Golden – English Lyrics

• By: HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, KPop Demon Hunters Cast

Lyrics & Translation

"Golden" from "KPop Demon Hunters" is an electrifying K-pop anthem that encourages listeners to embrace their true selves and find strength in unity. Its catchy melodies and empowering lyrics make it an excellent song for language learners to dive into K-pop, offering a vibrant and engaging way to explore Korean and English phrases within a compelling narrative of self-acceptance and resilience.

[English]

I was a ghost, I was alone (hah)

어두워진 (hah), 앞길 속에 (ah)

Given the throne, I didn't know how to believe

I was the queen that I'm meant to be (oh)

I lived two lives, tried to play both sides

But I couldn't find my own place (oh, oh)

Called a problem child, 'cause I got too wild

But now that's how I'm gettin' paid, 끝없이 on stage

I'm done hidin', now I'm shinin'

Like I'm born to be

We dreamin' hard, we came so far

Now I believe

We're goin' up, up, up, it's our moment

You know together we're glowin'

Gonna be, gonna be golden

Oh, up, up, up with our voices

영원히 깨질 수 없는

Gonna be, gonna be golden

Oh, I'm done hidin', now I'm shinin'

Like I'm born to be

Oh, our time, no fears, no lies

That's who we're born to be

Waited so long to break these walls down

To wake up and feel like me

Put these patterns all in the past now

And finally live like the girl they all see

No more hidin', I'll be shinin'

Like I'm born to be

'Cause we are hunters, voices strong

And I know I believe

We're goin' up, up, up, it's our moment

You know together we're glowin'

Gonna be, gonna be golden

Oh, up, up, up with our voices

영원히 깨질 수 없는

Gonna be, gonna be golden

Oh, I'm done hidin', now I'm shinin'

Like I'm born to be

Oh, our time, no fears, no lies

That's who we're born to be

You know we're gonna be, gonna be golden (oh)

We're gonna be, gonna be (oh)

Born to be, born to be glowin' (oh)

밝게 빛나는 우린

You know that it's our time, no fears, no lies (oh, oh)

That's who we're born to be

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
golden /ˈɡoʊldən/ B2	adjective - extremely successful, valuable, or prosperous; like gold in color or value.
shining /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/ B1	verb - emitting or reflecting light; to excel in a particular activity or area.
hiding /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/ A2	verb - keeping oneself or something else from being seen; to keep a secret.
born /bɔːrn/ A1	verb - brought into existence by birth; to be naturally destined or suited for something.
glowing /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/ B1	verb - emitting a steady light without flame; to show intense pleasure or satisfaction.
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A2	verb - to accept something as true; to have faith in the existence or truth of something.
ghost /ɡoʊst/ B1	noun - an apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear or become manifest to the living; a faint, shadowy, or barely perceptible trace or semblance.
throne /θroʊn/ B1	noun - a ceremonial chair for a sovereign, bishop, or similar dignitary; the power or rank of a sovereign.
queen /kwiːn/ A1	noun - the female ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth.
alone /əˈloʊn/ A1	adjective - without any other people; solitary.
wild /waɪld/ A2	adjective - living in a state of nature; not tamed or cultivated; uncontrolled or unrestrained.
hunters /ˈhʌntərz/ B1	noun - a person or animal that hunts game or other wild animals; a person who searches for something.
strong /strɔːŋ/ A1	adjective - having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks; not easily broken or damaged.
moment /ˈmoʊmənt/ A2	noun - a very brief period of time; a specific point in time.
fears /fɪərz/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.
lies /laɪz/ A2	noun - an intentionally false statement.
walls /wɔːlz/ B1	noun - a continuous upright structure that encloses or divides an area; a mental or emotional barrier.
break /breɪk/ A1	verb - to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain; to overcome or violate.
patterns /ˈpætərnz/ B1	noun - a regular and intelligible form or sequence discernible in the way in which something happens or is done; a model or design.
past /pæst/ A2	noun - the time that has gone by; the earlier period of one's life.

Key Grammar Structures

• I was the queen that I'm meant to be (oh)

  ➔ Relative clause + "be meant to be"

  ➔ The phrase "that I'm meant to be" is a relative clause specifying what kind of queen the speaker is. "Be meant to be" indicates destiny or a strong purpose.

• But I couldn't find my own place (oh, oh)

  ➔ Modal verb "couldn't" (Past inability)

  ➔ "Couldn't" is the past tense of "can not", expressing an inability to do something in the past. Here, the speaker was unable to "find" her place.

• But now that's how I'm gettin' paid, 끝없이 on stage

  ➔ "That's how" + Present Continuous (colloquial)

  ➔ "That's how" introduces the method or manner in which something is done. "I'm gettin' paid" is a colloquial form of "I'm getting paid," using the present continuous to describe an ongoing or current action/situation.

• I'm done hidin', now I'm shinin'

  ➔ "Be done + gerund" (Completion of an action)

  ➔ The structure "be done + -ing" (gerund) means that an action has been completed or finished. Here, the speaker has finished "hiding".

• Like I'm born to be

  ➔ "Born to be" (Fixed expression/Destiny)

  ➔ "Born to be" is a common idiom meaning that someone is naturally suited for a particular role or destiny, as if it was determined from birth.

• Gonna be, gonna be golden

  ➔ "Gonna be" (Informal "going to be" for future intention/prediction)

  ➔ "Gonna be" is an informal contraction of "going to be," used to express a future intention or a prediction about what will happen.

• Waited so long to break these walls down

  ➔ "Wait + so long + to-infinitive" + Phrasal verb

  ➔ The structure "wait so long to + infinitive" indicates a long period of waiting *in order to* do something or *before* something happens. "Break down" is a phrasal verb meaning to destroy or remove something.

• No more hidin', I'll be shinin'

  ➔ "No more + gerund" + Future Continuous

  ➔ "No more + gerund" indicates that an action will stop or no longer happen. "I'll be shinin'" (a contraction of "I will be shining") uses the future continuous tense to describe an action that will be in progress at a point in the future.

• And finally live like the girl they all see

  ➔ "Live like" (Comparison) + Implied Relative Pronoun

  ➔ "Live like" expresses living in a manner similar to someone or something else. The relative pronoun "whom" or "that" is omitted after "girl," making it an implied object relative clause ("the girl [whom/that] they all see").