I didn’t have any song lined up for this week’s “Beautiful Lyrics series,” and so this week’s featured song comes as a special request from a reader. I’ve already featured this song once before, but as I agree that Jo Sumi’s “If I Leave” is one of the most beautiful (and saddest) song pretty much ever, I think it is worthwhile to introduce the complete lyrics.
The poetic lyrics combined with classical vocalist Jo Sumi’s clear but emotive voice create an almost haunting effect to this song, featured in the official soundtrack of the 2001-2002 KBS drama Empress Myung Sung. (And yes, at over 10 minutes, this song has one of the longest music videos around!)
“If I Leave”
Singer: Jo Sumi
Lyrics by Kang Eun Kyung
Music composed by Lee Kyung Sub
Lyrics translated by Blue1004
쓸쓸한 달빛 아래
Under the lonely moonlight,
내 그림자 하나 생기거든
when my sole shadow forms
그땐 말해볼까요 이 마음
Shall I tell you then what’s in my heart
들어나 주라고
Will you please hear me out?
문득 새벽을 알리는
Alerting of the sudden dawn,
그 바람 하나가 지나거든
When that wind passes by,
그저 한숨쉬듯 물어볼까요
Shall I ask as I let out a sigh,
나는 왜 살고 있는지
the reason as to why I live?
나 슬퍼도 살아야 하네
Though I may be sad, I must live on.
나 슬퍼서 살아야 하네
Because I’m sad, I must live on.
이 삶이 다하고 나야 알텐데
Only after my passing will I understand,
내가 이 세상을 다녀간 그 이유
The reason as to why I came to this world.
나 가고 기억하는 이
The one who will remember (me) after I leave
나 슬픔까지도 사랑했다 말해주길
may say that you loved even my sorrow.
흩어진 노을처럼
Like the scattered sunset,
내 아픈 기억도 바래지면
When my painful memories fade
그땐 웃어질까요 이 마음
Will I be able to then laugh over them,
그리운 옛 일로
And regard them as fond memories of the past?
저기 홀로 선 별 하나
That sole star shinining above,
나의 외로움을 아는 건지
Perhaps it knows of my loneliness.
차마 날 두고는 떠나지 못해
Unable to bear leaving me alone,
밤새 그 자리에만
It lingers there all night.
나 슬퍼도 살아야 하네
Though I may be sad, I must live on.
나 슬퍼서 살아야 하네
Because I’m sad, I must live on.
이 삶이 다하고 나야 알텐데
Only after my passing will I understand,
내가 이 세상을 다녀간 그 이유
The reason as to why I came to this world.
나 가고 기억하는 이
The one who will remember (me) after I leave
내 슬픔까지도 사랑하길
May you have loved even my sorrow.
부디 먼 훗날 나 가고 슬퍼하는 이
The one who will be saddened, far away in the future after I leave
내 슬픔속에도 행복했다 믿게해
Makes me believe that even in my sorrow, I was happy.*
(*Note: The lyrics to the last two lines of the song as featured in the music video are slightly different from the lyrics of the song as featured in the soundtrack. The lyrics above is that of the song as included in the soundtrack.)
Empress Myung Sung (The Lost Empire) OST - “나 가거든” (“If I Leave”) by Jo Sumi [ Download ]
There are many different versions of the song around, from singers likes Kim Bum Soo, Yangpa, Kim Kyung Ho, and most recently Park Jung Hyun in I Am a Singer. Although they’re undoubtably some of the best vocalists of Korea, I don’t think any of them did quite the justice that only Jo Sumi can do for this song, except for perhaps the 11-year old voice of an angel, Kim Jung In?
But many still may be familiar with the song from when Lee Hyun Jin’s Ki-young character sang a beautiful rendition of it in his 2011 MBC drama You’ve Fallen For Me.
10 comments
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InLove
December 11, 2011 at 2:56 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
So beautiful! I love the version from You’ve Fallen for me because it’s so sparse and features the singer’s voice.
diorama
December 11, 2011 at 8:02 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Gorgeous! I heard it for the first time in You’ve Fallen for Me and was totally floored by the melody and by Lee Hyun Jin’s voice. This version is a little more mellow, but it’s just as pretty.
thundie
December 11, 2011 at 9:02 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I’ve loved this song since forever. Thank you for translating it!
supah
December 15, 2011 at 7:16 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
It was thanks to you thundie, for posting that Empress Myeongseong clip that I simply had to watch the drama too.
But yes, song is stunning, thanks again blue for the translated lyrics.
vikky
December 11, 2011 at 10:50 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thank you so much for translating the full song. I love this song.
Laica
December 12, 2011 at 4:18 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I first heard this song in YFFM, and it’s beautiful, but the Jo Sumi version is so gorgeous it sends chills down my spine. The first time I saw that video I cried.
Thank you for translating the lyrics, I always wanted to know what they were.
joonni
December 12, 2011 at 4:30 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I love this song. Thank you so much for featuring it!
I never saw the drama, but I did watch the music video. I thought the song really matched the storyline in that 1) Jo Sumi’s voice fits the face of Lee Mi Yeon; 2) Jo Sumi and the lyrics really bring out the loneliness on someone who must and can only rely on themselves; and 3) that really portrays a woman’s feelings. There is something about the lyrics that make me thing of a lonely woman, not a man. Do you feel that way too, Blue?
blue
December 12, 2011 at 4:52 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
It’s interesting you said that because I never imagined it could possibly be anything but a woman’s point of view. I guess I’ve always imagined the song from the viewpoint of Empress Myung Sung, which just makes this song even sadder. This is just one reason why Lee Hyun Jin’s version just doesn’t do it for me… as great as he sounds.
nauna
December 12, 2011 at 5:49 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
This song always gives me the chills whenever I hear it. I do think it’s better suited for a woman’s voice, although I have to admit being blown away by LHJ when I heard him sing it. He was so sadly underused in YFFM.
And the little 11-year old brought tears to my eyes!
Thanks for providing the lyrics.
biruCHOCOLATE
December 28, 2011 at 9:24 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
if both of them….sumi n hyun jin collabs for this song….it will be extremely beautiful!!!
i’m searching for the romanize version of the song….although i know how to read hangul…but it takes times since i’m so damn lazy to write it myself…anyway thankz for translating this….*heartbreaking-ly sad*….T.T