Notice: To display this embed please allow the use of Functional Cookies in Cookie Preferences.
30 years later, Sonic’s composer has given the Green Hill Zone song lyrics
Masato Nakamura’s band Dreams Come True have released a 30th anniversary song
The musician who composed the music for the first two Sonic games has released a song that finally gives the Green Hill Zone theme lyrics.
Although Masato Nakamura is known by Sonic fans as the composer of Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2, he’s best known by Japanese music fans as the bass player and co-founding member of J-Pop band Dreams Come True, who he’s been with since 1988.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Dreams Come true has released a new song called Tsugino Seno! De – On The Green Hill, which finally gives lyrics to the iconic Green Hill Zone theme from the original Sonic game.
The song was composed by Nakamura, and written by his bandmate Miwa Yoshida.
The song is currently available on Spotify in two versions – the normal, slower paced version seen in the music video above, and a faster remixed version which sounds more like the original Mega Drive game.
Despite Nakamura’s ties with Sonic, it’s very rare that his work on Dreams Come True and Sonic cross over. The band’s 1992 album The Swinging Star has a song called Sweet Sweet Sweet, which Nakamura then turned into the Sonic 2 end credits music.
Yuji Naka, the former head of Sonic Team and lead programmer on the original Sonic the Hedgehog, lent his support to the new song on Twitter.
“Sonic 1’s Green Hill Zone song will be released next week,” he said. “Sonic is on the back of the CD. Sonic-like [sound effects are] also ringing, and I feel quite nostalgic. It is unique to the composer of Sonic 1. It feels like Sonic’s 30th anniversary. I’m happy.”
Naka also pointed out a number of nods to Sonic that he spotted in the song’s music video, which can be watched in the embed above.
Naturally, the lyrics to the song are all in Japanese, but VGC has done its best to translate them to English below.
Will you join us today?
Rolling up the green hills
The sun will shine in the morning
I’m coming for you, all of you
Nomikomou hikari kibou no monogatari
Someday I’ll hold my lost dreams in my arms
Midori no oka ni nakatte kittehite
In the night, meteors will fall to pierce you
I’m sure they’ll wash you whole
Nomihosou yami wo torimodosu scenario
Hito-yume, futa-yume, count it, Ippo, see, together
Miyume, blow it out, step out again, next se-no! In
Saezae in the morning, Ulalaka at midday
The forest rises up on the green hills
The night is wavering, toppling, closing in
And your wings will be at rest.
Aratana monogatari Amata no monogatari no tame
Hito-yume, futa-yume, count it, Ippo, here we are together
Miyume, blow it all away and step out again, next time! And
Hito-yume, futa-yume, let’s make it happen.
The Sonic the Hedgehog series is officially 30 years old this year, the first game in the series having debuted for the Sega Genesis in North America on June 23, 1991.
To celebrate, a Sonic Colors remaster was released this month, ahead of a new retro compilation called Sonic Origins and a new mainline series entry in 2022.
Sega also streamed a 90-minute Sonic the Hedgehog concert for free on the mascot’s Birthday, earning overwhelming praise from fans.