What It Sounds Like – English Lyrics

• By: HUNTR/X, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI
• Album: KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film)

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the powerful narrative of "What It Sounds Like," a compelling track from the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." This song offers a unique opportunity to connect with English lyrics that speak to universal themes of self-acceptance and authenticity. Its clear, emotive delivery and inspiring message make it an excellent choice for language learners to grasp nuances of English expression related to inner strength and vulnerability.

[English]

Nothing but the truth now

Nothing but the proof of what I am

The worst of what I came from, patterns I'm ashamed of

Things that even I don't understand

I tried to fix it

I tried to fight it

My head was twisted

My heart divided

My lies all collided

I don't know why I didn't trust you to be on my side

I broke into a million pieces

And I can't go back

But now I'm seeing all the beauty in the broken glass

The scars are part of me

Darkness and harmony

My voice without the lies

This is what it sounds like

Why did I cover up the colors stuck inside my head?

I should've let the jagged edges meet the light instead

Show me what's underneath

I'll find your harmony

The song we couldn't write

This is what it sounds like

We're shattering the silence

We're rising defiant

Shouting in the quiet

You're not alone

We listen to the demons

We let them get between us

But none of us are out here on our own

So, we were cowards

So, we were liars

So, we're not heroes

We're still survivors

The dreamers, the fighters

No lying, I'm tired

But dive in the fire

And I'll be right here by your side

We broke into a million pieces

And we can't go back

But now we're seeing all the beauty in the broken glass

The scars are part of me

Darkness and harmony

My voice without the lies

This is what it sounds like

Why do we cover up the colors stuck inside our head?

Get up and let the jagged edges meet the light instead

Show me what's underneath

I'll find your harmony

Fearless and undefined

This is what it sounds like

Hey!

This is what it sounds like

Hey!

This is what it sounds like

Hey!

Oh, this is what it—, this is what it—

This is what it sounds like

We broke into a million pieces

And we can't go back

But now I'm seeing all the beauty in the broken glass

The scars are part of me

Darkness and harmony

My voice without the lies

This is what it sounds like

Why do we cover up the colors stuck inside our head?

Stand up and let the jagged edges meet the light instead

Show me what's underneath

I'll find your harmony

Fearless and undefined

This is what it sounds like

My voice without the lies

This is what it sounds like

Fearless and undefined

This is what it sounds like

Truth, after all this time

Our voices all combined

When darkness meets the light

This is what it sounds like

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
truth /truːθ/ A2	noun - the quality or state of being true noun - a fact or belief that is accepted as true
ashamed /əˈʃeɪmd/ B1	adjective - feeling embarrassed or guilty about something
twisted /ˈtwɪstɪd/ B2	adjective - bent or turned into a shape that is not normal or natural adjective - strange and unpleasant in a way that suggests a disturbed mind or a lack of morality
divided /dɪˈvaɪdɪd/ B1	adjective - separated into parts or groups adjective - disagreeing or having different opinions or feelings
collided /kəˈlaɪdɪd/ B2	verb - to hit something or each other with force (past tense of collide) verb - to come into conflict or disagreement (past tense of collide)
pieces /ˈpiːsɪz/ A2	noun - parts that have broken off or been separated from something
broken /ˈbrəʊkən/ A2	adjective - separated into two or more parts as a result of a blow, shock, or strain adjective - damaged or no longer working
scars /skɑːrz/ B1	noun - marks left on the skin after a wound or injury has healed noun - lasting bad effects from an unpleasant experience
darkness /ˈdɑːrknəs/ A2	noun - the absence of light noun - evil or a lack of understanding or knowledge
harmony /ˈhɑːrməni/ B2	noun - the quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole noun - agreement or concord
jagged /ˈdʒæɡɪd/ B2	adjective - having rough, sharp points protruding
shattering /ˈʃætərɪŋ/ B2	verb - breaking or causing something to break suddenly and violently into many small pieces verb - destroying or severely damaging something
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ A2	noun - complete absence of sound
defiant /dɪˈfaɪənt/ B2	adjective - showing open resistance or disobedience
demons /ˈdiːmənz/ B2	noun - an evil spirit or devil noun - a personification of an evil influence or negative aspect of one's character
cowards /ˈkaʊərdz/ B2	noun - persons who lack courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things
liars /ˈlaɪərz/ B1	noun - persons who do not tell the truth
survivors /sərˈvaɪvərz/ B1	noun - persons who remain alive after an event in which others have died noun - persons who cope with or overcome a difficult situation
fearless /ˈfɪrləs/ B2	adjective - lacking fear; brave
undefined /ˌʌndɪˈfaɪnd/ C1	adjective - not clearly or precisely described or stated adjective - without clear limits or characteristics

Key Grammar Structures

• Nothing but the truth now

  ➔ Idiomatic Expression: "Nothing but"

  ➔ "Nothing but" means "only" or "merely". It emphasizes that there is no other possibility or option. Here, it means "Only the truth now."

• patterns I'm ashamed of

  ➔ Implied Relative Pronoun + Adjective + Preposition

  ➔ The relative pronoun "that" or "which" is "implied" (omitted) after "patterns" (i.e., "patterns _that_ I'm ashamed of"). The structure "ashamed of" is a common "adjective + preposition" combination.

• I don't know why I didn't trust you to be on my side

  ➔ Indirect Question / Noun Clause + Verb + Infinitive

  ➔ "why I didn't trust you to be on my side" is an "indirect question" functioning as a noun clause, the object of "know". The phrase "trust you to be" uses the structure "verb (trust) + object (you) + infinitive (to be)".

• But now I'm seeing all the beauty in the broken glass

  ➔ Present Continuous for a New Realization + Participle Adjective

  ➔ The "present continuous" "I'm seeing" is used here to express a new or ongoing realization or a change in perception, not just an action in progress. "broken glass" uses the past participle "broken" as an "adjective" to describe the glass.

• I should've let the jagged edges meet the light instead

  ➔ Modal Perfect (should have) for Regret + Causative Verb (let)

  ➔ "should've" is a contraction of "should have", used to express regret about something that was not done in the past but would have been a good idea. "let" is a "causative verb" meaning "to allow or permit" someone/something to do something, followed by a base form verb (meet).

• But none of us are out here on our own

  ➔ Indefinite Pronoun ("none of") + Idiomatic Expression ("on our own")

  ➔ "None of us" is an "indefinite pronoun" phrase indicating zero people from the group. The verb "are" agrees with "none" (though "is" can also be used, "are" is common when referring to a group). "on our own" is an "idiom" meaning "alone" or "independently".

• No lying, I'm tired

  ➔ Gerund as a Strong Negative / Command

  ➔ Here, "No lying" uses the "gerund" "lying" to form a strong negative statement or a command, similar to "Don't lie" or "There will be no lying." It implies a firm decision or a rule.

• And I'll be right here by your side

  ➔ Future Simple (will) + Adverb of Place + Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ "I'll be" is the "future simple" tense, indicating a future state or action, often a promise or prediction. "right here" is an "adverb of place" emphasizing the exact location. "by your side" is a "prepositional phrase" meaning "next to you" or "supporting you".

• Why do we cover up the colors stuck inside our head?

  ➔ Simple Present Question (General Truth) + Participle Adjective

  ➔ The "simple present question" "Why do we cover up" refers to a general or habitual action/truth, questioning a common behavior. "stuck inside our head" uses the past participle "stuck" as an "adjective" to describe the colors.

• When darkness meets the light

  ➔ Time Clause with "When"

  ➔ "When darkness meets the light" is a "time clause" introduced by "when". It describes a condition or a moment in time (in this case, metaphorical) at which the main action or outcome occurs.