In my opinion, one of the greatest anime end songs ever. Here's something I noticed about this song's lyrics in relation to Spike's words in the final episode:
"Please, Don't wake me from the dream. It's really everything it seemed."
-These lines suggest Spike doesn't want to go. Despite struggling with his past for so long, and living in the present like a "dream," he's doesn't want to die. This runs parallel to the words Spike exchanged with Faye earlier: "I'm not going to die... I'm going to find out if I'm really alive." And what Spike ultimately finds out, is that yes, he truly was alive - his life after the syndicate was reality - and it was "dreamy" in the sense in that it turned out better than he could've imagined: he was free in that time, it just took death and coming to amends with his past to realize it.
Another quote to contextualize the lyrics, this time from the movie:
"When I was younger, I wasn’t afraid of anything. I didn’t have the slightest fear of dying. No reason for it. I thought that if I die, that’s fine with me, any time at all. But then I met a certain woman and it changed. I started to think that I wanted to survive. For the first time, the idea of death began to scare me."
-This is an interesting quote in relation to Blue. Going off of the interpretation I made before, this quote further shows how Spike has come to amends with his past. After Julia's death, one might say Spike was no longer afraid to die, that Julia was one of the reasons why he continued "living" (albeit "living" in a "dreamy" sort of state). I'd make the argument that this isn't true, Spike wanted to live - remember the lyrics: "Please, Don't wake me from the dream. It's really everything it seemed." The fact that Spike wants to live at the end, contradicts his past sentiment that without Julia, and shows that he's moved on - conquering his past.
@hfii32 The official guide book and the head writer disagree with you.
@hfii32 The official guide book and the head writer disagree with you.
“Vicious finally begins his coup, positioning himself to assume leadership of the Red Dragon Syndicate. Gunshots ring like the sound of a choir of angels, a premonition of damnation. Knowing that the red dragon civil war has begun, Julia breaks her long silence and tries to contact Spike, who drops everything to find her, the only woman who can complete this hollow man. At the fulcrum of a fragile balance spike is possessed by the spirits of his past. jet and fake can do nothing but watch over...
“Vicious finally begins his coup, positioning himself to assume leadership of the Red Dragon Syndicate. Gunshots ring like the sound of a choir of angels, a premonition of damnation. Knowing that the red dragon civil war has begun, Julia breaks her long silence and tries to contact Spike, who drops everything to find her, the only woman who can complete this hollow man. At the fulcrum of a fragile balance spike is possessed by the spirits of his past. jet and fake can do nothing but watch over him. Jerked awake from his nightmare, Spike needs to once again confront Vicious, and Julia, for no other reason than to convince himself that they are not merely just remnants of a bad dream.”
-Cowboy Bebop Anime Guide, Book 6, Page 28
“After a long time apart, Spike and Julia reunite. But their happiness is short lived at best. That which Spike has longed for slips through his fingers as easily as it came into his embrace. This is one man’s fate, converging unto death as if it were a predestined circumstance of his young life. Having lost his future, Spike is left only with his past. He confronts Vicious in a battle that should have taken place long ago. What does the right eye, left in the wounded body, see at the very end?”
-Cowboy Bebop Anime Guide, Book 6, Page 44
PS. Spike sees Julia with his eye that sees his present at the end.
Julia's death is referred to as the death of Spike's future in the official guidebook. After he leaves the Bebop, he does not look back. Instead, he thinks of being joined as one with Julia and the song that plays is about how he will still love her even after he is dead. Watanabe and Nobumoto would refer to Julia as Spike's woman even after the series was over. He loved her eternally. He dies loving her.
Julia's death is referred to as the death of Spike's future in the official guidebook. After he leaves the Bebop, he does not look back. Instead, he thinks of being joined as one with Julia and the song that plays is about how he will still love her even after he is dead. Watanabe and Nobumoto would refer to Julia as Spike's woman even after the series was over. He loved her eternally. He dies loving her.
@hfii32 "Please, Don't wake me from the dream. It's really everything it seemed." The line suggests that Spike wants to die and stay dead. Death is a chance to dream eternally. The line suggests that he doesn't want to be woken up. His dream has been achieved and it is everything he thought it would be. He is with Julia now.
@hfii32 "Please, Don't wake me from the dream. It's really everything it seemed." The line suggests that Spike wants to die and stay dead. Death is a chance to dream eternally. The line suggests that he doesn't want to be woken up. His dream has been achieved and it is everything he thought it would be. He is with Julia now.
In my opinion, one of the greatest anime end songs ever. Here's something I noticed about this song's lyrics in relation to Spike's words in the final episode:
"Please, Don't wake me from the dream. It's really everything it seemed." -These lines suggest Spike doesn't want to go. Despite struggling with his past for so long, and living in the present like a "dream," he's doesn't want to die. This runs parallel to the words Spike exchanged with Faye earlier: "I'm not going to die... I'm going to find out if I'm really alive." And what Spike ultimately finds out, is that yes, he truly was alive - his life after the syndicate was reality - and it was "dreamy" in the sense in that it turned out better than he could've imagined: he was free in that time, it just took death and coming to amends with his past to realize it.
Another quote to contextualize the lyrics, this time from the movie: "When I was younger, I wasn’t afraid of anything. I didn’t have the slightest fear of dying. No reason for it. I thought that if I die, that’s fine with me, any time at all. But then I met a certain woman and it changed. I started to think that I wanted to survive. For the first time, the idea of death began to scare me." -This is an interesting quote in relation to Blue. Going off of the interpretation I made before, this quote further shows how Spike has come to amends with his past. After Julia's death, one might say Spike was no longer afraid to die, that Julia was one of the reasons why he continued "living" (albeit "living" in a "dreamy" sort of state). I'd make the argument that this isn't true, Spike wanted to live - remember the lyrics: "Please, Don't wake me from the dream. It's really everything it seemed." The fact that Spike wants to live at the end, contradicts his past sentiment that without Julia, and shows that he's moved on - conquering his past.
@hfii32 The official guide book and the head writer disagree with you.
@hfii32 The official guide book and the head writer disagree with you.
“Vicious finally begins his coup, positioning himself to assume leadership of the Red Dragon Syndicate. Gunshots ring like the sound of a choir of angels, a premonition of damnation. Knowing that the red dragon civil war has begun, Julia breaks her long silence and tries to contact Spike, who drops everything to find her, the only woman who can complete this hollow man. At the fulcrum of a fragile balance spike is possessed by the spirits of his past. jet and fake can do nothing but watch over...
“Vicious finally begins his coup, positioning himself to assume leadership of the Red Dragon Syndicate. Gunshots ring like the sound of a choir of angels, a premonition of damnation. Knowing that the red dragon civil war has begun, Julia breaks her long silence and tries to contact Spike, who drops everything to find her, the only woman who can complete this hollow man. At the fulcrum of a fragile balance spike is possessed by the spirits of his past. jet and fake can do nothing but watch over him. Jerked awake from his nightmare, Spike needs to once again confront Vicious, and Julia, for no other reason than to convince himself that they are not merely just remnants of a bad dream.” -Cowboy Bebop Anime Guide, Book 6, Page 28 “After a long time apart, Spike and Julia reunite. But their happiness is short lived at best. That which Spike has longed for slips through his fingers as easily as it came into his embrace. This is one man’s fate, converging unto death as if it were a predestined circumstance of his young life. Having lost his future, Spike is left only with his past. He confronts Vicious in a battle that should have taken place long ago. What does the right eye, left in the wounded body, see at the very end?” -Cowboy Bebop Anime Guide, Book 6, Page 44
PS. Spike sees Julia with his eye that sees his present at the end.
Julia's death is referred to as the death of Spike's future in the official guidebook. After he leaves the Bebop, he does not look back. Instead, he thinks of being joined as one with Julia and the song that plays is about how he will still love her even after he is dead. Watanabe and Nobumoto would refer to Julia as Spike's woman even after the series was over. He loved her eternally. He dies loving her.
Julia's death is referred to as the death of Spike's future in the official guidebook. After he leaves the Bebop, he does not look back. Instead, he thinks of being joined as one with Julia and the song that plays is about how he will still love her even after he is dead. Watanabe and Nobumoto would refer to Julia as Spike's woman even after the series was over. He loved her eternally. He dies loving her.
@hfii32 "Please, Don't wake me from the dream. It's really everything it seemed." The line suggests that Spike wants to die and stay dead. Death is a chance to dream eternally. The line suggests that he doesn't want to be woken up. His dream has been achieved and it is everything he thought it would be. He is with Julia now.
@hfii32 "Please, Don't wake me from the dream. It's really everything it seemed." The line suggests that Spike wants to die and stay dead. Death is a chance to dream eternally. The line suggests that he doesn't want to be woken up. His dream has been achieved and it is everything he thought it would be. He is with Julia now.