Lyric

When I wake, the sky is heavy gray

Clouds of lead bring mercy to the ground today

I pull on an old sheep-skin jumper

Like some drunk old man would wear

And sketch apologies across my crooked brows

On the Inokashira line

The glacier-eyed hyōgaki kids

Strum Telecasters in their restless dreams

Eyes darting between their phones and the crowd

Shimokitazawa isn’t what it used to be

But I still walk down to Shelter

Just to feel the noise

Hello, you are a wonderful world

I am alive, I swear I am

Riding a Vespa, smoke of CBD on my lips

You’re the one I still remember

Hello, fuckin’ wonderful world

And I love you

Every time my body breaks, my hatred grows

But soon I’ll see everyone again

And that makes me smile

On a strangely warm afternoon

At two-forty, I somehow knew

The news and AI said nothing

But I raised my badge, left the office

And rushed toward the place we said we’d meet

Past rust-stained alleys

And the smell of pork soup from Tenjin stalls

I hurry back to where my people wait

On the thirteenth of the thirteenth month

The day I swore I’d meet you here

I came to this planet, listening close

For voices that could never be spoken

Shimokitazawa isn’t what it was

But somehow the kids are still alive

Still running wild

Hello, you are a wonderful world

A cassette tape still carries

The breath of a studio room

And my brothers plug their cables in

No matter our age, humming that same old song

Hello, fuckin’ wonderful world

And I hate you

The truth of this world is only this:

There’s no top, no bottom—

Only love is real

We laughed too loud in Kōenji

Cursing the government

But somehow your name brought

Smiles back to all our faces

Hello, you are a wonderful world

I am alive, I swear I am

Riding a Vespa, smoke of CBD on my lips

You’re the one I still remember

Hello, fuckin’ wonderful world

And I love you

Every time my body breaks, my hatred grows

But soon I’ll see everyone again

And that makes me smile