After a two-week hiatus in the “Beautiful Lyrics series,” we’re now back to our regularly scheduled program! And really, Kang San Eh’s 1992 debut song “Raguyo” is the perfect song to be featured in the series’ “comeback” because it is one that needed two other songs to be first featured in preparation for its own.
“Raguyo”
Singer: Kang San Eh
Song written and composed by Kang San Eh
Lyrics translated by Blue1004
두만강 푸른물에 노젓는 뱃사공을 볼수는 없었지만
Though I was never able to see the oarsman paddling on the blue water of the Tumen River,
그 노래만은 너무 잘 아는건
The reason why I know that song so well
내 아버지 레파토리
Is because among my father’s song repertoire
그 중에 십팔번이기 때문에
It is his favorite
십팔번이기 때문에
Because it is his favorite…
고향 생각나실때면
When he would miss his hometown,
소주가 필요하다 하시고
He would say he needs some soju
눈물로 지새우시던
And lie awake all night in tears
내아버지 이렇게 얘기했죠
My father told me,
죽기전에 꼭 한번만이라도 가봤으면 좋겠구나
“It would be nice to go there just once before I die”
라구요
He said
눈보라 휘날리는 바람찬 흥남부두 가보지는 못했지만
Though I’ve never been to Port Heungnam where a snowstorm raged on,
그 노래만은 너무 잘 아는건
The reason why I know that song so well
내 어머니 레파토리
Is because among my mother’s song repertoire
그 중에 십팔번이기 때문에
It is her favorite
십팔번이기 때문에
Because it is her favorite…
남은 인생남았으면 얼마나 남았겠니 하시고
“How much longer will I be able to live?” she would say
눈물로 지새우시던
And lie awake all night in tears
내어머니 이렇게 얘기했죠
My mother told me,
죽기전에 꼭 한번만이라도 가봤으면 좋겠구나
“It would be nice to go there just once before I die”
라구요
She said
About the singer and the song:
Kang San Eh (real name: Kang Young Geol) literally means “at the river and the mountain.” (Kang/강 = “river”; San/산 = “mountain”; Eh/에 = “at.”) When joined together, the word kangsan is also used to refer to “nature” in general. As a singer-songwriter, Kang San Eh received an award for his lyrics at the 1994 Korean Lyrics Awards. (Yeah, I didn’t know there was such an award either.) But I believe that his award was for his second album, and not for the first which includes the featured song “Raguyo.”
The song title “Raguyo” (“라구요”) is pretty difficult to translate. Derived from “라고” (“Ra-go”), it is a part of speech called a particle that indicates that the words it follows or is attached to is an indirect quotation. Thus, I think it can be best understood as “he said”/”she said.”
Kang San Eh’s “Raguyo” was in fact a song written for his mother before he made his debut as a singer and was living in Japan. While in Japan, he discovered the joy of songwriting. One day he missed his mother, and so he decided to write a song for her and recorded it. He sent the recorded song along with his letter to his mother in Korea.
Kang San Eh explains:
“My mother is originally from Jecheon in Chungcheongbuk-do (North Chungcheon province in what is now South Korea). But she married a man from Hamgyeong-do (a province in what is now North Korea) and moved there. When the Korean War broke out, she took refuge in the south and eventually became separated from her husband. Ever since I was a child, I remember how my mother used to sing and even cry as she told me the stories of her past.”
His mother eventually met and married another man, who became Kang San Eh’s birth father. However, as Kang San Eh’s father’s hometown is also Hamgyeong-do, his Hamgyeong-do accent became more apparent whenever he became drunk.
The lyrics to “Raguyo” refers to Tumen River and Port Heungnam. They are locations in what is now North Korea that have been referred to in the lyrics of two other older songs- Kim Jung Gu’s “Tumen River, Soaked in Tears” and Hyun In’s “Be Strong, Geum-soon.” For the lyrics and my explanations of those two songs, you can go to their respective links.
Although the song “Raguyo” came to represent the sadness of those Koreans who became separated from their families in North Korea after the Korean War, Kang San Eh explains that the song was written never with that purpose in mind. Instead, it was simply a little personal song written for and dedicated to his beloved mother. (Source: Yonhap News)
7 comments
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joonni
December 4, 2011 at 6:46 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I was just recently introduced to this song watching “Come To Play” so this very cool. Did you watch the episode where Kang San Eh appeared? Hearing him sing the song without any accompaniment was great. Thank you for this post!
blue
December 7, 2011 at 12:38 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Yup, I watched the episode! I’ve actually started writing this post a day or two before I watched that CTP episode and thought it was fate! His narration about his mother in the middle of the song was very touching.
lovepark
December 4, 2011 at 11:54 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thanks for the post. I really enjoy your Beautiful Lyrics post.
I love Kang San-ae! He seems so laid back, and I like his music and voice. Plus, I really appreciate singers who are actually musicians and make their own music.
birdscout
December 5, 2011 at 9:36 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Oh my goodness! This song brought tears to my eyes. Kang San Eh’s voice and emotion are so touching. Thank you so much, Blue, for this. I am enjoying these music posts so much and discovering music I would not have found on my own. The translations and background info on the artist and history really make these posts unique and invaluable. Again, thank you!
blue
December 7, 2011 at 12:41 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
It really is an honor to introduce to others the music of singers who may not be as well-known but still deserve their own spotlight. I’m glad that you’re enjoying these posts! Thanks for the comment!
Soleus
January 21, 2012 at 10:01 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
It is so difficult to find information on english websites about kang san eh. I served in korea alongside korean soldiers. One day i heard a song on the radio and asked my korean friend, “who is that.” and he said, “his name is kang san eh”. Another time months later i was with the same friend at an airshow and music was playing on the speakers, and i said, “who is that?” and he smiled and said, “that is kang san eh! I think you like him.” thank you for sharing this.
I think there was a song on this album that begins “ne kasumeh…” that was very touching. Do you know it? I cant seem to find it online.
blue
January 21, 2012 at 11:01 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hi Soleus!
I think the song you’re thinking of is “내마음의 구멍” (“The Hole In My Heart”), and it was included in his third album from 1998. You’re right. I couldn’t find it anywhere online either. The lyrics to that song is so poetic, as is many of Kang San Eh’s songs!