Lyrics from:

Nemuri no Mori (眠りの森) by Aimer 

“After midnight, let’s leave the city”

You say with an unreliable voice

“Where should we go?” “Let’s go somewhere.” “Where is good?” “Where, I wonder…”

Binoculars with broken lenses

A tomorrow an a today so cloudy they’re unable to be seen

“Did you see something?”  “ I can’t see anything. “ “What were you looking at?”  “I wonder what…”

Now, with the noisy city behind us, we’ll run through the forest.

No matter how uneasy, I won’t turn back.

If I ever weakly whimper, “I want to go home,” 

*It’s ok to/You may leave me* behind in the forest of sleep, 

A lost confidence in a fake map, a compass needle that’s begun to go crazy again

“Have you seen the town?” “We’re almost there.” “Have we escaped the forest?” “Not yet I guess…”

Now as if chased by the hustle and bustle, I run through the forest 

No matter how much it hurts, I won’t let go of this hand . If I weakly utter a, “I want to go home” please leave me behind in the forest of sleep

Leave me behind…

Leave me…

Leave….

 Now, as if I’m afraid of the light, I run through the forest, my feet worn racing along the thorny paths

If you ever complain, “ I want to go home”, weakly

**I will let you/ put you to sleep** forever in the forest of sleep

**I will let it end/ I will end it**

Forgetting is fine

Lyrics Translated from Japanese to English

Translation Notes:

* The Japanese used here can be literally translated as “It is okay to…” but can also be interpreted more freely as “You may…”. I have included both translations to allow readers more freedom in their interpretation of the lyrics.

** The grammar used in this section is the causative form. This can mean that the singer is either forcing their companion to perform certain actions or simply allowing them to perform those actions. This ambiguity has been included to give readers more freedom in their interpretation of the lyrics.

YAA’S THOUGHTS

One of the most striking themes in this song is a deep yearning for something more—something that feels familiar yet remains elusive. It’s a feeling that breeds a restlessness similar to the song’s opening. There’s a clear dissatisfaction with the city where the characters began, fueling a desire to leave. There is no clear destination, only a powerful urge to leave something behind. Perhaps it’s the draining days and restless nights, or the meaningless hustle and bustle. Perhaps it’s the inability to find any meaning in their current life or a future that aligns with who they truly are, as symbolized by the line with the broken binoculars. Whatever it is, it’s enough to make them want to get away.

Despite the lack of a firm plan, the journey seemingly begins. The singer is driven by a strong resolve not to turn back, even when things become “uneasy.” This line is particularly powerful. It’s one thing to long for change and a desired future, but another to walk the road you hope will lead to it. When things get dark and uncertain, it’s hard not to give in to uneasiness and retreat to the certainty you’ve left behind. Yet, the singer holds on to their vision of the future. The challenges persist, as shown by the fake map, the broken compass, and a companion who has wavering thoughts of their own. The singer’s resolve peaks, and instead of worrying that their own lack of resolve will hold their companion back, they fully commit to making it out of the forest and seeing their chosen path to the end, despite the continuous pain they face along the way.

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What is the “Forest of Sleep”?

I think the Forest of Sleep can be understood on different levels. I personally see it as being very similar to the idea of the “wilderness“—a place of potentially transformative hardship and tribulation. However, I believe it slightly differs from the typical connotations of a wilderness. Like the wilderness, the Forest of Sleep is a place that inherently tests the resolve of those who long to reach a new destination, but it’s also a place that actively lulls the minds of those with weak resolve into a state of stupor.

This stupor can be interpreted differently. It could be the nagging doubt that one must fight through in the forest: “Maybe the destination isn’t actually what I want. What if it’s worse than what I’m running from?” Or, it can be broadly thought of as a place where dreams and choices are refined. If one chooses to let go of their path, there’s no true “going back home.” Instead, they inevitably fall asleep in the forest, whether it’s their memory or the actual person.

In real life, this might feel like the uncertainty that sets in when the path we’ve chosen becomes hazy and unclear. We might decide to veer off into what’s old and familiar—what we thought we wanted to move forward from. But if we do decide to go back, we can’t fully return to our old state. It’s impossible. Our new experiences and emotions will inevitably color our perspectives. We may find ourselves dissatisfied yet again, stuck in a limbo. Perhaps the “sleep” mentioned here refers to that state—a state of lull, stagnation, and unawareness that prevents us from pursuing what we truly believe is for us.

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Have you had periods in your life where you’ve thought, “I want to go home”? Not literally, but figuratively, wanting to return to something that feels familiar even though you had a reason to move away from it? What did you do in those scenarios? Are you satisfied with your decision?

What comes to mind when you read these lyrics? What do you think the “Forest of Sleep” represents? Feel free to let me know your thoughts in a message.   >.<