About this work
Rhythmic lyrics turn repeated misfortune into a defiant, humorous resolve to keep going. This English version is an editorial translation for access; the Japanese text remains available alongside it for comparison.
Parallel reading
日本語と英語で読む
Read the Japanese original and its English translation together. On smaller screens, each language follows in sequence.
日本語原文 Japanese original
ずずずん ズンドコ どどどん ドンゾコ
俺っちさっぱりドンドコドン
ついてないない今日もまた
チャンス逃して酒びたり
どん底だったら這い上がろ
いうけど底なしどん底じゃ
踏ん張る脚も
泥ん中
下から見上げた景色には
しょせん高嶺の華ばかり
強くなれよ励まされ
必死でがんばる泥ん中
不器用で世渡り大べたで
いつも不幸が似合ってた
もういい諦め自暴自棄
親も娘もいっちっち
不運と決めたは自分じゃないか
諦めたら あかんがな
人生どこでも どん底や
それが今日までつづいてた
どん底ならばゆるゆると！
どん底だから気楽やで
ここまで来たら後ねえわ
自分を信じて上り坂
泣き顔カラスが笑って飛ぶぞ
笑い飛ばしてどん底万歳
English translation 英訳
AI-assisted English translation. The Japanese original remains authoritative.
Zuzu-zun, zundoko, dodo-don—rock bottom!
I’m a total washout, dondoko-don.
Nothing goes right again today;
I miss my chance and drown myself in drink.
They say that from rock bottom you can climb,
but this bottomless pit has no foothold—
even the legs that try to brace themselves
are buried in mud.
From down below, the view looking up
shows nothing but flowers beyond my reach.
“Be strong,” they urge me,
as I struggle desperately in the mud.
Clumsy, awkward, hopeless at making my way,
I always seemed best suited to misfortune.
“Enough.” I gave up and grew reckless;
even my parents and daughter clicked their tongues.
Who decided it was bad luck? I did.
Don’t give up—that simply will not do.
Anywhere in life can be rock bottom;
that is how it went until today.
If you are at the bottom, take it easy!
At rock bottom, you can live without fear.
Once you are here, there is nowhere lower to go.
Believe in yourself and start uphill.
Even a tear-faced crow flies off laughing.
Laugh it away—long live rock bottom!
Original wording, author credits, notes and source materials are preserved there.