Title: Haita (ハイタ) Artists: Eve & Sou "Haita" is a collaboration song between Japanese artists Eve and Sou. The song tells a story through its lyrics, expressing the emotions and experiences of a group of children playing games and going through various phases of growth and friendship. The lyrics depict a scene where children gather to play a game called "Jankenpon" (Rock-paper-scissors) to divide into teams. They use "Gutchippā" (a made-up word) to decide who goes where. The game signifies a simple and innocent childhood activity. The atmosphere changes when the new school year starts, portraying the feelings of melancholy and uneasiness. The class representative denies a request to change the rules through voting, reinforcing the importance of majoritarian decisions. The chorus, "Gubbai Haita," signifies bidding farewell to discrimination or exclusivity, represented by a whirlpool. The lyrics emphasize the idea of smiling, crying, and getting angry without isolating oneself. The phrase "hai tatta chi" (ハイタッタッチ) could be translated as "high touch," an expression used among the children to convey unity and shared experience. The song also presents a love story, starting with one character expressing their interest in another. The faceless classmate claims that they have been watching the protagonist for a long time and refers to their interest as love. The lyrics allude to the initial stages of a romantic relationship. The conversation shifts to the protagonist's possession of a guitar and the desire to change the world. However, the protagonist reveals that what they truly want to change is where the love interest's eyes are directed. This revelation deepens the emotional connection. The lyrics further narrate the gradual breakdown of communication and the distance between the characters as lies start to emerge. The line repetition of "dandan" and "dondon" symbolizes the fading connection between their eyes. The protagonist feels the need to stop the love interest from drifting away, as their own existence troubles the other person. They want to remove the emotional burden from the love interest's heart. The concept of the "onibakari" (only demons) reflects the struggle of finding hidden things and encompasses the difficulty of understanding one another. At this point, the lyrics transition to a mention of the afterlife, as if the bond between the characters is severed. The final chorus "Gubbai Haita" expresses a farewell within the whirlpool. It suggests a farewell to discrimination, egoism, and the loneliness of being alone. The phrase "Te to te o awasete sayōnara" (手と手を合わせてさようなら) implies that they are parting ways while looking each other in the eye, symbolizing closure and acceptance. The song showcases the journey of friendship, love, and introspection through various stages of growth and emotions. It encourages unity, understanding, and bidding farewell to negativity to create a more inclusive and harmonious world.
