The creation of a song is often a captivating mystery. What experiences shaped an artist’s lyrics? Why a particular melody? What spark of inspiration ignited the song’s existence? These questions linger whenever a compelling new track emerges. While some songs, like straightforward love or breakup anthems, wear their meanings on their sleeves, others possess a deceptive simplicity. What happens when a song appears lighthearted but grapples with profoundly sensitive and intricate themes? “Into the Night song” by YOASOBI is one such enigma, prompting a deeper look beneath its surface.
“Into The Night Song” has been a constant presence on my playlists since I first encountered it a few months ago. Its infectious rhythm and melody were instantly captivating, a feeling I hadn’t experienced with music in quite some time. However, the most intriguing aspect unfolded as I discovered the narrative woven into its creation. Realizing this Japanese song held a meaning far beyond its initial impression spurred me to investigate, uncovering disturbing yet profoundly impactful origins for this now-beloved track.
YOASOBI, described on their Spotify profile as a “band that creates music from novels,” burst onto the global music scene with their 2019 debut, “Into the Night song”. Garnering over 700 million streams by December 2021 and claiming the top spot on Japan’s Billboard “HOT 100,” the song swiftly permeated mainstream media. My own introduction was through a meme compilation on YouTube – typical late-night internet browsing. I was immediately hooked, yet utterly perplexed. The short clip juxtaposed a weeping individual captioned “people who know what the lyrics mean” with a dancing crowd labeled “people who don’t.” Intrigued, I delved deeper, unearthing a truly somber and unsettling story.
YOASOBI’s “Into the Night song” is inspired by the short story Thanatos no Yūwaku by Mayo Hoshino, translated as An Invitation from Thanatos. The story presents a world divided into two psychological types: those “inclined toward life, governed by Eros,” and those “inclined toward death, governed by Thanatos.” The narrator recounts his relationship with a girl consumed by Thanatos. Each night, she ascends to a rooftop, drawn by a spectral figure of death beckoning her to join him, a rare manifestation among those governed by Thanatos. Crucially, each time she seeks the rooftop, she calls the narrator, ostensibly to prevent her from jumping. The narrative culminates one night when he rushes to her side, and amidst their argument, he exclaims, “I want to die too!” A smile dawns on her face, and the narrator finally grasps the chilling truth. She hadn’t been summoning him to deter her, but to join her. He was the one truly governed by Thanatos, with the girl acting as his specter, urging him towards death. In this stark realization, they grasp hands and together, plunge “into the night.”
The story’s twist delivered a powerful emotional shock. It’s challenging to articulate the precise emotions experienced upon finishing the story. I was deeply moved by the concept’s brilliance and scope within such a concise narrative. Yet, a profound discomfort also arose from the intense subject matter. The YouTube meme now resonated perfectly: YOASOBI had masterfully crafted lyrics, seamlessly integrating them into a deceptively upbeat melody. This naturally led to the ironic scenario of unaware listeners enjoying the catchy tune, oblivious to the profound and unsettling depth of the words.
Driven to fully appreciate the lyrical depth, I searched for an English translation of “Into the Night song.” I discovered that YOASOBI had released an official English version. The lyrics directly confront the characters’ mental states, vividly portraying their depression and yearning to “leave it all behind.” Examining the lyrics after understanding the source story added immeasurable layers to the song’s impact. Each line’s reference point became clear, revealing the song’s perfect encapsulation of the narrative from Thanatos no Yūwaku: the pain, the characters, the twist, and the encompassing world. This exploration proved incredibly rewarding. While I cannot dictate your experience, I wholeheartedly recommend exploring both “Into the Night song” and its source story. I hope it resonates with you as profoundly as it did with me.
“Sawagashi Hibi Ni Waraenai Kimi Ni, Omoit Suku Kagiri Mabushii Asuo…”
“Saw what you got seen hid beneath, and louder nights keep beating, I’m going to you and giving brighter shiny tomorrows…”
