Not a Dream – English Lyrics

• By: Song Sohee
• Album: Not a Dream

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the enchanting world of "Not a Dream" by Song Sohee, a song that beautifully fuses traditional Korean Gugak with contemporary pop. Through its uplifting melodies and heartfelt lyrics, you can explore the lyrical beauty of Korean while experiencing a unique musical blend that showcases Song Sohee's mastery of Gyeonggi folk singing. This song offers an excellent opportunity to appreciate the nuances of the Korean language within a truly special and globally acclaimed composition.

[English]

Like sea, like ocean

나의 안식이 기다리지

있나 내게도 드디어

구름곶 너머 꿈이 아니야

나의 날 온 거야

마음을 놓아

이곳에서 날 불러

눈물은 닦고

달려온 나의 저 길을 바라봐

...

아냐 잠시 들뜬 사이

가라, 말할까 두려워

하나 마음에 숨이 불어

하나 바람 온도를 느껴

아 그래 내가 바란 거야

마음을 놓아

이곳에서 날 불러

눈물은 닦고

달려온 나의 저 길을 바라봐

마음을 놓아

이곳에서 날 불러

눈물은 닦고

달려온 나의 저 길을 바라봐

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sea /siː/ A1	noun - the expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface and surrounds its landmasses
ocean /ˈoʊʃən/ A1	noun - a very large expanse of sea, in particular each of the main areas into which the sea is divided geographically
dream /driːm/ A1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep verb - to experience dreams during sleep
day /deɪ/ A1	noun - the period of light between sunrise and sunset
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought
call /kɔːl/ A2	verb - to give (someone or something) a specified name
tear /tɪər/ B1	noun - a drop of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in the eye as a result of strong emotion, pain, or irritation
way /weɪ/ A1	noun - a road, track, path, or street for traveling along
look /lʊk/ A1	verb - to direct one's gaze toward someone or something or in a specified direction
moment /ˈmoʊmənt/ A2	noun - a very brief period of time
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear or anxiety; frightened
breath /breθ/ B1	noun - the air inhaled or exhaled when breathing
wind /wɪnd/ A1	noun - the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction
temperature /ˈtempərətʃər/ B1	noun - the degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object, especially as expressed according to a comparative scale and shown by a thermometer or perceived by touch
wish /wɪʃ/ A2	verb - feel or express a strong desire or hope for something that is not easily attained

Key Grammar Structures

• 나의 안식이 기다리지

  ➔ -(으)지 suffix, indicating assumption or shared knowledge.

  ➔ The speaker assumes the listener knows or agrees that "my rest is waiting." It can also be interpreted as a rhetorical question.

• 있나 내게도 드디어

  ➔ -나 suffix, question marker (informal, often rhetorical)

  ➔ The -"나" particle indicates a question, but here, it expresses a feeling of surprise and wonder. "Is it finally happening to me too?"

• 구름곶 너머 꿈이 아니야

  ➔ -야 (이다 verb conjugation), declarative ending (informal)

  ➔ Using "아니야" to state definitively that something "is not". In this case, "It's not a dream."

• 나의 날 온 거야

  ➔ -거(것) + -야 (이다), contraction to 거야. Informal declarative ending.

  ➔ "온 거야" is a contracted form of "온 것이다" or "온 것이야", meaning "it has come", or "it is that it has come". Used here to declare definitively that her day has come.

• 마음을 놓아

  ➔ -아/어/여 + 놓다 auxiliary verb (meaning: to put something in a certain state)

  ➔ 놓다 means 'to put, to place, to release, to let go'. '마음을 놓아' means 'to release/let go of your heart/mind'. Essentially, it means 'to relax'.

• 가라, 말할까 두려워

  ➔ -ㄹ까 봐(서) expresses worry or fear that something might happen.

  ➔ The speaker is afraid that if they say "go away" (가라), it might actually happen. They are worried about the consequences of their words.

• 하나 마음에 숨이 불어

  ➔ -이/가 (subject marker). 불다 (to blow, to breathe). Subject marker indicates the subject of the verb. 숨이 (breath is)

  ➔ The particle -이/가 marks "숨 (breath)" as the subject of the verb "불어 (blows/breathes)". It highlights that the breath is the agent of the action.

• 아 그래 내가 바란 거야

  ➔ -ㄴ/은/는 것 construction. noun-modifying form + 것 (thing, fact). Often followed by 이다.

  ➔ "바란 거야" means "(it) is what I wished for". The ㄴ/은 form is modifying the 것. "바란 것" means the "thing wished for". It is then completed with the 이다 verb to mean "is the thing wished for".