【Touhou Lyrics】 Greenwich in the Sky

/ lyricalive
A duet for Renko Usami & Maribel Hearn. ...Featuring my wonderful friend Lori ( / lori-hime ) as Renko!
"When you think about a time system designed to observe the universe to be used in that universe, it's somewhat funny..."
Everyone, PLEASE go read the stories behind the official Touhou audio works ( en.touhouwiki.n... ) if you haven't already. You won't regret it! These two girls are so smart and wonderful and precious and important to the series, offering such amazing perspectives on the relationship between dreams and reality.
Of course, then, these lyrics also mean a lot to me, and I'm glad I was able to do this collaboration with someone who is really like the Renko to my Maribel~. This is definitely one of my favorite projects ever! In fact, it was so great that we just keep doing more and more Hifuu duets: • 【Touhou Lyrics】 ZUN's ...
DOWNLOAD ON MY BLOG: asa-turney.tumb...
ZUN's Music Collection Vol. 5, Celestial Wizardry ~ Magical Astronomy
Maribel Hearn & Renko Usami: "Greenwich in the Sky"
Original music by ZUN.
English lyrics by me, fandub vocals by me & Lori.
Fanmade alphes-style portraits from gensoukyou.1000..., art by Kaoru, released for free use. I love their work.
---
Hey hey, so what’s all the buzz about?
Hey hey, have you heard the news?
Somewhere, they’re clearing a path into thin air…
There’s no time to lose!
I’d say, we’re up for a tour then!
You say, it’s happening soon?
Right now! So, what are we waiting for?
Get set, let’s head for the moon!
Name the place, and I’ll tell you the time.
Meet you then, surely when the planets align…
(Tick, tick, tick~)
We’re living a life in a big jumble of numbers,
And how do you count when it’s all well underway?
It isn’t hard if you just look at the stars:
As they glisten, we listen to what stars have to say.
With or without definition of the finish,
We’re running and running and it’s just like a race.
Really, I’m feeling that we’re right on the border
Of making a break in the big case!
Solve a mystery waiting in space…
Bounded by laws and equations… newly explained in a minute.
Founded by long generations… now who might stumble in it?
If we use all of our power… what will be left for the future?
Energy spent by the hour… what is it worth to you?
No story’s done when we put a book back on the shelves,
So we know the ending we want only comes if we find it by ourselves.
Every day in our field is a field day, searching each sign for a meaning.
With two whole worlds’ worth of memory, we can do anything!
Hey hey, so what’s all the buzz about?
Hey hey, have you heard the news?
Someday, that path will be opening…
Which way? It’s our time to choose!
Hey hey, it’s just like a dream again!
There’s that familiar tune:
Let’s go! Oh, what are we waiting for?
Get set, let’s head for the moon!
Same old place, and it’s new every time.
Meet me there, this is where we cross the fine line…
(Tick, tick, tick~)
We’re tracing the patterns in rings wider than Saturn’s:
However we measure them up, which is the way?
It isn’t hard if you just look at the stars:
With our thoughts, we’re connecting the dots- what do they say?
Running from nothing, we’re all running to something;
We’re running and running and we’ll pick up the pace.
Maybe the day that we next look in the mirror,
We’ll even be seeing a new face.
There’s a dream that we’re ready to chase…
...
READ THE FULL LYRICS HERE: asa-turney.tumb...

[@kebasnaek4129]

I could see Maribel and Renko dancing around while singing this in my mind, like if it was a "Touhou: The Musical". I love it.

[@siegesquirrel42]

I love how you keep finding ways to work words like "border," "boundaries," "barrier" and "gaps" into Maribel's lines.

[@meetingmyomens]

I know this is old, but this never really gets old. I love the lyrics so much. It just fits both the song and characters to a T. It just continues to show how incredible/dedicated/passionate that this fanbase is about this series. Thank you so much for making these. :)

[@DameDivineDisarray]

I can't unhear these lyrics. Your grasp on these two characters is incredible.

[@lyrica-live]

:'D I'm sorry for the late reply, but I just want to thank you _very_ much for saying that. This song and these characters in particular really mean a _whole_ lot to me, so I'm happy you like my interpretation!! Thank you!

[@DameDivineDisarray]

Lyrica Live You're very welcome. Your imitation of the official spinoff fiction accompanying the album was another indication of your "interpretation". Excellent work.:3

[@NothingToNipahAb0ut]

I must say, I love all your fanmade lyrics, but this one is my favorite of them all. You not only captured Mary and Renko's personalities (and the way they play as foil for each other) perfectly, but you also captured the same feeling of "reaching to the unknown" that defines the Magical Astronomy CD's mini stories. I'm so, so, so glad I found your youtube channel! Please, don't stop working on these!

[@lyrica-live]

+Trash Prince ...!! Thank you, so much, for such a sweet and amazing comment... It really means a lot to me to hear. ;v; This is the most important dub to me, and everything you said is exactly what I was hoping to portray! I'm sorry that I've been behind lately and that I might continue taking a long time to finish another, but I promise I won't stop! The one I'm currently most motivated to work on is another Renko/Merry duet with this partner of mine, for a different CD song, so I hope it will turn out well too!~ Thanks again!

[@NothingToNipahAb0ut]

+Lyrica Live You're welcome! I'll be looking forward to this next Mary/Renko duet. And there's no rush, no rush! I just discovered this channel, so it's not like I've been waiting for long, anyway, lol. To be honest, I've been out of tune with touhou for a while (the last time I was deeply involved with it was back when everyone was excited over UFO being released). Your videos have reminded me of why I loved the franchise so much, with its fairy-tale-like lore and the mystical, almost poetic aesthetic of the setting. That said, it seems like I have a lot of catching up to do in the meantime!

[@jack8915]

"moon rabbit beaming with pride" "Ah?" "Ah!" Wow she played that off incredibly well...

[@user-zx34mgsi86]

Just a speculation: 1:55, "if we take a next look in the mirror, we'll even be looking at a new face" Might you be asserting the link between Maribel and Yukari?

[@jack8915]

There is more than enough border puns but that is hard to spot, well done!

[@gremlin8635]

it's been 8 years and it's still a banger

[@pestermaster7617]

Somehow every time I hear "solve the mystery waiting in space" I always hear space core shouting SPAAAACE right after

[@nayriin9161]

I'm not sure if any other comment has already mentioned this, but one of the most beautiful things about how you make these lyrics is how you try to put as much character personality there as possible. Keep up the excellent work, and live long and proudly, Lyrica Live! Might as well create a playlist of my favs from you!

[@Zellig]

I really do like the lyrics. Reminds me of the notion of two yearning scientists seeking novel ways to understand and explore the universe of understanding. Just wanted to also say that I love all the little emotes and facial gestures you tend to tweak in your videos, like when she winks with the star, or when Sekibanki in the Dullahan video makes her little eye gestures. I hope I'm not the only one who notices those, they're great. Really can't wait until you post your other character songs! I hope you get around to Mystia and some others! ^_^ keep up the awesome work and your love for singing.

[@megadeth116]

I really enjoy the 'Tick, tick tick~' part...

[@cafedew]

Love how the Renko/Merry thumbnails have them in different outfits

[@thettbd]

OH MY GOD THIS IS AMAZING. I'm not lying, you and your friend are amazing singers. I think you're one of the only channels that makes English lyrics for touhou songs. Nice job!

[@nitorishogiplayer3465]

Just less than a minute in and I already like the lyrics centering around the story from the album and that you went for distinct voices. Fascination with the unknown parts of space is an interesting subject. Haven't heard people pronounce it grenidge too long lol even though that was the supposed right pronunciation.

[@NSAsterus]

Careful, "Different" doesn't cover how the Lunarians are XD I wonder what their reactions would have been to the antics that went on in Inaba of the Earth and Inaba of the Moon.

[@goyavoyage]

I'm here today to celebrate the upcoming release of Renko and Maribel's tenth story!! I've been giddy all afternoon when I got the news and aaaah - and it's all thanks to you and your early Hifuu duets. Thank you so, so much for all this!

[@sariel3336]

Just noticed that you're changing the preview , nice chose !

[@ampullae6529]

"meaningful" doesn't even begin to describe these lyrics... it perfectly captures the thoughts of Renko and Maribel!

[@aarondavis8054]

These songs always find a way to make me smile, despite them being silly or fun. =)

[@raccoonchild]

Well, that's kinda what silly and fun things do to people.

[@peneudon]

日本人である私よりも何倍も作品を理解しているように感じる。 歌詞も非常に素晴らしく、英語特有の語末での韻が心地良い。 最高です。

[@raccoonchild]

This should have dozens of covers, it's so freaking perfect :'''o I'm in love

[@okima1911]

Never too late to listen some old Touhou songs. Especially from you!

[@GrahamChapman]

Awesome song is awesome! ^^ (Man, I still cannot get over how quickly you produce these songs. I mean, 1-2 a month? That's amazing!) ... I feel tempted to join in and post suggestions, but, to be quite honest, I think I'd much rather prefer it if your own inspiration carries you and you make songs that you, yourself, feel the urge to make.

[@lyrica-live]

;-; Ahh, thank you so much... and thank you even more for thinking that once a month is fast... It's really not easy for me, and I'm always worried about not being able to do enough. And (with apologies to all the people that make them) I _really can't_ listen to suggestions right now, because I already have over a dozen WIPs I'm working on at the same time, and I do want to them to be meaningful to me rather than writing just for the sake of writing. That's so considerate of you to say, and I appreciate your support very much! ^^

[@GrahamChapman]

Lyrica Live Can't make up my mind if I should say "You're welcome~" or "No, thank _you_." ^^' ...Well, isn't it really rather fast to produce one to two high quality songs a month? I think it's fast, at least. :3 Oh dear. Don't overwork yourself, hun; it'd be horrible if you burned yourself out and your spirit of creativity was made to suffer for it... Once again; you're welcome and thank you~ n__n (All in all, I have to say that this has been a pretty good Friday the 13th.)

[@NSAsterus]

Lyrica Live Not to mention that 1-2 months actually seems pretty fast for a lot of vocal covers, if the person's taking time to edit them. A constant joke I've seen on channels like Amalee, Lizz, or Miku-tan is that each artist is obviously dead for about 3-5 months after uploading a batch of songs, and their social media usually verifies that :P

[@92web34]

Ive been listening to this for hours :) its amazing

[@Lightpaladin720]

I've been loving this while grinding in my challenge runs in Pokemon games

[@lyrica-live]

^^ Thanks for commenting~ It's always fun to know what kind of unique context people listen to the songs in. The excitable energy of the track really does feel suited to "grinding music." There's a Touhou-inspired mobile game (Lost Word) which actually uses a remix of it as battle music, so I can see the association too.

[@MarioSonicHQ]

Very nice! I've never actually heard this theme, but I definitely enjoyed listening to this!

[@gigi12gigi12]

Oh my god! I don't have words to express how beautiful and smart this MASTERPIECE is! I must thank you giving us that little piece of wonder! Don't give up the good work ;)

[@bouteilledeau1463]

Your friend is also very good.

[@WorldsOfWalsh]

2:15 : Conservation of Energy! :)

[@jack8915]

Smartass lyrics that .. honestly, listen to this forever you will never find all of the reference's

[@arazif4436]

I keep playing this one song on my 6 hours of driving

[@MaybeNotARobot]

The best part of this song to me is all the references to Renko and Maribel's abilities.

[@Simply_resharkable]

You really deserve more subs

[@zinovyrozhestvensky3636]

ay but if youre making a greenwich in the sky youll need an accurate timepiece to measure the distrance travelled

[@TemplateUserNameSquad]

Huzzah! I've been waitin' for this one!

[@vmreimhgfrsea6842]

Прикольно звучит. Буду ждать ещё=^_^=

[@DrakeVagabond]

Too much happy. Can't handle the joy

[@DrakeVagabond]

Set the speed to 0.5, and I'm on LSD.

[@daiyang7901]

Barrier...gap...I see what you did there! (with Maribel's parts)

[@Sevilou]

great duet

[@OfficerShinki]

I kinda wanna hear merry the magician now. but it doesn't matter.

[@Octobarian]

that was a really good vid! I watched it!.

[@starsapphire6522]

I listened to this again and again and i am pretty adicted to it but for some reason when you post it on youtube it just stays better.Also sorry for my writing i am from brazil.

[@Zellig]

Yaaay more!~ Love your stuff. Sorry I never got to my 'thesis' about your music. -_- I get really self conscious when it comes to my (in)ability to write.

[@emeraldarwyn5367]

Try staking your life of a prank!

[@tamhoa7544]

What's your problem with saying "Do staking your life on a prank" just let her do her buisness on her own songs cause she has to work one at a time so she would have trouble getting stacked by people asking her "do this do that" just my thing you should let her go do her own songs (hurrr)

[@emeraldarwyn5367]

tam hoa its a request. she doesnt have to do it if she doesnt want to. i was just running the idea by her.

[@lyrica-live]

Astrid the Otaku It's an impossible request, unfortunately... :'( I understand that leaving next-video suggestions in the comments is a part of KZbin culture, but I really can't work that way, and I'd prefer if people didn't do that here... It's pretty stressful, and I feel exactly as Tam Hoa said. I currently have about 24 works in-progress, which is why I haven't been able to actually finish a single one lately. I can't promise anything but that I'll eventually do whatever I do. I really appreciate your interest though-- and, although I don't plan on "Staking Your Life on a Prank," I have done the Light Fairies' other theme, "Great Fairy Wars," if that satisfies you. :P asa-turney.tumblr.com/post/113999587412

[@emeraldarwyn5367]

Lyrica Live sweet! thank you!

[@emeraldarwyn5367]

Lyrica Live quick question, why don't you post the lyrics you have on tumblr on here? Hinas theme, minoriko, Yuki, mai, all those.

[@mittypkm]

This is great!

[@Animelover15]

Awesome singing

[@LPfinale]

Have you ever considered covering a theme from a fangame? I don't know if you've played them or not, but some themes from them are pretty awesome. I had two characters in mind, but this is only a suggestion. [From Touhou: Marine Benefit] Megumi Yaobi's Theme: Could a Mermaid Dream of Being a Human? [From Touhou: Mystical Power Plant] Mitama Magahara's Theme: Sky-Filling Departed Spirit ~ Lightning Word

[@nijikajies]

How did you know this is my favorite song ;-;

[@gugalaxy7772]

I have a question does "Greenwich" have any connection to England Greenwich?

[@lyrica-live]

_Name the place, and I'll tell you the time..._ Yes, there are multiple meanings of "Greenwich" that have to do Greenwich, England, with regard to both place and time! There is a meridian (an invisible geographic line... a boundary, if you will) that runs through the town of Greenwich, England. This line is what defines our knowledge of "time zones" around the world. "Greenwich Mean Time" -- the time zone observed within the boundaries of the Greenwich meridian -- is considered the "universal time zone," the "0:00" baseline that we are comparing to when we say that another time zone is "GMT+8 hours," or whatever it may be. The song's title is most likely referring to the fact that, in space, when you are aboard the International Space Station, time is measured by the standard as if we are in the Greenwich time zone. We observe "Greenwich time" in the sky. This talk of time zones, of course, relates to Renko's ability to read the time from the stars. However, ironically, in the "Magical Astronomy" story, she states that her abilities only grant her knowledge about the time in Japan Standard Time (GMT+9), and jokes about finding it difficult to convert it to Greenwich. (All she has to do is subtract.) As a second meaning, there is an astronomical observatory located on that meridian in Greenwich, England, called the Greenwich Observatory. It's a famous place to study the stars. This is why, at the end of these lyrics, Renko and Merry talk about how an observatory on earth feels like it's too far away to study the stars up close, with the proper perspective... so they need another Greenwich (an observatory) in the sky. I guess the International Space Station qualifies all-around as the "Greenwich" they seek. It is a place that is defined by the same borders of time as Greenwich, and it is a place to observe the stars. Let RenMerry go to space!

[@Martin5xD]

I love this, you're the best

[@Zellig]

So.. this greenwich... is it edible?

[@bookofgrimoire9193]

AMAZOING

[@Shidieu]

Lyrica Live I was wondering if you were ever going to do The Tiger-Patterned Vaisravana because that would be cool .3.

[@simplestar9525]

Love it

[@phoenixfirehunt1558]

If they encounter the Luner Capital they probably would not survive

[@saulviera386]

Just a suggestion, can you do a cover of "Cheat Against The Immposible Danmaku" for you next song?

[@chickennuggets1990]

Hate where Merry didn't see Yuyuko It's like, you're of a series where you are a character EXTREMELY interested in this one thing that is extremely connected to the plot (gensokyo) and then they miss it Whyyyyyy

[@kreng823]

Fast Race ~Maybe a Mysterious Greenwich

[@jacob030301]

Wow, my favourite ZUN's song *0*

[@Zellig]

Where are the pictures of them from them, by the way? The art style looks like the character portraits used for the dialogue (and character select) portions in the Hisoutensoku fighting game. But I don't remember them in it.

[@lyrica-live]

The source is in the description; they're fanmade~. Yes, Alphes is the artist who drew the portraits for the fighting games, while Kaoru is an artist who is very good at imitating that style, who has drawn Alphes-style portraits of all sorts of characters to be used in fan projects. _If only_ Mary and Renko were in the canon games, though!

[@MAROO.]

You should do onigashimi in the fairyland, its more beautiful than broken moon in my opinion(:

[@genobeamandflash92]

oh hi young yukari how you

[@Zellig]

By the way... what's a Greenwich and how do I find it!? I looked everywhere all night, but had no idea what I was looking at. Just ended up staring at the moon.

[@lyrica-live]

Haha! ^^ You can't look in the sky for a Greenwich; you need to be looking _from_ a "Greenwich in the sky"! I'd actually really love the opportunity to explain the title and how it inspired the theme of the entire lyrics: about seeing new points of view. "Greenwich" is the name of a famous astronomical observatory in England, a place where you study the stars. The last verse here is saying: It's foolish to think you can truly understand another world while grounded in your earthly perspective, only gazing up at the stars from a place here on earth. If you want to see the stars for what they really are, you need to go into space and observe them right from the sky. You need a GREENWICH IN THE SKY. In addition to being the name of a place, "Greenwich" also refers to "Greenwich Mean Time," the universally standardized system of measuring time, centralized in Greenwich because that's where the Prime Meridian runs. All our time zones are rooted in relation to the Greenwich time zone (for example, Japan's time is GMT+9), seeking to coordinate our perception of time based on the way we understand the rotation of the earth. This is the standard used by astronauts while in space, too; so, there's even GREENWICH IN THE SKY. This is how the term is actually used in the song's corresponding passage from Magical Astronomy: Renko jokes that she can't handle the subtraction it takes to convert units of time from JST to GMT, and wonders why the earth and the moon would run on the same time anyway. ZUN then muses about "a time system designed to observe the universe, to be used in that same universe"... It's a bit roundabout, and it makes things all sound very subjective, doesn't it? Even the act of blurring the place/time line by tweaking the titular reference was trying to evoke this: You can _trace patterns in rings wider than Saturn's_ and begin to realize that there is a lot of roundabout subjectivity in the world. That's why it's so important to see all different perspectives and not get too caught up in your own way of thinking. That's why Maribel and Renko -- who have two very distinct ways of thinking, yet one common goal -- make such an excellent team!

[@mem6220]

It’s 12:04 am I love life

[@mem6220]

Im back but at 7:59 pm

[@mem6220]

Back at 10:44 pm came for valentines ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️

[@Zellig]

Like a broodwich!?

[@Sonicfalcon16]

Tastes great except these tomatos

[@jack8915]

Greenwich tastes better...

[@ivatigerfox2548]

What's a green which?

[@seanguan5721]

A Greenwich is a place, not a thing.

[@ivatigerfox2548]

Sean Guan Yeah,I know that know. It's in Connecticut, or is it New York? Anyways, my Aunt lives there, so..... Thanks anyways ^^

[@libertineloli9797]

+Nishikata Byakko-kun (suikun) I think it's supposed to be about the Greenwich Royal Observatory in the UK ('Cuz, y'know, aliens)

[@seanguan5721]

+Nishikata Byakko-kun (suikun) Greenwich is in Europe. It's known for being on the Prime Meridian.

[@ivatigerfox2548]

Sean Guan Ah

[@user-nx9xf5tv9x]

Green wich as in pizza?

[@DrakeVagabond]

Y u so catchy

[@seanguan5721]

Lemme explain. Touhou.

[@jack8915]

Good explanation... Touhou.exe is working again thx for waiting patiently...

[@dmitriyn7695]

Чего-нибудь новенького бы.

[@TenninWorks]

so why is your so voice cute?

[@Waddlejpg]

*ROFL DANCE SONG*

[@KhanhNguyen-yl8bq]

so marrybell is yukari

[@KakushiKiri]

She isn't yukari but she may be related to her. The way they dress is very similar and Maribells ability to see boundaries is slowly developing to the manipulation of boundaries

[@caitlyn_8234]

You can't say definitively whether she is or she isn't as the parallels between the two can be interpreted different ways; technically nothing has been confirmed. Marry could be a past version or a relative or something else entirely, but it is all guessing (personally I think its more likely for her to be a past "version"). With the ability to see and manipulate boundaries, theoretical and physical, your imagination is the limit to what you can change and tweak.

[@KakushiKiri]

Caitlyn _ Yes, that could be a possibility and I've put more thought into it but there isn't enough evidence to give a solid answer.

[@caitlyn_8234]

Pretty much lol, I like being able to speculate about this stuff, but I wonder if there will ever be another album or game with an actual answer. Yukari is pretty close to a god if you think about, so Im sure she'll come up again someday xD TheShadowGames

[@KakushiKiri]

she might come up again I'd like to see her again, ZUN may have a plan for her and Renko

[@TuanTran04]

rofl song :D

[@vitorhenriquefarias8916]

1K like :)

[@P1nk_Sky]

Heh... I don't like it, sorry...