Tokyo Ghoul "Unravel" Translation


The quote 変わってしまった 変えられなかった The translation says "I've changed, I can no
longer change back" But where does that "change back" come from? The verb is
just "to change yourself". Also, what verbal form is this? Is it potential or
passive?




The opening song describes the basic plot and the setting of the anime Tokyo
Ghoul.

> * * *
>
> This answer might contain minor Tokyo Ghouls spoilers so keep that in mind.
>
> * * *

Kaneki Ken, the main character, is turned into a human-eating ghoul against
his will. He then struggles to live his life as a human being in spite of what
has happened him, but he can't fight against his nature. This means for him,
that he can't turn back.

The line you quoted is a direct reference to this.

> 変わってしまった 変えられなかった
>
> I have turned (into a ghoul), I can't turn back (into a human)

By the way you shouldn't always rely on animelyrics as the source for
translations of anime songs. This translation seems more accurate to me:

<http://www.lyrical-nonsense.com/lyrics/tk-from-ling-tosite-
sigure/unravel/#page=English>




I quickly googled and found the original song, and also found that it was a
song for an anime called 東京喰種.

Judging from the rest of lyrics, I thought "I've changed. I could not change
you." is the correct translation.

However, the content of the anime should have more context. If the translation
is correct, 'I could not change "the fate" or "the world"' might be the
implication. Is there any fate that makes him impossible to change back?

I still think that the translation, "I can't turn back" is a little bit
strange. The reason is that, to explain "to change oneself", I think we prefer
to use "変われる" than "変えられる." Well, probably, "I was not able to be changed by
myself." is a grammatically correct sentence but is a little bit strange. And,
a similar thing happens in Japanese.

Anyway, this is really ambiguous, and of course the lyrics is intentionally
made in that way.

