들꽃놀이 – Bilingual Lyrics Korean/English

• By: RM

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the profound lyrics and powerful emotions of RM's "Wild Flower" (들꽃놀이), a standout track from his 'Indigo' album. This song offers a unique opportunity to explore the nuances of the Korean language through its rich wordplay and deep metaphorical meaning, comparing the quiet strength of wildflowers to the transient spectacle of fireworks. Understanding the song's context and RM's personal reflections can greatly enhance your appreciation for its artistic depth and cultural significance, making it a special piece for language learners and music enthusiasts alike.

[English]

Flower field, that’s where I’m at

Open land, that’s where I’m at

No name, that’s what I have

No shame, I’m on my grave

When my feet don’t touch the ground

When your heart starts to overtake you

When dreams swallow me whole

When I lose myself

In all those moments

I used to envy the flames

I just wanted to burn brightly

Since the very beginning, I imagined it

Hoping I could smile and applaud at the end

That was my wish

When everything I believed in started to fade away

When all this glory becomes a burden

Please, take away this greed

No matter what happens

Make me be myself

Oh, every day and every night

Dealing with pain and a guilty mind

On nights I couldn’t sleep to the rhythm of my heartbeat

Looking out the window at that sad little crescent moon

I wish for a beautiful night

My life’s grown bigger than I am

Holding tightly the balloons that are flying away

Questioning where you are now

Where are you going, where’s your soul

Yo, where’s your dream?

Will you scatter into the sky?

Light a flower, flowerwork

Flower flowerwork

Shining brightly in the sky

Light a flower, flowerwork

Flower flowerwork

What will be my last moment?

It’s all terrifying, from one to ten

When will this endless mask finally come off?

Yeah, I’m no hero, I’m no villain

Just a nothing

Spinning in circles, memories so wild

Lying in the fields, staring at the sky

I forget what I once wanted

All the happiness I thought I gained was just a fleeting moment

Yeah, I’ve been moving forward, no matter what’s ahead

Whatever it is

Holding onto dawn’s edge, trying to spit out something

A society of loud voices

But I still choose silence

This is a monologue, a mature boat

Reaching through all misunderstandings and prejudices

I don’t welcome your loud cheer

My feet are on the ground here

With flowers that have no names

I can’t go to the stars again, I can’t

Just moving on beneath my feet

To a purposeless destination

Not knowing I’m sad

Even my shadow is a friend

I be gone

I want to disperse

Light a flower, flowerwork

Flower flowerwork

Shining brightly in the sky

Light a flower, flowerwork

Flower flowerwork

Suddenly stopping, an exquisite barefoot feeling

Originally, I had nothing

And don’t tell me I have to be someone

Because I can never be like them

(Light a flower)

Yeah, my start is poetry

The only strength and dream that have protected me so far

From burning flames to wildflowers

From a boy to eternity

I will stay in this barren field

Oh, someday I will return

Will you scatter into the sky?

Light a flower, flowerwork

Flower flowerwork

Shining brightly in the sky

Light a flower, flowerwork

Flower flowerwork

Flower field, that’s where I’m at

Open land, that’s where I’m at

No name, that’s what I have

No shame, I’m on my grave

When my feet don’t touch the ground

When your heart starts to overtake you

When dreams swallow me whole

When I am not myself

In all those moments

[Korean]

Flower field, that’s where I’m at

Open land, that’s where I’m at

No name, that’s what I have

No shame, I’m on my grave

두 발이 땅에 닿지 않을 때

당신의 마음이 당신을 넘볼 때

꿈이 나를 집어삼킬 때

내가 내가 아닐 때

그 모든 때

불꽃을 나는 동경했었네

그저 화려하게 지고 싶었네

시작의 전부터 나 상상했었지

끝엔 웃으며 박수 쳐 줄 수 있길

나 소원했었네

믿었던 게 다 멀어지던 때

이 모든 명예가 이젠 멍에가 됐을 때

이 욕심을 제발 거둬가소서

어떤 일이 있어도

오 나를 나로 하게 하소서

Oh every day and every night

Persistin’ pain and criminal mind

내 심장소리에 잠 못 들던 밤

창밖에 걸린 청승맞은 초승달

I do wish me a lovely night

내 분수보다 비대해진 life

저기 날아오르는 풍선을 애써 쥐고

따져 물어 대체 지금 넌 어디에

Where you go, where’s your soul

Yo where's your dream?

저 하늘에 흩어질래

Light a flower, flowerwork

Flower flowerwork

저 하늘에 눈부시게

Light a flower, flowerwork

Flower flowerwork

그 어디까지가 내 마지막일까

전부 진저리 나, 하나 열까지 다

이 지긋지긋한 가면은 언제 벗겨질까

Yeah me no hero, me no villain

아무것도 아닌 나

공회전은 반복돼 기억들은 난폭해

난 누워 들판 속에 시선을 던져 하늘 위에

뭘 원했었던 건지 이제 기억이 안 나

얻었다 믿었던 모든 행복은 겨우 찰나

Yeah I been goin’, no matter what’s in front

그게 뭐가 됐건

새벽의 옷자락을 붙잡고 뭔가 토해내던 기억

목소리만 큰 자들의 사회

난 여전히 침묵을 말해

이건 방백, 완숙한 돛단배

모든 오해 편견들에 닿게

반갑지 않아 너의 헹가래

내 두 발이 여기 땅 위에

이름도 없는 꽃들과 함께

다신 별에 갈 수 없어 I can’t

발밑으로 I just go

목적 없는 목적지로

슬픈 줄도 모르고

그림자마저 친구로

I be gone

흩어질래

Light a flower, flowerwork

Flower flowerwork

저 하늘에 눈부시게

Light a flower, flowerwork

Flower flowerwork

문득 멈춰보니 찬란한 맨발

원래 내 것은 아무것도 없었지

And don’t tell me like you gotta be someone

난 절대 그들처럼 될 수 없으니

(Light a flower)

그래 내 시작은 시

여태껏 날 지켜온 단 하나의 힘과 dream

타는 불꽃에서 들꽃으로

소년에서 영원으로

나 이 황량한 들에 남으리

아 언젠가 나 되돌아가리

저 하늘에 흩어질래

Light a flower, flowerwork

Flower flowerwork

저 하늘에 눈부시게

Light a flower, flowerwork

Flower flowerwork

Flower field, that’s where I’m at

Open land, that’s where I’m at

No name, that’s what I have

No shame, I’m on my grave

두 발이 땅에 닿지 않을 때

당신의 마음이 당신을 넘볼 때

꿈이 나를 집어삼킬 때

내가 내가 아닌 때

그 모든 때

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
flower /ˈflaʊər/ A1	noun - a plant that is often colorful and fragrant
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep verb - to imagine or hope for something
light /laɪt/ A2	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible verb - to make something bright or illuminated
pain /peɪn/ B1	noun - physical suffering or discomfort
grave /ɡreɪv/ B2	noun - a place of burial for a dead body adjective - serious or solemn
shame /ʃeɪm/ B2	noun - a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior
memory /ˈmɛməri/ B2	noun - the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information
hero /ˈhɪəroʊ/ B2	noun - a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities
society /səˈsaɪəti/ B2	noun - the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community
freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ C1	noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint
honor /ˈɒnər/ C1	noun - high respect; esteem
memory /ˈmɛməri/ B2	noun - the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information

Key Grammar Structures

• 그저 화려하게 지고 싶었네

  ➔ Adjective +하게 + Verb (want to do)

  ➔ The suffix "-하게" is used to turn adjectives into adverbs, indicating the manner of an action.

• 두 발이 땅에 닿지 않을 때

  ➔ When + verb (negative form)

  ➔ The phrase "닿지 않을 때" uses the negative future form "않을 때" meaning "when not able to touch".

• 내가 내가 아닐 때

  ➔ When + subject + negative copula

  ➔ The phrase "내가 아닐 때" indicates "when I am not myself" using the negative form of "이다" (to be).

• 이 모든 때

  ➔ Demonstrative pronoun + noun

  ➔ The phrase "이 모든 때" uses "이" as a demonstrative pronoun meaning "this" or "these", referring to "all these times".

• No shame, I’m on my grave

  ➔ Preposition + noun, and present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "on my grave" uses "on" as a preposition indicating position or state, combined with the noun "grave" to express a metaphorical place or state.

• 그냥 화려하게 지고 싶었네

  ➔ Adverb + adjective + 하고 싶었네 (wanted to)

  ➔ The phrase "화려하게 지고 싶었네" combines the adverb "화려하게" with the verb "지고 싶다" (want to be/shine brightly), indicating desire.