seoul

 

 

 

Produced by HONNE
Written by HONNE, RM

Spotify | Apple Music | SoundCloud

Note: Original lyrics are transcribed. RM teased this track on Twitter earlier this year.

I really love the song because, as someone who was born and raised in Seoul, I can really feel Seoul. The lyrics really come alive and visualize themselves in my imagination. I’ll include some “local” information in the notes, hoping to deliver some second-hand experience.

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차가운 새벽 공기에
In the cold morning air,

남몰래 눈을 뜨네
I open my eyes without anyone’s knowing

이 도시의 harmony
The harmony of this city–

난 너무나 익숙해
it’s so familiar to me

내 어린 나날들은 아득하고
Though my childhood days are far away
(1) my childhood days are faint; it’s been a while
(2) my childhood days are far away; it’s physically far (He grew up in Ilsan, a satellite city of Seoul)

빌딩과 차들만 가득해도
and it’s filled with buildings and cars only,

이젠 여기가 나의 집인걸
now this is my home

Seoul Seoul

 

넌 왜 soul과 발음이 비슷한 걸까
Why would it be that your pronunciation is similar to soul

무슨 영혼을 가졌길래
What kind of soul is it that you possess

무엇이 날 이토록 너의 곁에 잡아두나
What is it that holds me by your side like this

네게 난 추억조차 없는데
I don’t even have memories of you

난 이제 네가 너무 지겨워
I’m now so sick of you

너의 맨날 똑같은 잿빛 표정
The same old, ashy facial expression of yours
In addition to the fact that the city is filled with concrete buildings, fine dust levels have been soaring in South Korea, contributing to the “ashy expression.” Grey/ashy might also describe the mundane, colorless city life 

아니 아니 나는 내가 두려워
No, no, I’m afraid of myself

이미 너의 일부가 돼버렸거든
because I have already become a part of you

 

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I love you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I love you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I hate you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I hate you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I love you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I love you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I hate you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I hate you, Seoul

Seoul

 

가만 있어도 풍경이 바뀌는 버스와
A bus that changes its scenery even when I’m still

비슷한 듯 조금씩 다른 빌딩
and buildings that look similar but a bit different from each other

역한 듯 아닌 듯한 삶의 향과
The scent of life that feels disgusting or not

따뜻한 척 하는 차가운 공원들
and cold parks that pretend to be warm

늘 헤매야 하는 사람들과
People that always have to wander,

너무 많은 한을 품는 한강들과
Han rivers that take so much Han within,
(1) Han is a mix of sorrow, nostalgia, anger, pain, and hope, as explained in this reddit post. Han rhymes with Han Rivers, although the meanings are completely different (Han, emotions, uses 恨, whereas Han in Han River uses 漢).
(2) As of 2016, the suicide rate in South Korea is the 10th highest in the world (according to WHO) and the 2nd highest among OECD countries (according to OECD). There have been many that threw themselves into the Han River. Mapo Bridge, which was infamous for attracting many jumpers, has been named “Bridge of Life” and started displaying encouraging messages along the parapet.
(3) When I was transcribing the lyrics, I first thought it is 한을 품”은,” not 한을 품”는.” This simple difference changes the nuance completely. When one says “너무 많은 한을 품은 한강들 (Han rivers that contain so much Han),” it’s a description of a static status. When one says, instead, “너무 많은 한을 품는 한강들 (Han rivers that take so much Han within),” it’s a description of an ongoing situation.

혼자 하늘을 볼 수 없는 그네들과,
swings that can’t see the sky by themselves,
그네들 [geunedeul], which I translated as swings, can also be “they; those people”

다 큰애들과
grown-up children,

좀 늦어버린 나
and me who came a bit late

 

친구들은 툭하면 떠나겠다 해
Friends easily say that they’ll leave

난 끄덕거려 보지만 웃질 못해
Though I try nodding my head, I can’t smile

너무 인정하기 싫지만
Though I hate to admit it,

이미 난 너의 매연과 그 역겨움까지 다 사랑해
I love everything of you, even your fumes and disgusting side

청계천의 비린내를 사랑해
I love the fishy scent of Cheonggyecheon
Cheonggyecheon is a stream running through downtown Seoul from east to west, which provides a large public recreation space. People would stroll along the stream or, in summer, sit beside the stream to chat, eat food, drink beer, or even dip their feet in the cold water.
Update: I learned that the city of Seoul now prohibits outdoor alcohol consumption at 청계천 (since July 2018).

선유도의 쓸쓸함을 사랑해
I love the lonesomeness of Seonyudo
Seonyudo Park is an ecological water park located in the middle of Yanghwadaegyo (one of the bridges connecting the northern and southern sides of Seoul that are separated by Han River; this is the same Yanghwa bridge as in Zion.T’s Yanghwa BRDG). As a former water purification plant, Seonyudo Park offers various gardens and sculptures that utilize the old facilities. The park indeed looks very forlorn and lonesome when visited in late fall and winter.

돈만 있으면 살기 좋다던 어느 택시기사의 그 한숨까지도
and even the sigh of a taxi driver who said it’s a good place to live as long as you have money

I love y’all

 

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I love you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I love you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I hate you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I hate you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I love you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I love you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I hate you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I hate you, Seoul

 

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I love you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I love you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I hate you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I hate you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I love you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I love you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I hate you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I hate you, Seoul

 

I’m leavin’ you

I’m livin’ you

I’m leavin’ you

I’m livin’ you

I’m leavin’ you

I’m livin’ you

I’m leavin’ you

I’m livin’ you

Seoul

 

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I love you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I love you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I hate you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I hate you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I love you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I love you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I hate you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I hate you, Seoul

 

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I love you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I love you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I hate you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I hate you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I love you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I love you, Seoul

사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I hate you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I hate you, Seoul

Seoul

 

I love you, Seoul 

I hate you, Seoul

I love you, Seoul

I hate you, Seoul

 

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Hectic (with Colde)

Produced by Pdogg
Written by Pdogg, RM, Colde

Spotify | Apple Music

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Yesterday was a hectic

There was nothin’ romantic

If I can just find a reason

To keep this endless chasin’

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Yesterday was a hectic

There was nothin’ romantic

If I could only imagine

Just one another heaven

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또 멋쩍은 나의 웃음
Another awkward smile on my face

낡아빠진 추억들
All those worn-out memories

할 말이 없는 사람들의
Among people who have nothing to talk about,

돌고 도는 liquor talks
round and round of liquor talks 

하루 더 죽어가는 느낌
The feeling of dying for another day
Note: By living we’re also in the process of dying.

밤의 올림픽대로
Olympic-daero of the night

형형한 불빛, 난폭한 택시
Glaring lights, reckless taxis

이젠 지겨워진
that I’ve grown tired of

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Met the people, people, people

(Talkin’ same s***)

Hate the reason, reason, reason

(That they all spit)

If bornin’ is a pain

How should we do this game

Keep on thinkin’, thinkin’ and I

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Yesterday was a hectic

There was nothin’ romantic

If I can just find a reason

To keep this endless chasin’

.

Yesterday was a hectic

There was nothin’ romantic

If I could only imagine

Just one another heaven

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어디로 가는지도 모르게 적어 내려갔던 시도
Even the poem I wrote down without knowing where it’d lead me to

어느덧 걸어온 그 길이 되었네
became the path that I’ve walked along without my knowing

지난 기억 속에
In the past memories,

더 이상 길을 잃고 싶지 않은 날
I who doesn’t want to get lost anymore,

좀 구해줘
Please save me

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Met the people, people, people

(Talkin’ same s***)

Hate the reason, reason, reason

(That they all spit)

If bornin’ is a pain

How should we do this game

Keep on thinkin’, thinkin’ and I

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Yesterday was a hectic

There was nothin’ romantic

If I can just find a reason

To keep this endless chasin’

Yesterday was a hectic

There was nothin’ romantic

If I could only imagine

Just one another heaven

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Hangover’s over

관능적인 이 도시의 posture
The posture of this sensual city

슬픈 밤 서울을 위한 nocturne
A nocturne for sad Seoul of the night
Note: Also could be read as “A nocturne for Seoul in a sad night”

우린 알면서 또 하루를 놓쳐 [notchyeo]
Despite knowing, we lose another day

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Ay 행복이란 뭘까 [mwolkka]
Ay, what would be happiness

그토록 바래왔던 작은 평화 [pyeonghwa]
The little bit of peace that we hope for so bad

마음이 빛바랜 자들을 떠나 [tteona]
Leaving those whose hearts lost colors behind,

마침내 우리가 수놓은 별밤 [byeolbam]
we finally embroider the night sky with stars

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꿈을 꾸듯 눈을 감아
Close your eyes like you’re dreaming

지그시 숨을 참아
Hold your breath gently

춤을 추는 사람들의 걸음은 곡선으로
Dancing people’s footsteps draw curves on the ground

흘러가는 걸 붙잡을 수는 없대도
Though we can’t hold on to things that are meant to flow away

We still love and hate this city, yeah

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달려라 방탄 (Run BTS)

Produced by Dem Jointz for U Made Us What We Are LLC, GHOSTLOOP
Written by Dwayne Abernathy Jr., RM, Ebenezer, j-hope, GHSTLOOP, Jung Kook, SUGA, Oneye (Pontus Kalm), Daniel Caesar, Ludwig Lindell, Melanie Joy Fontana, Michel “Lindgren” Schulz, Feli Ferraro

Spotify | Apple Music

Note: The first couple of verses reminded me of the relatively recent interviews on You Quiz on the Block where the seven members shared how each of them became a member of BTS and about the fear and uncertainty they had to endure during their trainee days. Full versions with English subtitles are available here: V and RM; J-Hope, Jimin, and Jungkook; and SUGA and Jin.

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논현 100m 우리 자리
Nonhyeon 100m, our place
Note: BTS’ agency Big Hit Entertainment (now Big Hit Music under HYBE), BTS’ practice room, and their dorm all used to be located in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. 

학교 끝나면 회사 calling
When school ends, the company calls

(예, 예)
(Okay, okay)

아 지금 바로 딱 갈게요
Ah, I’ll be over right now

제발 집엔 보내지 마세요
Please don’t send me home

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(Oh) 가끔 그날의 꿈 꿔
(Oh) Sometimes I’d have a dream about those days

(Oh) 몸서리치다 눈 떠
(Oh) I’d wake up shivering

I don’t wanna go go back again

(Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go)

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10년을 wait, wait
For 10 years, we’ve waited, waited

We from the bottom

I caught you bae, bae

우린 좀 빠름 [bbareum]
We’re kind of fast

We seven mate, mates

잘 봐 we got us
Look closely, we got us

Tell me what you wanna

Tell me what you wanna woah

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(If we live fast, let us die young)

혼을 쏙 빼놓지 (make it move, left and right)
We make them stunned (make it move, left and right)

그게 누구든지 (make it move, left and right)
Whoever they are (make it move, left and right)

두 맨발이 우리 가솔린
The two bare feet are our gasoline

이제 가자, are you ready?
Now let’s go, are you ready?

(Okay, let’s go!)

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Run bulletproof, run, yeah you gotta run

Run bulletproof, run, yeah you gotta run

Run bulletproof, run, yeah you gotta run

Run bulletproof, run

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내가 맞았어
I was right

논현동의 비가 새던 작업실에서
In the Nonhyeon-dong studio leaking on a rainy day,

깡소주를 까며 신세타령이나 하며
I would drink soju without any snacks, complain about life,

다짐했던 그 말 성공하면 다들 뒤졌어
and tell myself, “you’re all done for if I make it”

방탄의 성공 이유?
The reason for Bangtan’s success?

나도 몰라 그딴 게 어딨어
I don’t know either, why in the world would such a thing exist

우리들이 모두 새빠지게 달린 거지
It’s just that we all ran strenuously

뭐라 하든 달린 거지
It’s just that we ran no matter what others said

답은 여기 있어 하하하
The answer is here, hahaha

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위로, got them
Comfort, got them

지조, got them
Principles, got them

Good music, got them

Good team? Goddamn!

U said u hot, oh man, u not

뛰는 놈 위에 나는 놈 위에
Above a running guy is a flying guy, above whom there is

달리는 방탄 lezzzgo
running Bangtan, lezzzgo
Note: “뛰는 놈 위에 나는 놈 있다 (above a running man is a flying man)” is an idiom that means there’s someone who’s better than you no matter how good you are. RM used this idiom in BTS Cypher PT. 2 : Triptych before.

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10년을 wait, wait
For 10 years, we’ve waited, waited

We from the bottom

I caught you bae, bae

우린 좀 빠름 [bbareum]
We’re kind of fast

We seven mate, mates

잘 봐 we got us
Look closely, we got us

Tell me what you wanna

Tell me what you wanna woah

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(If we live fast, let us die young)

혼을 쏙 빼놓지 (make it move, left and right)
We make them stunned (make it move, left and right)

그게 누구든지 (make it move, left and right)
Whoever they are (make it move, left and right)

두 맨발이 우리 가솔린
The two bare feet are our gasoline

이제 가자, are you ready?
Now let’s go, are you ready?

(Let’s go!)

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Run bulletproof, run, yeah you gotta run

Run bulletproof, run, yeah you gotta run

Run bulletproof, run, yeah you gotta run

Run bulletproof, run

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무식한 믿음으로
With blind faith,

걍 달려, 두 다리로
just run, with our two legs

That’s how we do it all

(AY AY)

그렇게 증명했어
That’s how we proved it

일곱 초원이들
Seven Chowonies

백만 불짜리로
with our million-dollar legs
Note: Reference –Marathon (2005 film). The movie is based on a true story of a marathon runner with autism. One of the most famous dialogues in the movie is between Chowon, the protagonist, and his mother, where the mother asks Chowon, “Chowon’s legs are?” to which Chowon answers, “million-dollar legs!”

(AY AY)

지민이, 뷔, 고생s
Jiminie, V, you’ve worked hard

남주니, 홉, 고생s
Namjoonie, Hope, you’ve worked hard

윤기형, 찐, 고생s
Yoongi hyung, Jjin, you’e worked hard

정국이, 모두 so thanks
Jungkookie, everyone, so thanks

Get ready, get ready, get ready, get ready, get ready, 앞으로 더
Get ready, get ready, get ready, get ready, get ready, more so going forward

Go get it, go get it, go get it, go get it, go get it, 달리자 run
Go get it, go get it, go get it, go get it, go get it, let’s run, run

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(If we live fast, let us die young)

혼을 쏙 빼놓지 (make it move, left and right)
We make them stunned (make it move, left and right)

그게 누구든지 (make it move, left and right)
Whoever they are (make it move, left and right)

두 맨발이 우리 가솔린
The two bare feet are our gasoline

이제 가자, are you ready?
Now let’s go, are you ready?

Yeah

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Run beautiful, run, yeah you gotta run
Note: In the 2022 Season’s Greetings, RM wrote “#아미는_아름다울미,” pronounced “amineum areumdaul mi” and meaning “ARMY is beautiful (美).”

Run beautiful, run, yeah you gotta run

Run beautiful, run, yeah you gotta run

Run beautiful, run

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Future

Produced by Brasstracks
Written by Ivan Jackson Rosenberg, j-hope, Mitch Conwell

Spotify | Apple Music

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Always, I need it too

When I said I do

용기와 믿음 [mideum]
Courage and faith

긍정의 리듬 [rideum]
The rhythm of positivity

Always, I need it too

When I said I do

미래를 걷는 [geodneun]
Walking the future,

희망의 걸음 [geoleum]
my steps of hope

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I was

I was, I was, I was, I was

그래 난 그냥 토박이였잖아 (uhm)
Yeah, I was just a [Gwangju] native (uhm)
Note: Airplane (“Gwangju native’s big admiration for aviation”)

I was, I was, I was, I was

춤만 좋아하는 아이였잖아 (uhm)
Yeah, I was just a kid who only loved dancing (uhm)
Note: Path (“My steps head to Seoul; I, who started out just because of the love for dance, now stand on the stage”)

나다워, 나다워, 나다워, 나다워 [nadaweo nadaweo nadaweo nadaweo]
This is who I am, I am, I am, I am

주어진 삶에 대해 감사하는 (uhm)
Being thankful for the life that’s given to me (uhm)
Note: Hope World (“A life of appreciation for what’s given; A life created by anticipation of life”)

나다워, 나다워, 나다워, 나다워
This is who I am, I am, I am, I am

지금 가장 적절하고 나다워, 다워
It now feels most proper and most me 

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늘 스스로 주체가 되어 싸워
I always lead the fight as my own boss

결국 내 마음은 멍투성이잖아
In the end, my heart is covered in bruises

평소에 다른 옷 입듯 try on
Like how I’d put on different clothes, try on

좋아하는 운전처럼
Like how I’d do on a leisurely drive,

한번 순리대로 밟어
I go with the flow, stepping on the accelerator 

내 피가 왜 돌겠어?
Why would it be that my blood circulates?

왜 움직이겠어?
Why would it move?

결국 변화하고
Everything eventually changes, and

영원한 건 없잖아
there’s nothing that lasts forever

You know, we know, I know

강을 거슬러 오르는 연어가 될 수 없단 걸
that I can’t be a salmon to swim against the stream
Note: Salmon hatch in freshwater, migrate to the ocean to spend most of their adult life, and migrate back to the freshwater, swimming against the stream, to spawn. There’s a famous 1998 song, 거꾸로 강을 거슬러 올라가는 저 힘찬 연어들처럼 (literal translation: “like the energetic salmon tracing up the river”) by Kang San-eh (ODG clip with English subtitle).

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Always, I need it too

When I said I do

용기와 믿음
Courage and faith

긍정의 리듬
The rhythm of positivity

Always, I need it too

When I said I do

미래를 걷는
Walking the future,

희망의 걸음 
my steps of hope

.

(Future)

그저 내 스스로 정할 수도, 단정할 수도 없는 것
It’s not something that I alone can just decide or assume about

(Future)

다가올수록 무섭기도, 홀로 버티기도 버거운 것
It’s something that can be scary as it gets closer, something that is beyond my own capacity to hold out against

(Future)

Man, you must go with the flow

그저 흐르는 대로 가보자고
Let’s just go with the flow

(Future)

필요해 보여 나에게도
It looks like I too would need it

용기와 믿음으로 희망에 건
With courage and faith, I bet hope on

(Future)

.

(Future)

.

(Future)

그저 내 스스로 정할 수도, 단정할 수도 없는 것
It’s not something that I alone can just decide or assume about

(Future)

다가올수록 무섭기도, 홀로 버티기도 버거운 것
It’s something that can be scary as it gets closer, something that is beyond my own capacity to hold out against

(Future)

Man, you must go with the flow

흐르는 대로 가보자고
Let’s go with the flow

(Future)

필요해 보여 나에게도
It looks like I too would need it

용기와 믿음으로 희망에 건
With courage and faith, I bet hope on

(Future)

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어땠을까 (Dear my friend; Feat. JW of NELL)

Produced by Agust D, JW of NELL, EL CAPITXN
Written by Agust D, JW of NELL, EL CAPITXN

Spotify | Apple Music

A direct translation of the Korean title is “What would it have been like.”
For this track, Agust D worked with Kim Jongwan of NELL, who made everythingoes with RM.

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아직도 여전히
Still, as ever,

니가 난 그립고 또 그립네
I miss you, and I miss you

아직도 여전히
Still, as ever,

함께한 추억이 날 맴도네
the memories of us together circle around me

어쩌면 그때 널 잡았다면
Maybe, if I had held you back then,

아니 그때 너를 막았다면,
no, if I had stopped you back then,

아직도 여전히
still, as ever,

우리는 아직도 친구일까 어땠을까
would we have remained as friends, what would it have been like

 

Dear my friend 어떻게 지내니 넌
Dear my friend, how are you doing

나는 뭐 잘지내 알다시피 뭐 응
I, well, am doing well, as you probably know, yeah

Dear my friend 나 솔직히 말할게
Dear my friend, I’ll be honest with you

난 니가 존나게 미워 아직도
I still fucking hate you

여전히 기억해 함께였었던 지난 날
I still remember the old days when we were together

대구로 함께 놀러갔었던 우리 시간과
Our times when we went to Daegu together to hang out

수많은 날 둘이면 세상도 무섭지 않아
Countless days, “With the two of us, even the world is nothing to be afraid of”

말하던 우린 지금 전혀 딴 길을 걷지 damn
We, who used to say so, now walk on completely different paths, damn

 

그때 기억나? 아마 신사였나
Do you remember then? It was maybe in Sinsa

둘이서 소주를 기울이며 나눴던 우리 대화
The conversation we had over soju

세상을 씹어 먹을거라던 우리 둘의 포부
The ambition we had that we will eat the world alive

원대한 꿈을 품었었던 우리는 어렸었지 꼴랑 나이 스물이야
We, who had big dreams, were young, we were only twenty

갑작스러웠던 연락두절
Your going out of contact all of a sudden

한참이 지난 뒤
A while later,

모르는 번호로 왔었던 너의 부모님의 그 짧은 전화 한통에
after getting a call from an unknown number, a short call from your parents

곧바로 달려가 봤지
I ran to you immediately 

서울구치소 안양은 너무 멀었지
Seoul Detention Center, Anyang felt so far

 

아직도 여전히
Still, as ever,

니가 난 그립고 또 그립네
I miss you, and I miss you

아직도 여전히
Still, as ever,

함께한 추억이 날 맴도네
the memories of us together circle around me

어쩌면 그때 널 잡았다면
Maybe, if I had held you back then,

아니 그때 너를 막았다면,
no, if I had stopped you back then,

아직도 여전히
still, as ever,

우리는 아직도 친구일까 어땠을까
would we have remained as friends, what would it have been like

 

니가 변한건지 아니면 내가 변한건지 uh
Would it be that you’ve changed, or I’ve changed, uh

흐르는 시간 조차 미워 우리가 변한거지 뭐
I hate even the time that is passing right now, I guess it’s us that have changed

야 니가 밉다 야 니가 싫다
Hey, I hate you, hey, I hate you

야 이 말을 하는 이 순간 조차 난 니가 그립다
Hey, even at this moment as I say this, I miss you

Note: The above four lines are almost directly from Spring Day. Both songs are about missing friend(s) one lost.

매주 갔었던 서울구치소 면회길
The trip to Seoul Detention Center that I went every week

왕복 세시간쯤 됐었던 먼길을 혼자서 나섰지
A long, three-hour-long round trip, I went on by myself

너의 재판날과 너의 출소날
Your trial day, your release day

눈이 펑펑오던 겨울 흰 두부 똑똑히 기억나
I remember vividly the white tofu on a winter day with a lot of snow falling
Note: In Korea, when someone gets out of jail, friends and/or family would hand them a fresh block of tofu to eat. The reasons are: (1) Tofu is white and therefore symbolizes rehabilitation. (2) Prisoners are fed rice with beans in jail. Tofu, which is a new form of food made of beans, therefore symbolizes rehabilitation. (3) Tofu is nutritious and could help prisoners who might be suffering from malnutrition.

그리고 간만에 본 넌 전혀 딴 사람이 돼버렸고
And, when I saw first time in a while, you had become a completely different person

눈이 풀린 채 넌 말했지 *을 해볼 생각이 없냐구
With drowsy eyes, you asked if I wanted to try *
Note: Given the context, * would be some sort of drugs.

난 화가났고 또 욕을 했네
I got infuriated and cursed at you

유일한 친구였던 너를 되돌릴 방법은 없고 너는 괴물이 돼버렸네
There was no way to bring you, who was my only friend, back, and you became a monster

내가 알던 넌 없고 널 알던 난 없어
There’s no you that I used to know, there’s no me who used to know you

우리가 변한건 비단 시간 때문이 아닌걸 난 알아
I know that it’s not just because of the time that we’ve changed

니가 알았던 난 없고 내가 알았던 넌 없어
There’s no me that you used to know, there’s no you who I used to know

우리가 변한건 비단 시간 때문이 아닌 걸 덧없어
It’s not because of the time that we’ve changed, it’s all so transient

 

아직도 여전히
Still, as ever,

니가 난 그립고 또 그립네
I miss you, and I miss you

아직도 여전히
Still, as ever,

함께한 추억이 날 맴도네
the memories of us together circle around me

어쩌면 그때 널 잡았다면
Maybe, if I had held you back then,

아니 그때 너를 막았다면,
no, if I had stopped you back then,

아직도 여전히
still, as ever,

우리는 아직도 친구일까 어땠을까
would we have remained as friends, what would it have been like

 

아직도 여전히
Still, as ever,

니가 난 그립고 또 그립네
I miss you, and I miss you

아직도 여전히
Still, as ever,

함께한 추억이 날 맴도네
the memories of us together circle around me

어쩌면 그때 널 잡았다면
Maybe, if I had held you back then,

아니 그때 너를 막았다면,
no, if I had stopped you back then,

아직도 여전히
still, as ever,

우리는 아직도 친구일까 어땠을까
would we have remained as friends, what would it have been like

 

어땠을까
What would it have been like

 

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Burn It (feat. MAX)

 

Produced by Agust D, GHSTLOOP
Written by Agust D, GHSTLOOP, MAX

Spotify |Apple Music

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I see the ashes falling out your window

There’s someone in the mirror that you don’t know

And everything was all wrong

So burn it till it’s all gone

 

Yeah yeah yeah burn it

내 안의 소리
The sound within me

Yeah yeah yeah burn it

I want it want it want it woah

 

Yeah yeah yeah burn it

내 안의 소리
The sound within me

Yeah yeah yeah burn it

I want it want it want it woah

 

돌아가 보자고 지난날 [jinan nal]
Let’s go back to the past days,

나를 파괴하던 시간과 [sigangwa]
to the times that destroyed me,

시기 증오 혹은 열등감 [yeoldeunggam] 한들에게 사로잡힌 삶 [sarm]
to the life that was possessed by jealousy, loathing, inferiority, hans
Note: 한 (Han) is a uniquely Korean concept of emotion that is a mix of sorrow, nostalgia, anger, pain, and hope. It is a recurring concept, implicitly and explicitly, throughout BTS’ discography, most notably in Agust D – The Last and RM – seoul.

성공을 맛본 후 지난 난 [jinan nan] 그때 와는 뭐가 다른가 [dareunga]
After having a taste of success, how am I different from the me of back then

글쎄 크게 다르진 않아 [dareujin ana]
Well, there’s no big difference

태워버리자고 지난 나 [jinan na]
Let burn the past me

 

가장 깊은 곳 밑바닥까지 남김없이 또 타겠지
It’d probably completely burn to the bottom of the deepest places again

불을 붙여 더 불을 붙여 뭐 끝엔 뭐가 또 남을지
Fire it up, fire it up harder, I wonder what would remain in the end

I don’t know I don’t know 다 태우고 나면 뭐
I don’t know I don’t know, after burning it all off,

재만 남을지도 모르지 아님 그대로일지
maybe only the ashes would remain, or maybe it would remain the same

 

I see the ashes falling out your window

There’s someone in the mirror that you don’t know

And everything was all wrong

So burn it till it’s all gone

 

Yeah yeah yeah burn it

내 안의 소리
The sound within me

Yeah yeah yeah burn it

I want it want it want it woah

 

Yeah yeah yeah burn it

내 안의 소리
The sound within me

Yeah yeah yeah burn it

I want it want it want it woah

 

Burn it burn it yeah burn it burn it

가장 깊은 곳의 너를 마주하지
I face you in the deepest place

치부 혹은 증오 혐오 분노까지
The weakness, hatred, loathing, and even rage —

그것 또한 얼마나 되려 허망한지
Them, too, are rather futile

어쩌면 그것들은 맞아 신기루 [singiru]
Perhaps, they are, yeah, just a mirage

어쩌면 그래 그것들을 빌미로 [bilmiro]
Perhaps, yeah, those are used as a hostage

열정을 강요받는 것은 아닌지
to pressure you to be passionate

초심[chosim]이란 단어를 조심[josim]하길 바래 don’t be afraid
Be careful of the word ‘beginner’s mindset,’ don’t be afraid

 

불을 붙여봐 불을 붙여봐
Fire it up, fire it up

뭐가 됐든 그래 말야 새꺄 불을 붙여봐
Whatever it is, yeah, bastard, light the fire

과거의 너 현재의 너
You of the past, you of the present

뭐든 좋으니까 새꺄 그래 불을 붙여봐
Whoever it is, bastard, light the fire

타오르는 태양이 될는지
Whether it would become a blazing sun

아니면은 타고남은 재가 될는지
or the ashes left behind after being burnt —

언제나 선택과 결정은 너의 몫
always, the choice and decision is yours to make

과감한 포기 또한 용기임을 잊지 말기를
I hope you don’t forget that giving up decisively also counts as courage
Note: In SUGA’s KKUL FM 06.13 on April 25, 2020, to a listener who gave up on their dream, SUGA said, “I don’t know what circumstances you were in, but I think you must have had tremendous courage. Giving something up decisively takes lots of courage. And, you’ve worked hard.” 

 

I see the ashes falling out your window

There’s someone in the mirror that you don’t know

And everything was all wrong

So burn it till it’s all gone

 

Yeah yeah yeah burn it

내 안의 소리
The sound within me

Yeah yeah yeah burn it

I want it want it want it woah

 

Yeah yeah yeah burn it

내 안의 소리
The sound within me

Yeah yeah yeah burn it

I want it want it want it woah

 

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친구 (Friends)

 

Produced by Pdogg, Jimin
Written by Pdogg, Supreme Boi, Jimin, ADORA, Martin Sjølie, Stella Jang

Spotify | Apple Music

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유난히도 반짝였던 서울
Seoul that was particularly sparkling

처음 보는 또 다른 세상
Another world that I faced for the first time

땀에 잔뜩 밴 채 만난 넌
You who I met drenched in sweat

뭔가 이상했었던 아이
were a somewhat strange kid

 

난 달에서, 넌 별에서
I’m from the moon, you’re from the star

우리 대화는 숙제 같았지
Our conversations were like homework

하루는 베프, 하루는 웬수
One day we are the best friends, the other day we are enemies

I just wanna understand

 

Hello my alien

우린 서로의 mystery
We’re each other’s mystery

그래서 더 특별한 걸까
Would it be why it’s more special

 

언젠가 이 함성 멎을 때 stay hey
Someday, when these cheers die down, stay hey

내 옆에 함께 있어줘
Stay with me by my side 

영원히 계속 이곳에 stay hey
Forever, keep staying here, hey

네 작은 새끼손가락처럼
Like your tiny pinky

 

일곱 번의 여름과 추운 겨울보다
Seven summers and cold winters,

오래
and more to come

수많은 약속과 추억들보다
Many promises and memories,

오래
and more to come

(Literal translation would be, “Than seven summers and cold winters // longer // Than many promises and memories // longer,” which is not pretty because sentence structures are different in Korean and in English. I’m being a little liberal by putting “and more to come.”)

 

우리 교복 차림이 기억나
I remember ourselves in school uniforms

우리 추억 한 편 한 편 영화
Each episode of our memories would be a movie

만두 사건은 코미디 영화 yeah yeah
The dumpling accident is a comedy movie, yeah yeah
V revealed on Weverse that it was an argument between “let’s do the choreography practice and eat” and “let’s eat as we practice.”

 

하교 버스를 채운 속 얘기들
The stories that filled the school bus on the way home

이젠 함께 drive를 나가
Now we go out for a drive together

한결같애, 그때의 우리들
Unchanging, the us of back them

“Hey 지민, 오늘”
“Hey Jimin, today”
It’s more like, “Hey Jimin, do you want to have a drink tonight?” (V makes a bottle-opening sound after 오늘 [oh-neul; today].)

 

내 방의 드림캐쳐
The dreamcatcher in my room
While filming the 2017 summer package, V had a nightmare and Jimin bought him a dreamcatcher necklace the next day with a small amount of prize money he earned from playing a game with the members.

7년간의 history
The history of 7 years

그래서 더 특별한 걸까
Would it be why it’s more special

 

언젠가 이 함성 멎을 때 stay hey
Someday, when these cheers die down, stay hey

내 옆에 함께 있어줘
Stay with me by my side 

영원히 계속 이곳에 stay hey
Forever, keep staying here, hey

네 작은 새끼손가락처럼
Like your tiny pinky

 

일곱 번의 여름과 추운 겨울보다
Seven summers and cold winters,

오래
and more to come

수많은 약속과 추억들보다
Many promises and memories,

오래
and more to come

 

네 새끼손가락처럼
Like your pinky,

우린 여전해
we’re still the same

네 모든 걸 알아
I know your everything

서로 믿어야만 돼
We must trust each other

잊지 마
Don’t forget

고맙단 그 뻔한 말 보단
Instead of an obvious thank-you,

너와 나
you and I —

내일은 정말 싸우지 않기로 해
let’s promise that we won’t fight tomorrow, for real

 

언젠가 이 함성 멎을 때 stay hey
Someday, when these cheers die down, stay hey

You are my soulmate

영원히 계속 이곳에 stay hey
Forever, keep staying here, hey

You are my soulmate

 

일곱 번의 여름과 추운 겨울보다
Seven summers and cold winters,

오래
and more to come

수많은 약속과 추억들보다
Many promises and memories,

오래
and more to come

 

언젠가 이 함성 멎을 때 stay hey
Someday, when these cheers die down, stay hey

You are my soulmate

영원히 계속 이곳에 stay hey
Forever, keep staying here, hey

You are my soulmate

 

일곱 번의 여름과 추운 겨울보다
Seven summers and cold winters,

오래
and more to come

수많은 약속과 추억들보다
Many promises and memories,

오래
and more to come

 

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ON

 

Produced by Pdogg
Written by Pdogg, RM, August Rigo, Melanie Joy Fontana, Michel “Lindgren” Schulz, SUGA, j-hope, Antonina Armato, Krysta Youngs, Julia Ross

Spotify | Apple Music | Kinetic Manifesto Film | Official MV

 

Performance at Grand Central Station

ON (Feat. Sia): Sia’s YouTube channel | Spotify | Apple Music

Spotify storyline: For the band, the past seven years had been tumultuous, running on their feet and losing balance partway. Regardless, BTS has learned balance and now stands ground wherever they may be, singing of their dedication to carry on their fated path.

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I can’t understand what people are sayin’

어느 장단에 맞춰야 될지
Which tune should I dance to

한 발자국 떼면 한 발자국 커지는 shadow
The shadow that grows by a step when I walk a step

잠에서 눈을 뜬 여긴 또 어디
Waking up, where is this place that I open my eyes to

어쩜 서울 또 New York or Paris
Maybe Seoul, or New York, or Paris

일어나니 휘청이는 몸
Standing up, my body is reeling

 

Look at my feet, look down

날 닮은 그림자
The shadow that resembles me

흔들리는 건 이놈인가
Is it this guy that is shaking

아니면 내 작은 발끝인가
or is it the tips of my small feet

두렵잖을 리 없잖아
There’s no way that I’m not afraid

다 괜찮을 리 없잖아
There’s no way that everything is okay

그래도 I know
But, I know

서툴게 I flow
Awkwardly, I flow

저 까만 바람과 함께 날아
With that black wind, I fly

 

Hey na na na

미치지 않으려면 미쳐야 해
To remain sane, one must go insane

Hey na na na

나를 다 던져 이 두 쪽 세상에
I throw all of myself into this two-sided world

Hey na na na

Can’t hold me down cuz you know I’m a fighter

제 발로 들어온 아름다운 감옥
The beautiful prison I walked into on my own 

Find me and I’m gonna live with ya

 

(Eh-oh)

가져와 bring the pain oh yeah
Bring it, bring the pain oh yeah

(Eh-oh)

올라타봐 bring the pain oh yeah
Ride on, bring the pain oh yeah

Rain be pourin’

Sky keep fallin’

Everyday oh na na na

(Eh-oh)

가져와 bring the pain oh yeah
Bring it, bring the pain oh yeah

 

Bring the pain

모두 내 피와 살이 되겠지
It will all become my blood and flesh

Bring the pain

No fear, 방법을 알겠으니
No fear, since I know the way

작은 것에 breathe
To the small things, breathe
Boy With Luv‘s original Korean title is 작은 것들을 위한 시, “A poem for small things.” The song describes BTS’ love and appreciation for the fans.

그건 어둠 속 내 산소와 빛
In the darkness, they are my oxygen and light,

내가 나이게 하는 것들의 힘
the power of those that make me be me

넘어져도 다시 일어나 scream
Even if I fall, I get back up, scream 

 

넘어져도 다시 일어나 scream
Even if I fall, I get back up, scream 

언제나 우린 그랬으니
Because that’s what we always did

설령 내 무릎이 땅에 닿을지언정
Even if my knees drop to the ground,

파묻히지 않는 이상
unless they are buried under it,

그저 그런 해프닝쯤 될 거란 걸
it will be just an ordinary happening

Win no matter what

Win no matter what

Win no matter what

네가 뭐라던 누가 뭐라던
Whatever you say, whatever whoever says

I don’t give a uhh

I don’t give a uhh

I don’t give a uhh

 

Hey na na na

미치지 않으려면 미쳐야 해
To remain sane, one must go insane

Hey na na na

나를 다 던져 이 두 쪽 세상에
I throw all of myself into this two-sided world

Hey na na na

Can’t hold me down cuz you know I’m a fighter

제 발로 들어온 아름다운 감옥
The beautiful prison I walked into on my own 

Find me and I’m gonna live with ya

 

(Eh-oh)

가져와 bring the pain oh yeah
Bring it, bring the pain oh yeah

(Eh-oh)

올라타봐 bring the pain oh yeah
Ride on, bring the pain oh yeah

Rain be pourin’

Sky keep fallin’

Everyday oh na na na

(Eh-oh)

가져와 bring the pain oh yeah
Bring it, bring the pain oh yeah

 

나의 고통이 있는 곳에
Where my pain lies,

내가 숨 쉬게 하소서
let me breathe
Note: ~하소서 (please do ~) is a very formally polite style that was traditionally used when addressing a king or a queen and is now used only in historical dramas and religious text. When it comes to 숨 쉬다 (to breathe), the official translations in music video subtitles have these two lines as “Where my pain lies, let me take a breath.” But, 숨 쉬게 하소서 (please let me breathe) is not about pausing or a one-time activity of breathing in and out. It is closer to a statement — a declaration that he is determined to exist where his pain lies, accepting the pain instead of being afraid of and running away from it.

My everythin’

My blood and tears

Got no fears

I’m singin’ ohhhhh

Oh I’m takin’ over

You should know yeah

Can’t hold me down cuz you know I’m a fighter

깜깜한 심연 속 기꺼이 잠겨
I gladly sink into the pitch-black abyss

Find me and I’m gonna bleed with ya

 

(Eh-oh)

가져와 bring the pain oh yeah
Bring it, bring the pain oh yeah

(Eh-oh)

올라타봐 bring the pain oh yeah
Ride on, bring the pain oh yeah

Rain be pourin’

Sky keep fallin’

Everyday oh na na na

(Eh-oh)

Find me and I’m gonna bleed with ya

 

(Eh-oh)

가져와 bring the pain oh yeah
Bring it, bring the pain oh yeah

(Eh-oh)

올라타봐 bring the pain oh yeah
Ride on, bring the pain oh yeah

All that I know

is just goin’ on & on & on & on

(Eh-oh)

가져와 bring the pain oh yeah
Bring it, bring the pain oh yeah

 

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길 (Road/Path)

Written by Rap Monster, j-hope, SUGA, “hitman”bang, Pdogg

Path is a hidden track. It’s only available in the physical copy of 2 Cool 4 Skool.

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Yeah, wassup

You know time flows like stars

시작은 에미넴 가리온 에픽하이
In the beginning, it was Eminem, Garion, and Epik High

따라 하는 걸 넘어 내 랩을 적고 새기다
Going beyond imitating them, I wrote and carved my own rap

보니까 벌써 어느새 내가 홍대
and somehow found myself at Hongdae already
Note: Hongdae is an abbreviation of Hongik Daehakgyo (University) and also refers to the area nearby. Hongdae is a vibrant area known for its indie music scene, clubs, arts, and so on. RM used to be an underground rapper releasing and performing tracks under his then-name “Runch Randa.”

그때 내 가산 온통 다 (****) 꼰대
Back then, my lyrics were all (****) stubborn old fogey
Note: 꼰대 (pronounced kkondae) is a derogatory slang describing someone (often someone older) who is stubborn about keeping old standards and judges other people who are not following their own standards. 

But we dunno, we dunno, we dunno the future

쉼 없이 꿈꾸던 중 날 묶어버린 현실의 덫 오 그 청춘의 덫
The trap of reality that tied me up who had been dreaming non-stop, oh, that trap of youth

뜨거운 가슴은 차가운 머리에 져버렸어 (Damn)
My fiery heart lost to my cold head (Damn)

그렇게 내 선택이 옳다며 맹신하던 그 와중에
To me who had a blind faith that my choice was right,

천사인지 악마인지 모를 그것이 말을 해
the thing that I can’t tell whether it’s an angel or a devil speaks to me,

랩 제대로 해볼 생각 없냐고
asking me if I want to do rap seriously,

Yes or No 망설일 시간은 없다고
Yes or No, telling me that there’s no time to hesitate

더 바보는 되기 싫었던 난 이곳에 왔고
I, who didn’t want to be any bigger of a fool, came to this place

3년이 지나갔어
And three years have passed by

Some say art is long, life is short

But now for me, art is life, life is sports

Just do it, uh
Wordplay: “Some say life is short, but for me life is sports, I ‘just do it’ like the sports brand Nike’s trademark.”

난 달라졌을까
Would I have been different

다른 길을 택했다면
if I had chosen a different path

멈춰서 뒤돌아봤다면
if I had paused and looked back

Oh hey ya, hey ya

난 뭘 보게 될까
What will I get to see

이 길의 끝에서
at the end of this path

니가 서있을 그 곳에서
where you will be standing

Oh hey ya, hey ya

수많은 시간이 흐르고 2013년
Countless times have passed, and it’s 2013

연습생으로 있었지 3년을
I have been a trainee for three years

내 모습은 고등학생에서
My appearance, from a high school student,

어느새 커버린 어린이가 됐어
became a grown-up child, without my knowing
Reference: Adult child

욕심의 새치가 많아지고
There are more premature gray hairs of greed,

그 많던 친구들은 하나둘씩 갈라지고
and those many friends of mine split off one by one

가족없이 난 외롭게도
Without family, lonelily,

서울에서 맞는 세 번째 봄
I greet the third spring in Seoul

데뷔가 코앞이면 걱정이 없어질 줄 알았어
I thought all the worries would be gone when the debut gets in front of my nose

달라질게 없는 현재에 난 눈을 감았어
To the present with no room for change, I closed my eyes

현실은 달랐고 주위에서 날 말려도
The reality was different, and even though people around me tried to stop me,

빛도 안 보이는 터널들을 나 홀로 걸었어
I walked through the tunnels without any lights, alone

혼자인 줄 알았는데 알고 보니 일곱
I thought I was alone, but then learned that it was seven

맨발이 아닌 방탄이란 신을 신고
Rather than being barefoot, I wear the shoes that are called “Bangtan”

앞으로 나가야지 한발더 새롭게 더
and go forward another step, afresh, more

서울에서 맞을 네 번째 봄 woah
The fourth spring that I will greet in Seoul, woah

난 달라졌을까
Would I have been different

다른 길을 택했다면
if I had chosen a different path

멈춰서 뒤돌아봤다면
if I had paused and looked back

Oh hey ya, hey ya

난 뭘 보게 될까
What will I get to see

이 길의 끝에서
at the end of this path

니가 서있을 그 곳에서
where you will be standing

Oh hey ya, hey ya

2010년의 해
The year of 2010

내 걸음은 서울로 향하네
My steps head to Seoul

그저 춤이 좋아 시작했던
I, who started out just because of the love for dance,

내가 이젠 무대 위에 서네
now stand on the stage

그 사이에 많은 고통과 상처들을 이겨내고 날 갖춰
Overcoming many pains and scars that occurred in between, I prepared myself

부러질 바엔 휘고 말자는 나의 관념을 살려가며 3년을 달려
Making use of my life principle to bend rather than to break, I ran for three years

내 가슴 안에 있는 별들을 밝혀
and ignited the stars in my heart

이젠 날 새롭게 비춰봐
Now I try shining a new light on me

세상이란 백지에 방탄도 새겨봐
and carving “Bangtan” into a blank page that is called the world

더 불 켜진 내 미랠 걸어가
I walk towards my future with more lights turned on

웃음을 지어 먼 훗날 하하
I put on a smile, in the far future, haha

난 달라졌을까
Would I have been different

다른 길을 택했다면
if I had chosen a different path

멈춰서 뒤돌아봤다면
if I had paused and looked back

Oh hey ya, hey ya

난 뭘 보게 될까
What will I get to see

이 길의 끝에서
at the end of this path

니가 서있을 그 곳에서
where you will be standing

Oh hey ya, hey ya

난 달라졌을까
Would I have been different

다른 길을 택했다면
if I had chosen a different path

멈춰서 뒤돌아봤다면
if I had paused and looked back

Oh hey ya, hey ya

난 뭘 보게 될까
What will I get to see

이 길의 끝에서
at the end of this path

니가 서있을 그 곳에서
where you will be standing

Oh hey ya, hey ya

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So 4 More

 

SoundCloud

Original Track: Pro Era – Like Water
Lyric by Rap Monster, SUGA & j-hope
Beat Remake by Slow Rabbit
Melody by Slow Rabbit & Supreme boi
Mixed, Mastered by Yang Ga @ BIG HIT STUDIO

This track was released on June 13, 2014. celebrating BTS’ debut anniversary.

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일 년이 가고
Even when a year passes

일 년이 와도
and even when another year comes,

너와 난 같은 이 선율 위를 또 걷겠지
you and I will be walking on the same melody again

이 밤이 와도
Even when the night comes

이 밤이 가도
and even when it passes,

더 나은 삶을 위한 연주는 계속되겠지
our performance for a better life will continue

 

I don’t wanna fuckin’ lie 그딴 짓 안 해
I don’t wanna fuckin’ lie, I don’t do such thing

꿈은 서울 타워 위에, 마음은 반지하에
My dream is above Seoul Tower, my mind is under the ground floor

삶의 인질이 되었으니 야망을 선택했지
Having become a hostage to life, I chose to be ambitious

방황은 내 취미 막막해 매일이
To get lost and wander is my hobby, every day I feel clueless and overwhelmed

집세처럼 매달 내야 할 외로움이 밀렸어
Like monthly rents, my loneliness is overdue
Here, 밀리다 can describe something that is (1) overdue or (2) piled up. “Like how monthly rents get behind schedule, my loneliness has been piled up.” 

외로움의 반대말을 안다면 좀 빌려줘
If you know the antonym of loneliness, lend me some
In “Life“, a year after the release of this song, RM still wonders why there is no antonym for loneliness.

내가 소속된 곳은 많아
There are many places where I belong

근데 왜 어디서도 진짜 날 찾을 순 없는 걸까나
But why is it that I can’t find the real me anywhere

Who knows? You know? you don’t. I know I don’t

일 년짼데도 적응이 안돼 봐도 봐도
It’s been already a year, but I can’t get used to it no matter how many time I try

매일 밤 거울 앞에서 입가를 만지며 확인하지
Every night, standing in front of a mirror and touching the side of my lips, I ask myself,  

‘니가 그간 알던 김남준이 맞긴 하니?’
“Are you really the Kim Namjoon that you’ve known?”
In “Intro: Persona,” 5 years after the release of this song, RM is still in search of himself.

그냥 좀 내려놔야겠어
I should probably just lay it all down —

고민과 성찰, 번뇌, 두려움, 리더로서의 책임감까지도
all my agony, introspection, fear, and even the responsibility as a leader

다 알고 있으면서 놓지 못하는 것들
Things that I know so well but can never put down,

삶의 어쩔 수 없는 벗들. you know what?
the unavoidable friends of my life, you know what?

꼭 빨라야만 랩이 아니듯이 인생 역시도 그래
Rap doesn’t have to be fast to be rap, and the same goes with life

우리 모두 때론 물에 기름을 붓지
We all pour oil into water sometimes

목표, 성공, 꿈이란 산들이 왜 더 가까워지지 않을까
Wondering why the mountains that are my goals, success, and dreams, won’t get close to me,

땀나게 뛰어봐도 물은 불이 되지가 않아서 조급했지
I was feeling impatient because the water won’t turn into fire even though I tried so hard 

물과 기름, 절대 섞이지 않아
Water and oil, they will never mix

과학책에서 봤듯이
like you’ve seen in the science textbook

변치 않을 것 같다가 이제야 시작해
It looked like it would never change, but now things have started

끓어오른 나를 봐봐
Look at me who came to boil

곧 불이 되겠지
Soon I’ll become a fire

그리곤 타올라
and burn with flames

 

일 년이 가고
Even when a year passes

일 년이 와도
and even when another year comes,

너와 난 같은 이 선율 위를 또 걷겠지
you and I will be walking on the same melody again

이 밤이 와도
Even when the night comes

이 밤이 가도
and even when it passes,

더 나은 삶을 위한 연주는 계속되겠지
our performance for a better life will continue

 

안정의 공간 하나 없었던 일 년은 살얼음판
A year without any space of comfort, I was walking on thin ice

어디로 가는지 난 몰라
I don’t know where I’m going

감정의 공방
The conflict of my emotions

깊은 한숨은 어제가 되었지만
Though my deep sigh now belongs to yesterday

여전히 밤이 돼도 못 자
I still can’t sleep even at night

예견된 혼란
A confusion that was expected

여전히 잠 못드는 밤
Sleepless nights continue

시기와 질투 경쟁이란 감옥은
A prison that is envy, jealousy, and competition

날 수시로 옥죄고 숨통을 막아
oppresses and suffocates me frequently

내 미래는 수묵화 [sumukhwa]
My future is like an ink-wash painting
(= My future is blurry)

머릿속에 수북한 [subukhan] 성공이란 단어 두 글자
The two-letter word, success, that fills my mind

내가 해야할 일과 또 내가 하고 싶은 일
Things I have to do and things and I want to do

그 사이 선 걸리버
I’m Gulliver, standing in between the two

Fuck it, I don’t give a shit

지금 난 꿈을 이룬 건지 [kkoomeul irun geonji] 아님 꿈을 잃은 건지 [kkoomeul ireun geonji]
Have I achieved my dream or lost my dream?

아직 잘 모르겠어 내가 성공의 꿈을 미룬 건지
I still don’t know, have I put off my dream of success?

바보처럼 짓는 웃음 뒤엔 정확히 반쯤 [banjjeum] 울고 있어
Behind the smile I put up like a fool, exactly a half of me is crying 

이건 정체성에 대한 나의 방증 [bangjeung]
This is the evidence of (my confusion about) my identity

현실과 이상은 차츰 무뎌져 터지는 가슴 [gaseum]
Reality and ideal, I get numb gradually and frustrated

음악적 갈증과 갈등 사이에 커지는 한숨 [hansoom]
My sigh grows bigger from the thirst for and the conflicts about music

 

일 년이 가고
Even when a year passes

일 년이 와도
and even when another year comes,

너와 난 같은 이 선율 위를 또 걷겠지
you and I will be walking on the same melody again

이 밤이 와도
Even when the night comes

이 밤이 가도
and even when it passes,

더 나은 삶을 위한 연주는 계속되겠지
our performance for a better life will continue

 

느껴지는 time over, 삶에 젖어 몰랐지
The “time over” that I can feel — occupied with life, I didn’t realize

내 일년의 걸음
The steps I took for one year

해 뜰 땐 i’m ill, 밤엔 또 가살 적어
I’m ill when the sun goes up, and, at night, I write lyrics again

매일 살아 난 live같은 life, 립싱크는 없어
I live every day, my life is like a live performance, there is no lip-sync

이 노력과 함께 시작의 문을 열어
With this effort, I open the door of my beginning

흘리는 피땀만큼 설 무대는 점점 커져
The more I sweat, the bigger my stage gets

함성과 박수갈채, 내겐 선물같은 성원
Cheers and applause, the support feels like a gift to me 

관심이 번질 즈음 내 눈물은 이미 번져
As more attention is drawn, my eyes already get teary

따라오는 부담과 큰 걱정
Pressure and big worries accompany 

내가 받은 사랑만큼 내 어깬 무거워졌어
I feel burdened by the amount of love I received

So 매일 떨려
So, I’m nervous every day

감은 좋은데, 떫어
I have a good sense, but it’s not mature yet
감 can be (1) a feeling/sense (感) or (2) a persimmon. “The feeling is good, but it is bitter (unripe).” SUGA once made a pun with 감 as well.

이런 날 다림질해봐 구겨진 맘을 펴 날 rewind
I try ironing myself, smoothing out my wrinkled mind, rewinding myself

어떤 비바람이 와도 방탄이 날 위안 [wian]
No matter how stormy it gets, Bangtan comforts me

이 걸음걸이는 성공의 길 wanna be now
My steps will take me to success, wanna be now

그래 난 시리우스, 어떤 별보다도 빛나
Yeah, I’m Sirius, shining brighter than all other stars

이 순간 여전히 난 ‘born signer’ 마이클 쥔다
At this moment, I’m still a ‘born singer,’ I hold my mic

 

일 년이 가고
Even when a year passes

일 년이 와도
and even when another year comes,

너와 난 같은 이 선율 위를 또 걷겠지
you and I will be walking on the same melody again

이 밤이 와도
Even when the night comes

이 밤이 가도
and even when it passes,

더 나은 삶을 위한 연주는 계속되겠지
our performance for a better life will continue

 

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Please share the link instead of reposting to ensure the integrity as I might make minor edits over time. For inquiries and feedback, please use this form.