きっと居ないはずなのに

[Sammo]

These lines:

急行列車が通りすぎ
この踏切が開くころには
きっと君はもう居ない
きっと居ないはずなのに

comes from this song here.

I'm stuck on two ways to translate that last line. This:

I'm sure you won't be here, but...

and this:

I'm sure there's no reason you'd still be there


Which of these is the more accurate one? Is there even a better way to translate the last line?

Thanks! 🙂

 

[gengo]

きっと居ないはずなのに

That なのに implies that either something else follows this line or there is something else left unstated.

I would use "there" in this context rather than "here" because the singer is talking about the other side of the tracks from where he is standing.

There are countless ways to translate these lyrics, but here is my version:

I'm sure you won't be there.
You'll be long gone.

If there is something that connects to this last line, you might have to add an "even though" somewhere. But it's not uncommon in Japanese to use のに even when there is nothing explicitly stated.

 

[kimko_379]

I'd translate it as "I know you won't be there (for me any more), but (still)/and yet ... .//Even so, ... ."
Regarding のに, pls see: 寂しいの色
In short, のに reveals the true essences as opposed/contrary/contradictory to the mere phenomena/appearances/Scheine (especially, in most cases: falsche Anscheine = false mirages/imaginations/illusions/delusions).

The man's *reason/mind* "knows" her probable/likely absence as the rather "superficial/phenomen-like/phantom-like/mirage-like/fantastic/day-dreamed/unreal" reality/fact, but his supposedly-/expectedly-"real/realistic" *wish/dream/heart* still rejects facing the actual/true reality/fact = the essence/semi-hidden-truth of the situation.