Catch Me If You Can by BABYMETAL Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Playful Spirit of Rebellion
- Music Video
- Lyrics
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Song Meaning
- Hide and Seek: A Metaphor for Youthful Defiance
- Dance of the Mischievous Spirits: Breaking Down the Musical Chaos
- Cautionary Tales and Red Shoes: Unearthing the Song’s Hidden Meaning
- From Guilt to Resilience: The Journey Embodied in Memorable Lines
- The Chase Continues: Legacy and Influence of ‘Catch me if you can’
Lyrics
(おーい! もういいかい? もういいかーい!?)
まあだだよ!
(おーい! もういいかい? もういいかーい!?)
まあだだよ!
あっちかな? こっちかな?
さて鬼さんどこでしょう?
絶対に見つからない
とっておきの場所を発見!
(おーい! もういいかい? もういいかーい!?)
まあだだよ!
(おーい! もういいかい? もういいかーい!?)
まあだだよ!
みぎひだり? きょろきょろり?
やだドキドキとまんない!
いいよ! 見つけられるもんなら
見つけてみなさい みなさいな!
(おーい! もういいかい? もういいかーい!?)
まあだだよ!
(おーい! もういいかい? もういいかーい!?)
まあだだよ!
鬼さんこちら (鬼さんこちら)
手のなる方へ (手のなる方へ)
鬼さんこちら
もういいよー!
Wow, wow, wow ぐるぐるかくれんぼ
まわってます (ヴォイ!) まわってます (ヴォイ!)
足元ご注意? (ほらつかまえてー!)
Wow, wow, wow ぐるぐるかくれんぼ
赤い靴 (ハイ!) 履いちゃダメ (ノン!)
デンジャラスだもん
ナクゴハ イ・ネ・ガ!
ワルイゴ イ・ネ・ガ!
鬼さんこちら (鬼さんこちら)
手のなる方へ (手のなる方へ)
鬼さんこちら
みぃつけた!
Wow, wow, wow ぐるぐるかくれんぼ
赤鬼さん (ヴォイ!) 青鬼さん (ヴォイ!)
ステップ! ステップ! (ワンツー! ワンツー!)
Wow, wow, wow ぐるぐるかくれんぼ
転んでも (ハイ!) 泣いちゃダメ (ノン!)
強い子さんだもん
まだまだいくよー!
Wow, wow, wow ぐるぐるかくれんぼ
Wow, wow, wow ぐるぐるかくれんぼ
赤い靴 履いちゃダメ デンジャラスだもん
まあだだよ! まあだだよ!
In the realm of metal meets kawaii, BABYMETAL doesn’t just break the mould; they shatter it into shimmering fragments of rebellion and youthful energy. Their track ‘Catch me if you can’ is more than just an amalgam of heavy guitar riffs and adorable choruses; it’s a canvas where innocence intersects with defiance.
Though at first glance the song might seem like a playful children’s tune set to an aggressive soundtrack, a deeper dive into the lyrics reveals layers of meaning that resonate with the ethos of youth seeking freedom and individuality in a conformist society.
Hide and Seek: A Metaphor for Youthful Defiance
BABYMETAL’s ‘Catch me if you can’ captures the spirit of the childhood game of hide and seek, projecting it onto a larger narrative about the push and pull between authority and personal freedom. The repeating calls of ‘おーい! もういいかい?’ (Hey! Are you ready?) and the cheeky responses of ‘まあだだよ!’ (Not yet!) set the tone for a game that symbolizes the relentless pursuit of youthful exuberance against the backdrop of societal expectations.
In the song, the game’s thrill lies in the evasion of the metaphorical ‘鬼’ (oni – demon or ‘it’ in the game) who seeks to control or capture. This ‘oni’ could be interpreted as the prescriptive elements of culture, adulthood, or reality that often seek to confine the carefree spirits of youth, who instead wish to express themselves unabated and unseen by the constricting gaze of convention.
Dance of the Mischievous Spirits: Breaking Down the Musical Chaos
Musically, ‘Catch me if you can’ is a riotous celebration of controlled anarchy. The song is an energetic whirlwind that combines cutesy pop elements with the growling distortion of metal, embodying the mischievous, playful, and untamed nature of the game itself. The ‘wow wow…ぐるぐるかくれんぼ’ (wow wow… round and round hide and seek) mimics the dizziness of spinning with abandon, creating a dizzying sensory experience that defies easy categorization.
This disorienting mix of music mirrors the lyrical content’s notion of children running circles around their pursuers, embodying a sonic hide and seek. The immediacy of this tumultuous sound resonates with the adrenaline rush of evasion and the unpredictability of youth refusing to be caught or defined.
Cautionary Tales and Red Shoes: Unearthing the Song’s Hidden Meaning
A recurring element in the song is the warning about red shoes, ‘赤い靴 履いちゃダメ デンジャラスだもん’ (You mustn’t wear the red shoes, it’s dangerous), which might seem perplexing. In the Japanese context, red shoes have a mixed symbolism, often associated with both childhood innocence and with women’s transgression from traditional roles. Thus, the admonition against wearing them symbolizes the tension between safety and the risk inherent in self-expression and non-conformity.
BABYMETAL cleverly transforms this piece of culture into a defiant cry for personal agency, suggesting that danger is not a deterrent but an integral part of the journey toward autonomy. This line encapsulates the band’s broader themes of empowerment, particularly of young women in a genre and society often dominated by male voices.
From Guilt to Resilience: The Journey Embodied in Memorable Lines
The exclamatory phrases ‘ナクゴハ イ・ネ・ガ! ワルイゴ イ・ネ・ガ!’ (I shouldn’t cry! I shouldn’t be bad!) echo like a mantra throughout the song, reinforcing the concept of rules that dictate emotional response and behavior. However, the delivery of these phrases in the high-octane environment of the song transforms them from statements of obedience to anthems of awareness and defiance, suggesting an internal battle and eventual triumph over imposed guilt.
By owning these sentiments, the lyrics encourage the embrace of emotions and actions as valid and even as sources of strength, challenging the group’s primarily young audience to reject shame and embrace their inherent resilience, no matter how many times they ‘転んでも’ (fall down).
The Chase Continues: Legacy and Influence of ‘Catch me if you can’
As part of BABYMETAL’s groundbreaking catalog, ‘Catch me if you can’ continues to inspire legions of fans who see themselves in the playful, powerful world the band creates. Its live performances are spectacles of engagement, with audience members participating in the collective game of musical and cultural hide and seek.
The lasting impact of the track is found not only in its catchy tune but also in its representation of a universal desire for freedom and the joy of evading capture, be it from the literal or metaphorical ‘oni.’ As BABYMETAL continues to evolve, ‘Catch me if you can’ remains a testament to their unique ability to blend genres and messages into a potent cocktail of youth culture rebellion.
