なお世話だし…Uza
ねえ 口紅(リップスティック)の色にあれこれ干渉しないで
求めてるのは 誰かからの危なっかしい誘い
イケナイコト どこかに落ちてませんか? なんて大声出したくなる
あれはダメとか これはまだ早い そんなルールに縛られたくない
イケナイコト 一体ドンナコトですか? 一度聞いてみたかったのよ
言葉じゃなくて そう具体的に教えてもらわなきゃわからない
ヒールを脱ぎたくなるのはなぜ?
もう 説得なんかしないで
ごめんね 諦めてちょうだい
足下 覚束(おぼつか)なくたって ちゃんと歩けるわ
イカした誰かに支えられどうにかなるでしょう Maji
ねえ 起きそうなことを1から10までチェックして
預言者みたいに 危機回避のアドバイスはやめて
イイコトトハ どんなカタチしてますか? なんか目印ありませんか?
丸いものとか 四角いものとか 特徴だけでもヒントください
イイコトトハ どんな色してますか? 一度も見たことがないから
善悪なんて そんな簡単に線を引けるものじゃないでしょう
ウインクをしたくなるのはなぜ?
ねえ 外泊したってどこでとか誰ととかなんて
どうだっていい 大人なら隠し事あるでしょう?
イケナイコト どこかに落ちてませんか? なんて大声出したくなる
あれはダメとか これはまだ早い そんなルールに縛られたくない
イケナイコト 一体ドンナコトですか? 一度聞いてみたかったのよ
言葉じゃなくて そう具体的に教えてもらわなきゃわからない
ヒールを脱ぎたくなるのはなぜ?
NMB48 – Ikenai Koto [Lyrics ROMAJI]
Mou watashi ni wa kamawanaide
Kon’ya wa kaeritakunai no
Takushī kurai tomerareru wa baka ni shinaide
Kajō ni shinpai saretatte yokei na osewa dashi…Uza
Nee rippusutikku no iro ni arekore kanshō shinaide
Motometeru no wa dareka kara no abunakkashī sasoi
Ikenai koto dokoka ni ochitemasen ka? nante oogoe dashitaku naru
Are wa dame toka kore wa mada hayai sonna rūru ni shibararetakunai
Ikenai koto ittai donna koto desu ka? ichido kiitemitakatta no yo
Kotoba ja nakute sō gutaiteki ni oshiete morawanakya wakaranai
Hīru o nugitaku naru no wa naze?
Mou settoku nanka shinaide
Gomen ne akiramete chōdai
Ashimoto obotsukanakutatte chanto arukeru wa
Ikashita dareka ni sasaerare dōnika naru deshō Maji
Nee okisō na koto o ichi kara jū made chekku shite
Yogen-sha mitai ni kiki kaihi no adobaisu wa yamete
Ī koto to wa donna katachi shitemasu ka? nanka mejirushi arimasen ka?
Marui mono toka shikakui mono toka tokuchō dake demo hinto kudasai
Ī koto to wa donna iro shitemasu ka? ichido mo mita koto ga nai kara
Zen’aku nante sonna kantan ni sen o hikeru mono ja nai deshō
Uinku o shitaku naru no wa naze?
Nee gaihaku shitatte doko de toka dare to toka nante
Dō datte ii otona nara kakushigoto aru deshō?
Ikenai koto dokoka ni ochitemasen ka? nante oogoe dashitaku naru
Are wa dame toka kore wa mada hayai sonna rūru ni shibararetakunai
Ikenai koto ittai donna koto desu ka? ichido kiitemitakatta no yo
Kotoba ja nakute sō gutaiteki ni oshiete morawanakya wakaranai
Hīru o nugitaku naru no wa naze?
NMB48 – Ikenai Koto [English translation]
Please don’t fuss over me anymore.
I really don’t want to go home tonight.
I can totally hail a taxi by myself, don’t underestimate me!
Even if you worry way too much, it’s just being nosy… Ugh, it’s annoying!
Hey, stop nitpicking about the color of my lipstick, always interfering!
What I’m truly looking for is a bit of a daring invitation from someone.
“Are there any ‘bad things’ just lying around somewhere?” I feel like shouting that out loud!
I really don’t want to be tied down by rules like “that’s not allowed” or “it’s too soon for this.”
“What exactly are ‘bad things’ anyway?” I’ve always wanted to ask!
Words aren’t enough; I won’t get it unless you tell me in concrete detail.
Why do I feel like kicking off my heels?
Please don’t try to persuade me anymore.
Sorry, but you’ll just have to give up.
Even if my steps are a little wobbly, I can still walk just fine.
I’m sure some cool person will support me, and things will work out, for real!
Hey, stop checking every single thing that might happen, from start to finish!
And please stop giving me crisis-avoidance advice like you’re some kind of prophet.
“What shape do ‘good things’ take?” Is there some sort of sign or landmark for them?
Like round ones or square ones, just give me a hint with their features!
“What color are ‘good things’?” I’ve never ever seen them before, so…
You can’t really draw a clear line between good and evil that easily, can you?
Why do I feel like giving a little wink?
Hey, even if I stay out all night, where I was or who I was with…
It really doesn’t matter, does it? Adults have their secrets, you know!
“Are there any ‘bad things’ just lying around somewhere?” I feel like shouting that out loud!
I really don’t want to be tied down by rules like “that’s not allowed” or “it’s too soon for this.”
“What exactly are ‘bad things’ anyway?” I’ve always wanted to ask!
Words aren’t enough; I won’t get it unless you tell me in concrete detail.
Why do I feel like kicking off my heels?
[/su_spoiler]
