Michishirube みちしるべ by Chihara Minori 茅原実里

Just hearing this song brings back images of Violet Evergarden's story into my mind so strongly that tears well up in my eyes. The song's name, Michishirube, means "signpost" in Japanese. It is a fitting way to describe the role that Major Gilbert has on Violet Evergarden, guiding her growth as she learns about human emotions. More on the song at the end of the post.

作詞：茅原実里 作曲・編曲：菊田大介（Elements Garden）

あなたの声がみちしるべ

一羽の鳥が鳴いている
名前のない空に 私を探して

優しさで編み続けた ゆりかごで明日へ行こう
晴れの日も 雨の日にも あなたを守る為に

かけがえのない宝物
名前のない花は 静かに眠るよ

色なき風が呼んでいる
乞い願うふるさと 懐かしい香り

遠く幼い記憶は 陽だまりのような温もり
泡沫(うたかた)の夢から覚め 孤独が一人と知った

授けられた翼を 羽ばたかせて
飛ぶことをやめないと 約束しよう
一人じゃない

願いは一つだけ あなたの幸せ

優しさで編み続けた ゆりかごで明日を行こう
晴れの日も雨の日にも 愛してるを伝えて

この街に生まれたのは あなたと巡り会うため
この街に生まれたから あなたに巡り会えた

一羽の鳥が飛んでゆく
名前のない空に 明日を探して

Source: https://animesongz.com/lyric/4163/20855

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"あなたの声がみちしるべ" literally means "your voice is my guiding light". This is really Violet's song about Gilbert. His voice has guided her throughout life. It was his voice that gave her the orders to kill, guiding her actions during the war. His voice that taught her how to speak, read, and write, which eventually formed the basis for her to have her own thoughts.

It was his voice that gave her the order "Live and be free." Which became the source of her determination to continue living after the war, even though she had lost both arms, lost her major, and eventually realized the severe consequences of her actions during the war. It allowed her to live through grief and guilt.

It was his voice that told her "I love you." Which became her motivation to be an Auto Memories Doll so that she could learn what that phrase means, and eventually allowing her to discover the human emotions within her.

 

It was his voice that said he hoped she will one day grow to become a person who matches her name. It guided her after the war to become a person worthy of the name Violet, which is both a beautiful flower and the name of a goddess in her world.

For good and bad, it was his voice that had been guiding her actions all this while. And so, every time I hear this song, I am reminded of their story... a story of love and guilt.