**「When the Sun Goes Down Slow」**

Cold wind on an empty track,
Sky’s gone red, no taking it back.
Ticket folded in my coat,
Didn’t know where I’d go.

I quit that job in a rented room,
Left before the night hit noon.
Didn’t tell a soul goodbye—
Guess I was tired of trying.

City lights looked good from far,
Up close they’re just a bar to bar.
I said I’d make it, I said I’d win—
Truth is, I was caving in.

Thirty years and shaking hands,
Chasing plans that slipped like sand.
I laughed loud so they wouldn’t see
How small it felt to be me.

Then you said, “Hey, is this seat free?”
Like you were meant to sit by me.
One small bag, that nervous smile—
Like you’d been running a while.
(Hmm-mm… it’s alright…)
(Hmm-mm… don’t hide…)

We were rolling through the dark,
Two tired hearts, one tiny spark.
Sun going down behind the sea,
Taking old mistakes from me.

You said, “Morning, I get off.”
Said it gentle, said it soft.
And I felt something break and start
Right there in my chest, in my heart.

(Ohhh… when the sun goes down slow…)
(It ain’t the end, you know…)
(Stay strong… hold on…)

Beer went flat between our hands,
Wheels kept time like a quiet band.
You asked me, “Where you headed now?”
I shrugged—didn’t know how.

Not a town, not a name,
Just running from the same old shame.
You looked out at that black glass sea,
Said, “That’s not how it’s gotta be.”

“You don’t need to run that far.
Just decide who you are.”
No big speech, no grand advice—
Just simple words, cut like ice.
(Hey… look ahead…)
(Hey… don’t be scared…)

Small town stop at break of day,
Frost on rails, pale blue gray.
You stood up, said, “This is me.”
Like stepping into something free.

I wanted to say, “Don’t go yet.”
Ask your name, don’t forget.
But I just watched that door slide shut—
Guess I talk big, but I freeze up.
(Stay… just stay…)
(Please don’t fade away…)

Train pulled out, you stood in light,
Morning burning through the night.
Sun coming up over the line,
First real clear thing in my mind.

If it falls into the sea,
It still comes back for you and me.
And I won’t hide behind that run—
Not after what you’ve done.

When the sun goes down 　slow,
It’s just making room to glow.
Every red sky I see
Feels like you talking to me.

(Ohhh… when the sun goes down slow…)
(It rises somewhere we don’t know…)
(You’re alright… you’re alright…)
(Find your road… hold it tight…)

Years pass like passing trains,
Different towns, different names.
Still that winter lives in me—
Red sky over that dark sea.

Funny how a short goodbye
Can teach a man how to try.
Now when evening paints it gold,
I don’t feel so cold.

’Cause when the sun goes down slow,
Yeah… I know.
(Hmm-mm…)
(It ain’t the end…)
(It’s where we begin…)

**「陽がゆっくり沈むころ」**

冷たい風が線路を抜ける
空は真っ赤で　もう戻れない
コートの中の折れた切符
どこへ行くかも決めてない

借り部屋で仕事をやめて
昼みたいな夜に出た
誰にも何も言わないまま
ちょっと疲れてただけさ

遠くから見りゃ街はきれいで
近づきゃただの飲み屋街
「やれる」なんて言ってたけど
ほんとは崩れかけてた

三十年　握手ばかり
砂みたいな夢追って
笑ってごまかしてたんだ
小さい自分　隠して

「ねえ、ここ空いてる？」って
まるで俺に言うみたいに
小さなバッグ　落ち着かない目
君もどこか逃げてきた顔
(Hmm-mm… it’s alright…)
(Hmm-mm… don’t hide…)

暗い中を走ってた
くたびれた心がふたつ
海の向こうに陽が落ちて
昨日の失敗　飲み込んだ

「朝になったら降りるの」
やわらかく　そう言った
胸の奥で何かが
壊れて　そして動いた

(Ohhh… when the sun goes down slow…)
(It ain’t the end, you know…)
(Stay strong… hold on…)

ぬるくなった缶ビール
車輪がリズム刻んでる
「どこまで行くの？」って聞かれ
肩すくめるしかなかった

町の名前も浮かばない
逃げる理由は山ほどある
窓の外の黒い海君は静かに言った
「そんな走り方じゃなくていい」

「遠くじゃなくていいから
自分で決めればいい」
大げさでもなくて　まっすぐで痛い言葉
(Hey… look ahead…)
(Hey… don’t be scared…)

小さな駅　朝の色
霜の光る線路の上
「ここで降りる」って立ち上がる
少しだけ　笑って

「ちゃんと前を向いてね」
それだけ残して
ドアが閉まる音の中
俺は何も言えなかった
(Stay… just stay…)
(Please don’t fade away…)

列車が走り出して
君は朝の光の中
夜を焼いたその向こう
はじめて道が見えた

陽が海に沈んでも
またどこかで昇るだろ
もう逃げるだけの俺じゃない
あの日から　違う

陽がゆっくり沈むころ
次の光が生まれる
赤い空を見るたび
君の声が聞こえる

(Ohhh… when the sun goes down slow…)
(It rises somewhere we don’t know…)
(You’re alright… you’re alright…)
(Find your road… hold it tight…)

あれからいくつも町を越え
いくつも名前を呼ばれた
それでも冬のあの夕焼け
まだ胸に残ってる

短い別れが
人を変えることもある
今じゃ夕陽が沈んでも
少しも寒くない

だって　陽がゆっくり沈むころ
ちゃんと　わかるんだ
(Hmm-mm…)
(It ain’t the end…)
(It’s where we begin…)