Finally had the time to really listen closely to all of the songs from 1/N’s latest album and I love the lyrics for this song so much! I can totally understand why Hoon (guitarist and also the guy who writes most of the lyrics for their songs!) names this song Youth. It doesn’t sound like much in English but the Chinese and Korean characters also capture the innocence and pureness of youth and one’s childhood – and I think that shows itself clearly throughout the lyrics. The second Chinese character of Youth actually means spring as well and sort of represents the fleeting beauty of one’s youth and childhood, just like how spring comes when the flowers bloom and goes off quickly too.
I absolutely love the first few lyrics and how heartfelt they are as it really makes me wonder what was the trigger or back story to this song. Also the addition of percussion to this song in the background really makes the song sound so soft(?) and just more emotional especially at the non-chorus verses. I tried to pay more attention in translating this song because I really wanted too convey the heartfelt emotions of the lyrics and how overwhelmingly good the song becomes when you understand the lyrics and pair it with the instrumentals of the song.
1/N – Youth | 엔분의 일 – 청춘 (青春）
떠나간 이들에게 사랑을 묻는 건 어쩜 바보 같은지
how foolish is it to ask about love to those who have left
더 깊은 사랑은 아마 남겨진 이가 더 잘 알 텐데
the people who are left behind probably know better about a deeper love
이 밤이 어두워졌다고 너 별을 부러워 마요
don’t be envious of the stars just because the night has gotten darker
아침이 오면 사라질 것에 맘을 두지 마요
don’t take to heart things that will disappear when the morning comes
변해진 이들에게 이유를 묻는 건 어떤 의미 있는지
what meaning is there to ask about the reason to those who have changed
지켜질 약속을 모두 지키지 못한 걸 이별이라 부르지
not being able to keep promises that were meant to be kept is what we call a break up
이 밤이 어두워졌다고 너 별을 부러워 마요
don’t be envious of the stars just because the night has gotten darker
아침이 오면 사라질 것에 맘을 주지 마요
don’t give your heart to things that will disappear when the morning comes
그날에 난 너를 만나 다시 아이가 됐고
I became a child again when I met you that day
이내 다시 너를 떠나 나는 어른이 되죠
and I became an adult in the days after you left again
순수했던 마음을 다시 꺼낼 수는 없어도
even if I cannot bring out my past innocence again
소중했던 시절은 영원히 기억되길 빌죠
I pray that I will forever remember the precious times
그날에 난 너를 만나 다시 아이가 됐고
I became a child again when I met you that day
이내 다시 너를 떠나 나는 어른이 되죠
and I became an adult in the days after you left again
순수했던 마음을 다시 꺼낼 수는 없어도
even if I cannot bring out my past innocence again
소중했던 시절은 영원히 기억되길 빌죠
I pray that I will forever remember the precious times
그날에 난 너를 만나 다시 아이가 됐고
I became a child again when I met you that day
이내 다시 너를 떠나 나는 어른이 되죠
and I became an adult in the days after you left again
순수했던 마음을 다시 꺼낼 수는 없어도
even if I cannot bring out my past innocence again
소중했던 시절은 영원히 기억되길 빌죠
I pray that I will forever remember the precious times
그날에 난 너를 만나 다시 아이가 됐고
I became a child again when I met you that day
이내 다시 너를 떠나 나는 어른이 되죠
and I became an adult in the days after you left again
순수했던 마음을 다시 꺼낼 수는 없어도
even if I cannot bring out my past innocence again
소중했던 시절은 영원히 기억되길 빌죠
I pray that I will forever remember the precious times
그날에 난 너를 만나 다시 아이가 됐고
I became a child again when I met you that day
이내 다시 너를 떠나 나는 어른이 되죠
and I became an adult in the days after you left again
순수했던 마음을 다시 꺼낼 수는 없어도
even if I cannot bring out my past innocence again
소중했던 시절은 영원히 기억되길 빌죠
I pray that I will forever remember the precious times
HAEBARAGIS 