Heart of Sword~Yoake Mae~ (Heart of Sword～夜明け前～, lit. 'Heart of Sword -Before Dawn-') is the third ending theme of the Rurouni Kenshin 1996 anime, performed by the japanese singer T.M. Revolution.
On the original TV broadcast, it was used from Episode 28 until Episode 38, and then again from Episode 46 until Episode 49.
Characters in order of appearance[]
- Himura Kenshin
- Onizaki Gengo
- Sagara Sanosuke
- Sekihara Tae
- Sanjō Tsubame
- Tsukayama Yutarō
- Kamiya Kaoru
- Takani Megumi
- Myōjin Yahiko
- Hiruma Gohei
- Oguni Ayame
- Oguni Suzume
Lyrics[]
TV Version[]
Hitori de wa, tooi ashita wo
Yoake no mama de, koesou de
Butsukatteikya kokeru omoi yo
Konya mo mata, sure chigai
Sanzan sugite doryoku no ato mo
Naku naru kekka, only no tsuna watari
Yaru dake son suru yona, mainichi wa
Sha ni kamaeteta hou koso, raku ni naru
Atsukute, tsurai
jibun wo kakushite
mijikai toki wo ikiteru
Hitori de wa, tooi ashita wo
Yoake no mama de, koesou de
Hottokeba, hashiru omoi yo
Yume mo mata, sure chigai
Though I'm alone, I think I can cross over
the distant tomorrow, as long as it's still dawn
Feelings that would break apart
Pass by each other again tonight
Only tight rope walking so beyond horrible
It results in even the traces of effort disappearing
Every day, you do something and lose something
Having stood at the ready made it easier
Hiding my passionate
heartbroken self
I go on living in this short era
Though I'm alone, I think I can cross over
the distant tomorrow, as long as it's still dawn
These feelings that will rush if they are left alone
And that dream will pass by each other again
Insert if available
Full Version[]
Hitori de wa, tooi ashita wo
Yoake no mama de, koesou de
Butsukatteikya kokeru omoi yo
Konya mo mata, sure chigai
Sanzan sugite doryoku no ato mo
Naku naru kekka, only no tsuna watari
Yaru dake son suru yona, mainichi wa
Sha ni kamaeteta hou koso, raku ni naru
Atsukute, tsurai
jibun wo kakushite
mijikai toki wo ikiteru
Hitori de wa, tooi ashita wo
Yoake no mama de, koesou de
Hottokeba, hashiru omoi yo
Yume mo mata, sure chigai
Kanpeki to chau, jinsei no shuushi
Puramai zero da nanteba honto ka na?
Shinu made ni tsukaikiru, un no kazu
Semete, jibun de dashiire wo sasete
Wakacchainai,
kimi nara dou ni demo
rikutsu wo kaete ii noni
Nando kimi ni, ketsu mazuitemo
Modottekichau, aijou ni
Shinjikaneru, utaretsuyosa yo
Konya mo, soutou nemurenai
Nando nankai, kurikaeshitemo
Modottekichau, ai dakara
Butsukatteiku, kesunu omoi wo
Semeru hou ga, suji chigai
Hitori de wa, tooi ashita wo
Yoake no mama de koeteyuku
Aishou yori mo, fukai futari wa
Sure chigatte kamawanai
Though I'm alone, I think I can cross over
The distant tomorrow, as long as it's still dawn
Feelings that would break apart
Pass by each other again tonight
Only tight rope walking so beyond horrible
It results in even the traces of effort disappearing
Every day, you do something and lose something
Having stood at the ready made it easier
Hiding my passionate
heartbroken self
I go on living in this short era
Though I'm alone, I think I can cross over
the distant tomorrow, as long as it's still dawn
These feelings that will rush if they are left alone
And that dream will pass by each other again
The balance sheet of life is not perfect
Is it really all plus, minuses and zeroes?
Up until you die you use a certain amount of luck
At least let me draw and deposit it at will
You don't understand it yet,
as long as it's you,
it's okay to change your reasoning
No matter how many times you make me trip up
This love of mine returns
It's so unbelievable, this strength I've gained
It'll struggle sleeping tonight, too
Because this love will keep returning
No matter how many times we go through this
These feelings won't be erased, even as they collide
It would be illogical to condemn them
Though I'm alone, I'm crossing
The distant tomorrow, while it's still dawn
We, who are closer than affinity
Pass by each other without paying heed
独りでは 遠い明日を
夜明けのままで 越えそうで
ブツかっていきゃ コケる想いよ
今夜もまた すれ違い
散々すぎる努力の跡も
なくなる結果 ONLYの綱渡り
やるだけ損するよな 毎日は
斜に高ｦてた方こそ 楽になる
熱くてつらい自分を隠して
短い時代を生きてる
独りでは 遠い明日を
夜明けのままで 越えそうで
放っとけば 走る想いよ
夢もまた すれ違い
完璧とちゃう 人生の収支
プラマイ･ゼロだなんだってば
ホントかな?
死ぬまでに使い切る 運の数
せめて 自分で出し入れをさせて
ワカっちゃいない
君ならどーにでも
理屈を変えていいのに
何度君に 蹴つまづいても
戻ってきちゃう 愛情に
信じかねる 打たれ強さよ
今夜も メ[トー眠れない
何度何回 繰り返しても
戻ってきちゃう 愛だから
ブツかっていく 消せぬ想いを
責める方が 筋違い
独りでは 遠い明日を
夜明けのままで 越えてゆく
相性よりも 深いふたりは
すれ違って 高墲ﾈい
Trivia[]
- This ending sequence has scenes from Episodes 14, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24 and 26, as well as a final original artwork scene.
- The scenes from past episodes have a different aspect ratio (not 4:3 but narrower) using some cropping effect on the sides of the images.
- Only the last scene and the final original artwork get back to the normal 4:3 aspect ratio of a TV broadcast.
- On an interesting note, some of the scenes of this ending regarding Episode 14 depict Kenshin, Sanosuke and Yahiko fighting members of the Hishimanji Gurentai on a beach, something that never actually happened in the episode (where the Kenshingumi fought the Hishimanji Gurentai in a temple).
- On the original TV broadcast, this song was succeeded by "The Fourth Avenue Cafe" (by rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel), until Episode 42 when L'Arc-en-Ciel drummer Sakura was arrested for heroin possession. As a result, the ending theme reverted back to "Heart of Sword~Yoake Mae".
- A longer extended version was performed during its re-premiere while keeping the animation footage from the Fourth Avenue Cafe after it was dropped from the TV broadcast.
Gallery[]
