Stay – Bilingual Lyrics Korean/English

• By: Urban Zakapa (어반자카파)
• Album: STAY

Lyrics & Translation

If you want to dive into the language of deep, modern Korean balladry, Urban Zakapa’s 'Stay' is a masterclass. The song’s lyrical theme—a raw, emotional plea for a loved one to remain—is perfect for learning key Korean phrases related to longing, sadness, and persistence in love. The distinct and sophisticated vocal styles of all three members, set against a rich R&B backdrop, offer an excellent chance to practice auditory comprehension of diverse Korean singing tones.

[English]

Stay by my side, please.

Don't drift away anymore.

Without you, I'm lost.

I wander in the unseen darkness.

Don't disappear.

Hold my hand.

You know it better than anyone.

That the words you just said aren't true.

I know it all.

Trying to push me away clumsily,

And the cold expression,

I don't believe any of it.

Stay by my side, please.

Don't drift away anymore.

Without you, I'm lost.

I wander in the unseen darkness.

Don't disappear.

Hold my hand.

Even if you can't come back,

I'll always be here, standing in this place, waiting for you.

Even if it can't be the same as before,

Tell me that we'll never be able to.

It doesn't matter.

Think about us, back when we promised forever,

Think about it.

Just the two of us,

We could do anything.

Stay by my side, please.

Don't drift away anymore.

Without you, I'm lost.

I wander in the unseen darkness.

Don't disappear.

Hold my hand.

[Korean]

내 곁에 머물러 줘요

더 멀어지지 말아요

그대 없는 나, 길을 잃었죠

보이지 않는 어둠 속을 헤매이죠

사라지지 말아요

내 손을 잡아줘

그대가 더 잘 알잖아요

지금 한 그 말 진심이 아닌 걸

다 알고 있어요

서툴게 애써 밀어내며

차갑게 대하는 표정도

다 믿지 않아요

내 곁에 머물러 줘요

더 멀어지지 말아요

그대 없는 나 길을 잃었죠

보이지 않는 어둠 속을 헤매이죠

사라지지 말아요

내 손을 잡아줘

그대가 돌아올 수 없대도

나는 항상 여기 이 자리에 서 그댈 기다려요

예전과는 같을 순 없대도

우린 절대 안 된다 해줘

상관없어요

언젠가 영원을 약속하던 그때 우리를

생각해 봐요

우리 둘이서

그 무엇도 할 수 있었죠

내 곁에 머물러 줘요

더 멀어지지 말아요

그대 없는 나 길을 잃었죠

보이지 않는 어둠 속을 헤매이죠

사라지지 말아요

내 손을 잡아줘

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
머물러 /mɔːmʌlɯ/ A2	verb - to stay
멀어지지 /mʌlɯdʑi/ B1	verb - to not grow distant
잃었죠 /irʌt̚c͈o/ A2	verb - to lose
어둠 /ɔːdum/ A1	noun - darkness
헤매이죠 /hɛmɛi̯dʑo/ B1	verb - to wander
사라지지 /saɾadʑi/ B1	verb - to not disappear
잡아줘 /dʑab.a.dʑwʌ/ A2	verb - to hold
진심 /dʑin.ɕim/ B1	noun - sincerity
밀어내며 /miɭ.ɯ.nɛ.myɛ̝/ B2	verb - to push away
차갑게 /tɕʰa.ɡap̚.k͈e/ A2	adverb - coldly
표정 /pʰyʌd͡ʑoŋ/ A2	noun - expression
돌아올 /do.ɭa.oɭ/ B1	verb - to come back
기다려요 /gi.da.ɾjʌ.jo/ A2	verb - to wait
영원 /jʌŋ.wʌn/ B1	noun - eternity
약속 /jaɡ.soɡ/ A2	noun - promise

Key Grammar Structures

• 내 곁에 머물러 줘요

  ➔ Request form using -아/어 주다

  ➔ The phrase "머물러 줘요" combines the verb "머물다" with "-아/어 주다" to politely ask someone to stay.

• 더 멀어지지 말아요

  ➔ Negative imperative with -지 말다

  ➔ The form "멀어지지 말아요" uses "-지 말다" to tell someone not to move away.

• 그대 없는 나, 길을 잃었죠

  ➔ Past declarative with -았/었죠 (soft confirmation)

  ➔ The ending "잃었죠" uses "-았/었죠" to express a past action while seeking agreement or soft confirmation.

• 지금 한 그 말 진심이 아닌 걸

  ➔ Explanatory/emphatic ending -걸 (from -것이다)

  ➔ "진심이 아닌 걸" uses "-걸" to express the speaker’s realization or emphasis that it is not sincere.

• 그대가 돌아올 수 없대도

  ➔ Concessive clause with -대도 (hearsay + even if)

  ➔ "없대도" combines the hearsay marker "-대" with the concessive "-도" to mean 'even if (they say) you can’t return.'

• 예전과는 같을 순 없대도

  ➔ Ability/possibility -(으)ㄹ 수 없다 + indirect speech + concessive -대도

  ➔ "같을 순 없대도" uses "-ㄹ 수 없다" in hearsay form with "-대" and concessive "-도" to mean 'even if they say it can’t be the same'.

• 언젠가 영원을 약속하던 그때 우리를 생각해 봐요

  ➔ Retrospective modifier -던 + trial expression -아/어 보다

  ➔ "약속하던" uses the retrospective modifier -던 to refer to a past promise, and "생각해 봐요" uses -아/어 보다 to suggest trying to recall.

• 우리 둘이서 그 무엇도 할 수 있었죠

  ➔ Past potential with -을/ㄹ 수 있었다

  ➔ "할 수 있었죠" uses "-수 있다" in past tense to indicate 'we were able to do'.