Verse 1) There are times when I want to quit music Maybe, my existence might not be that useful I don’t know which words
때론 음악을 관두고 싶을 때가 있지 어쩌면 나의 존재가 그다지 쓸모없을지도 더이상 무슨 말을 이어
to use next One night I fell asleep on my desk When I opened my eyes I was still alone there Maybe nobody appreciates the stories of my life
나가야 할 지 몰라 책상 위에 엎드려서 잠이 들었던 밤 눈 뜨면 여전히 여긴 나 혼자 어쩌면 아무도 알아주지않을 내 투쟁담
I’ll soon be thirty, I’ve got a lot on my mind unlike in my early twenties when I responded to everything with vigor I dreamed about a creditor I couldn’t pay back I lie on the sofa and peek at other people’s
서른이 코 앞에 패기로만 답했던 이십대 초반과는 달리 생각이 많기에 꾼 꿈을 갚지 못한 빚쟁이야 소파에 누워 남의 인생이나
lives. It’s been a while, so I check my inbox There, an unexpected long message changed me. At that time when I just wanted to give up on it all
훔쳐보다 오랜만에 봤던 메세지함 예상치 못한 장문의 메세지가 날 바꿔놓았어 그 때 전부 다 내려놓고만 싶었던 그 때
Hook) At that time, I saw your message At that time, I saw your message At the edge of the world In a deep swamp of loneliness
그 때 봤어 너의 메세지 그 때 봤어 너의 메세지 세상의 벼랑 끝에서 깊은 고독의 늪에서
At that time, I saw your message At that time, I saw your message You grabbed my hand and pulled me up
그 때 봤어 너의 메세지 그 때 봤어 너의 메세지 손을 잡아당겨 올려주었네
Chorus: Sujin Park) I pray that I shall overcome this gravity today because I am falling Was all of this an empty dream? Or will someone become my wings?
오늘은 부디 이 중력을 이겨내길 난 추락하는 중인 걸 이 모든 게 전부 헛된 꿈이였나 아님 누군가 내 날개가 되어줄까
Verse 2) Hyung, I hope you read this message Listening to your songs give me a lot of comfort When I hear the stories of how you realized your dreams I too cannot stop fantasizing about mine
이 메세지를 형이 읽어줬으면 해요 저는 많은 위롤 받죠 형의 노랠 들을 때 꿈을 이룬 이야기들에 흠뻑 빠지면 저도 꿈에 대한 환상을 못 멈추게 돼요
However, the threshold of reality is way too high “It’s better to live your life doing what you want” I want to live my life like that song says but my family doesn’t have it easy and my mom is in bad health
근데 현실의 문턱이 버거울만큼 높죠 하고픈 걸 하며 사는 게 낫다는 노래 속 가사처럼 저도 살아가고 싶은데 집안 사정은 어렵고 엄마는 몸도 안 좋죠
Hyung, have you had hard times because of poverty in the process of realizing your dreams? I am full of passion – I light it on fire if I lack the lighter that is money
형도 형의 꿈을 이뤄낸 과정에서 가난 때문에 힘들었던 적이 있나요 열정은 가득한데 거기에 불을 붙여 줄 돈이라는 라이터가 부족하다면
I don’t know which choice is the right one Anyway, I don’t know if you’ll read this message, but I think I’ve wandered too far from the subject Just sending you this message makes me feel better already
어떤 선택이 맞는건지 모르겠어요 어쨌든 이 메세지를 읽어주실 진 모르겠지만 말이 너무 다른 쪽으로 샜네요 메세질 보내는 것만으로도 힘이 돼요
Hook)
Chorus: Sujin Park)
Outro) At a place I don’t know At a place I cannot physically reach Someone is looking for me Someone is listening to my stories
내가 모르는 곳에 피부로 와닿지 않는 곳에 누군간 나를 찾고 있네 내 이야기를 듣고 있네
I am sorry for the late reply A message only I could see I am sorry for realizing it late There still are things I have to do
늦게 답장해서 미안해 나만 볼 수 있던 메세지 늦게 깨달아서 미안해 할 일들이 아직 남았네
Verse 1) Phew, that was really close Crosswalks without traffic lights are dangerous I nearly got hit by a truck as I was walking wearing earphones, looking at the ground
휴 정말 큰일날 뻔 했어 신호등 없는 횡단보도는 위험해 하마터면 트럭에 치일 뻔 했잖아 이어폰 껴고 땅만 보며 걷다가
But I think I wrote really good lyrics yesterday Agencies have constantly rejected me but this time seems different somehow I’ll put an end to our family’s tiresome poverty in one go, so just watch me, mom
근데 어젠 정말 괜찮은 가살 쓴 것 같아 맨날 기획사한테 까였지만 이번은 뭔가 달라 지긋지긋한 집의 가난 내가 한 방에 끝낼테니 지켜봐 엄마
Dad who has left us will hear my song on TV And my ex-girlfriend will hear my lyrics as she walks through the street So at that time, everything will return to its place
집을 나간 아빠도 TV에서 내 노래를 듣고 날 떠난 여자친구도 거리에서 흘러 나오는 가사를 듣게 될테니 그때가 되면 제자리에 돌아가겠지
The damp basement room, the overdue rent, the stack of instant noodles, and the smell of mold Once my lyrics are perfected into a song I will say goodbye to it all with a smile
모든 게 습한 지하방 밀린 월세도 쌓여버린 컵라면과 곰팡이 냄새도 내 가사가 노래로 완성될 때 웃으며 작별 인사를 건넬게
Chorus A) I’m a ghost writer Even though nobody knows my name Even though nobody sees my face I am inside the letters I wrote
아무도 내 이름 세 글자는 몰라도 아무도 내 얼굴을 볼 수가 없어도 내가 적은 글자들 속에 내가 있어
I am in there I’m a ghost writer
그 속에 내가 있어
Verse 2) As soon as I get to my workroom I open my inbox I’ve received a reply! Is this a dream or reality? They say they like the lyrics I wrote and want me to contact them, I can’t breathe right now
작업실에 오자마자 연 메일함 답장이 와있다니 꿈이야 생시야 내가 적은 가사가 마음에 든다며 연락을 달라니 지금 숨막혀
There are nothing but famous singers at that agency No matter who will sing my lyrics, it’s going to be a huge success The song is about longing for a beloved person I am proud of myself for having written these lyrics
이 기획사엔 유명한 가수 밖에 없는데 누가 부르든지 대박칠 게 뻔해 사랑하는 사람을 그리워하는 이 노래 이런 가사를 써낸 내가 대견해
First of all, I need to tell mom the great news When she hears what I have to say she’s definitely going to get teary, but I start running with a smile My rather far-away home is close now
우선 엄마한테 말해줘야지 이 큰 사건을 내 말을 들으면 엄만 울먹거릴 게 뻔하지만 웃으면서 뛰어갔지 난 꽤 먼 내 집이 코 앞이야
But for some reason there are a lot of people gathered at the crosswalk out front, there’s even an ambulance Someone is lying on the floor My mom is there too, but why is she crying?
근데 집 앞 횡단보도 앞에 웬 사람들이 이리 몰려있지 앰뷸런스 차까지 어떤 사람이 바닥에 누워있어 엄마도 나와있네 근데 엄마 왜 울고있어?
Chorus B) I’m a ghost writer (Why am I lying there?) Even though nobody knows my name Even though nobody sees my face I am inside the letters I wrote
I’m a ghost writer (내가 왜 저기 누워있어?) 아무도 내 이름 세 글자는 몰라도 아무도 내 얼굴을 볼 수가 없어도 내가 적은 글자들 속에 내가 있어
I am in there
그 속에 내가 있어
Chorus A)
Translator’s Note:
The song title, “Ghost Writer,” and the sound of brakes at the beginning are the first hints at how the story develops. Then, Chorus A (and B) contains the phrase “nobody sees my face” and Verse 2 is studded with hints: “Is this a dream or reality?,” “I can’t breathe right now,” “longing for a beloved person,” “she’s definitely going to get teary,” “my rather far-away home.”
The second person singular and plural (“you”) in these lyrics change meaning rather abruptly, so to make things clear you will find explanations about who is being addressed (blue text).
Chorus) [x_extra info=”popover” title=”Explanation” info_trigger=”hover” info_place=”top” info_content=”This sentence is directed at his friends”]Just leave me alone when nothing’s up[/x_extra] I’ve got so much to think about since I’ve met [x_extra info=”popover” title=”Explanation” info_trigger=”hover” info_place=”top” info_content=”his special someone”]you[/x_extra] I try to sleep but I’m still awake I’ve been thinking about you I-I-I’ve been thinking about you baby
아무 일 없을 땐 날 좀 그냥 내버려 둬 나는 생각이 너무 많아 널 만나고부터 잠을 청해봐도 난 여전히 깨있어 I’ve been thinking about you I-I-I’ve been thinking about you baby
Verse 1) Even when I play a game again after a long time I had won it all but I lose again No matter how I think about it, you in my head No matter how I think about it, it seems like you in my head
오랜만에 게임을 해봐도 다 이겨놓고 난 패배해 또 아무래도 머릿속의 너 아무래도 머릿속의 너가
are teasing me My friends insult me, “Are you out of your mind?” I’ve been thinking about – no, I’m in love Let me know if I’m causing [x_extra info=”popover” title=”Explanation” info_trigger=”hover” info_place=”top” info_content=”his friends who he’s playing the video game with”]you[/x_extra] too much trouble
나를 괴롭히는 것만 같아 친구들이 욕해 너 멘탈 나갔냐 I’ve been thinking about 아니 I’m in love 내가 너무 민폐 끼치면 말해줘
Actually, I can’t really concentrate My heart is full of love I wanna stop playing bad games where you have to shoot people, just leave, I’ll save [x_extra info=”popover” title=”Explanation” info_trigger=”hover” info_place=”top” info_content=”a character in the video game he’s supposed to be shooting”]you[/x_extra]
실은 나 집중 잘 안 돼 사랑이 내 마음에 가득해 누굴 쏴 죽이는 이런 나쁜 게임 그만 할래 그냥 가 살려줄게
I’m so frustrated because I haven’t seen her Things have piled up like the vast sea So I think [about her] every day I think [about her] all the time
그녀를 못 봐서 너무 답답해 쌓인 일들은 마치 망망대해 그래서 난 매일같이 생각해 시도 때도 없이 생각해
Pre-Chorus) If you’re free, how about going to a café tonight? In my neighborhood there’s a café that’s open even at dawn You’ll have an Americano, I’ll have a latte I must see you today, I can’t go on like this any longer
시간 되면 오늘 밤 카페 어때 우리 동넨 새벽에도 카페 연대 너는 아메리카노지 나는 라떼 오늘은 널 꼭 봐야겠어 더는 안돼
Chorus)
Hook) I’ve been thinking about you about you about you I’ve been thinking about you about you about you I-I-I’ve been thinking about you about you about you I’ve been thinking about you about you
Verse 2) Even when I travel again after a long time I’m just looking at women’s clothes, again New York or Paris, Tokyo No matter where I go, it seems like you in my head
오랜만에 여행을 와봐도 여자옷만 고르고 있네 또 new york 아님 paris tokyo 어딜가도 머릿속의 너가
are teasing me My friends ask me, “Are you in a relationship these days?” I’ve been thinking about – no, I’m in love [x_extra info=”popover” title=”Explanation” info_trigger=”hover” info_place=”top” info_content=”He’s talking to his friends. Koreans describe ‘looking at someone lovingly’ with ‘honey dripping from the eyes’. This line literally says: ‘Let me know if honey is dripping from my eyes'”]Let me know if I’m head over heels[/x_extra]
나를 괴롭힐 것만 같아 친구들이 물어 요즘 연애하냐 I’ve been thinking about 아니 I’m in love 내 눈에서 꿀 떨어지면 말해줘
Pre-Chorus) If you’re free, how about a movie tonight? The cinema in your neighborhood shows midnight movies I’ve heard that horror movies these days are totally scary What I actually want to say is that I’ve only been thinking about you today, can you meet me now?
시간 되면 오늘 밤 영화 어때 너네 동네 영화관은 심야도 해 요즘 공포영화들 완전 무섭대 실은 내가 하고 싶은 말은 오늘 너만 생각했어 지금 나와줄래
Clarity Crew’s Life of Hojj, previously known as Young Lion, has released his first LP, ‘SOUTHSIDE‘, with featurings by Crucial Star, Kidd King, and more.
