Tempo – Bilingual Lyrics Korean/English

• By: EXO
• Album: DON’T MESS UP MY TEMPO

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the energetic world of EXO's 'Tempo,' a dynamic blend of hip-hop, R&B, and a cappella. Learn about maintaining the rhythm in relationships as you explore the catchy beats and harmonies that made this song a K-pop hit.

[English]

I can't believe

Waiting for this feeling (ooh-ooh-ooh)

The woman I only want to hear is my melody

All day long, go on and on and oh

Keep her close so she won't leave my side

Yeah, uh

Don’t mess up my tempo

Listen, this is enough (yeah)

I said don't mess up my tempo

The beat to steal her heart, uh

In rhythm where there’s nowhere else, 1, 2, 3, uh (yeah)

Don’t mess up my tempo

An unstoppable attraction (oh-oh-oh-oh)

You're captivating, lovely

The narrowing space without a gap

Heartbeat becoming irregular

Close your eyes for a moment, trust me (woo-hoo)

Get ready to go out, are you ready? (Look)

Today, I carry the chemistry between us (aw)

Already with me, what’s there to be embarrassed about, ma'boo (ah)

No need to hesitate or ramble (coming out)

No need to worry, just take my hand, my lady

Every step I take is like walking the red carpet or runway

My steps are unique (swish)

Let’s match this speed, tempo, ah

Baby girl, a morning call that excites the dawn

I want to see you every day, still longing for you

From now on, let’s get down together (get down)

Everything feels perfectly right

So don’t slow it up for me

Don’t mess up my tempo

Listen, this is enough

I said don’t mess up my tempo

The beat to steal her heart, uh

In rhythm where there’s nowhere else, 1, 2, 3, uh

Don’t mess up my tempo

An unstoppable attraction, yeah

Look around, lovely (oh, oh, oh)

The narrowing space without a gap

Heartbeat tuned just for you

Teach me however I want to do

Uh (woo-ooh), this is my zone, don’t test me (oh yeah)

If being alone feels awkward, send me a message

Now you got me flexin' (flexin')

Look around

The bystanders watching, the great Gatsby (hold on)

(Wow) I’m doing alright, baby girl, you don’t know (you don’t)

Stop questioning, what’s on your mind? (what?)

A lie that’s not in my vocabulary

You’re already naturally matching my tempo

Baby girl (baby girl)

Leaning lightly on my shoulder, that’s you (leaning on you)

A faint scent returns to my heart (to my heart, baby)

And swirls fiercely inside

I want to stay like this forever

(So don’t mess up my tempo baby)

Don’t slow it up for me

Don’t mess up my tempo

Don’t mess up my tempo

Don’t mess up my tempo

Don’t mess up my tempo (whoa, uh)

Don’t mess up my tempo

Don’t mess up my tempo

Don’t mess up my tempo

Look into my eyes and tell me

Only let it reach my ears (whoa yeah)

Say you love only me

Say there’s no one but me

So I won’t waver anymore (oh-oh-oh)

So I won’t lose you (oh-oh-oh)

So no one can touch you (whoa)

I’ll protect you by my side

Dum-dum-dum-dum-dum dum-dum-dum-dum

Can you feel my heart? (Feel it)

The only one who embraces me is my savior

Oh-oh-oh-oh, no

Everyone will end up looking at you like that

I can't believe

I can't believe

I can't believe

Waiting for this feeling (this feeling)

The woman I only want to hear is my melody

All day long, go on and on and oh

Keep her close so she won’t leave my side (yeah yeah yeah)

Don’t mess up my tempo

Follow me, this is enough (don't mess up my tempo baby)

I said don’t mess up my tempo

A completely different colored beat, uh (my tempo hoo-hoo)

In this perfect 1, 2, 3, uh where there’s nowhere else (perfect 1, 2, 3, yeah)

Don’t mess up my tempo

An irresistible pull, no

...

[Korean]

I can't believe

기다렸던 이런 느낌 (ooh-ooh-ooh)

나만 듣고 싶은 그녀는 나의 멜로디

하루 종일 go on and on and oh

떠나지 않게 그녈 내 곁에

Yeah, uh

Don't mess up my tempo

들어봐 이건 충분히 (yeah)

I said don't mess up my tempo

그녀의 맘을 훔칠 beat uh

어디에도 없을 리듬에 맞춰 1, 2, 3, uh (yeah)

Don't mess up my tempo

멈출 수 없는 이끌림 (oh-oh-oh-oh)

매혹적인 넌 lovely

틈 없이 좁혀진 거리

불규칙해지는 heartbeat

잠시 눈을 감아 trust me (woo-hoo)

밖으로 나갈 채비 미리 해둬 are you ready? (Look)

오늘은 내가 캐리 도시 나 사이의 케미 (aw)

이미 나와 놓곤 뭐가 창피해 ma'boo (ah)

어정쩡 어버버 할 필요 없다고 (coming out)

챙길 건 없으니 손잡아 my lady

가는 길마다 레드 카펫 또 런웨이인걸

발걸음이 남달라 (swish)

지금 이 속도 맞춰보자 tempo, ah

Baby girl 아침을 설레게 하는 모닝콜

매일 봐도 보고 싶은 맘인걸

지금부터 나와 let's get down (get down)

모든 것이 완벽하게 좋아

So don't slow it up for me

Don't mess up my tempo

들어봐 이건 충분히

I said don't mess up my tempo

그녀의 맘을 훔칠 Beat uh

어디에도 없을 리듬에 맞춰 1, 2, 3, uh

Don't mess up my tempo

멈출 수 없는 이끌림 ya

주윌 둘러봐 lovely (oh, oh, oh)

틈 없이 좁혀진 거리

너에게 맞춰진 heartbeat

하고 싶은 대로 teach me

Uh (woo-ooh) 여긴 내 구역 don't test me (oh yeah)

혼자 있기 어색하다면 보내줘 message

Now you got me flexin' (flexin')

주윌 둘러봐

널 보는 들러리들 속 위대한 개츠비 (hold on)

(Wow) I'm doing alright baby girl you don't know (you don't)

치워 네 머리 위에 물음표 (what?)

내 사전에 없는 L.I.E

너는 이미 자연스럽게 맞추고 있어 내 tempo

Baby girl (baby girl)

내 어깨에 살짝 기댄 그대의 (기댄 그대의)

아련한 향기가 다시 내 맘에 (내 맘에 Baby)

소용돌이치며 몰아친다

이대로 난 영원하고 싶다

(So don't mess up my tempo baby)

Don't slow it up for me

Don't mess up my tempo

Don't mess up my tempo

Don't mess up my tempo

Don't mess up my tempo (whoa, uh)

Don't mess up my tempo

Don't mess up my tempo

Don't mess up my tempo

내 눈을 바라보고 말해

나의 귓가에만 닿게 (whoa yeah)

나만 사랑한다 말해

나밖에 없다고 말해

더 이상 흔들리지 않게 (oh-oh-oh)

절대 널 뺏기지 않게 (oh-oh-oh)

누구도 건들 수 없게 (whoa)

내 곁에 너를 지킬게

Dum-dum-dum-dum-dum dum-dum-dum-dum

내 마음이 느껴지니 (느껴지니)

나를 감싸 안은 유일한 나만의 savior

Oh-oh-oh-oh, no

모두 그런 널 바라보게 돼

I can't believe

I can't believe

I can't believe

기다렸던 이런 느낌 (이런 느낌)

나만 듣고 싶은 그녀는 나의 멜로디

하루 종일 go on and on and oh

떠나지 않게 그녈 내 곁에 (yeah yeah yeah)

Don't mess up my tempo

따라와 이건 충분히 (don't mess up my tempo baby)

I said don't mess up my tempo

완전히 다른 색의 beat uh (my tempo hoo-hoo)

어디에도 없을 이런 완벽한 1, 2, 3, uh (완벽한 1, 2, 3, yeah)

Don't mess up my tempo

멈출 수 없는 이끌림 (no)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
tempo /ˈtɛmpoʊ/ B2	noun - the speed at which a piece of music is played
heartbeat /ˈhɑːrtˌbiːt/ B1	noun - the rhythmic contraction of the heart
melody /ˈmɛlədi/ B1	noun - a sequence of notes that is musically satisfying
lovely /ˈlʌvli/ B2	adjective - very beautiful or attractive
savior /ˈseɪvjər/ B2	noun - a person who saves someone or something from danger
message /ˈmɛsɪdʒ/ A2	noun - a piece of information sent or communicated
trust /trʌst/ B1	verb - to believe in the reliability or truth of something
flex /flɛks/ B2	verb - to bend or move something, especially a muscle
chemistry /ˈkɛmɪstri/ B2	noun - the study of matter and the changes it undergoes
perfect /ˈpɜːrfɪkt/ B1	adjective - having all the required or desirable elements
beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfəl/ B1	adjective - pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically
slow /sloʊ/ A2	verb - to reduce speed
go /ɡoʊ/ A1	verb - to move from one place to another
mess /mɛs/ B2	verb - to make something dirty or untidy
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to perceive or experience an emotion or sensation
ready /ˈrɛdi/ A2	adjective - prepared for what is going to happen

Key Grammar Structures

• Don't mess up my tempo

  ➔ Imperative sentence with negation

  ➔ Uses the imperative form "Don't" + verb to give a command or request

• I can't believe

  ➔ Modal verb + base verb (can + not) + believe

  ➔ Uses the modal "can't" + verb to express impossibility or disbelief

• hear this is enough

  ➔ Simple present tense to state a fact, "is" + adjective

  ➔ Uses the simple present "is" + adjective to describe a state or fact

• Let’s get down

  ➔ Imperative sentence with "let's" to suggest or urge an action

  ➔ Uses "let's" + verb to make a suggestion or encourage an action

• You don't have to worry

  ➔ Negative modal verb + have to + verb to express unnecessary obligation

  ➔ Uses "don't have to" + verb to indicate that something is not necessary

• I said don't mess up my tempo

  ➔ Reported speech with imperative (command) and "don't"

  ➔ Uses reported speech to convey a command with "don't" to prevent an action

• 내 맘에 다시 향기가 느껴지니

  ➔ Verb + 돼/지 않다 (become / not) in Korean to express a change or state

  ➔ Uses the verb + 돼/지 않다 structure in Korean to express becoming or not becoming in a certain state