[Final Update]Lyrics: Seven Songs from The Nuts

Songs are easier to translate because they are shorter but also harder to translate because they are poetic and incomplete. Because I don’t know how to keep it both poetic and understandable, I’ve chosen to translate these songs not word for word but meaning by meaning.The lyrics lost a lot of its poetry through this kind of translation but if I translated them the way it is written word for word, the grammar and message would have be all over the place. I would rather convey the meaning of the lyrics than let an amateur translation ruin the song.

The Nuts is the band that Ji Hyun Woo was a part of as the lead guitarist and sub-vocal. The group debuted in 2005 and their most recent single was released in 2009.

Someone requested that I translate the lyrics to these four songs from The Nuts’ discography. As you can read, these songs are pretty typical of ballads from that era- sad, angsty, and dramatic. So are the music videos. Back then these would have moved me to tears. Now I am a cold, cynical soul. 😉

Dot Dot Dot (쩜쩜쩜) (2008, 3rd album “Could’ve Been”)

Whenever I stand in front of you, I choke up.
Tears well up because of my pitiful appearance.
The words I practiced all night.
In the end I’m a fool that couldn’t say one word or even one letter.

The common and easy phrase, the words “I love you.”
The phrase I wanted to say, the words “I miss you.”
I couldn’t say those words and I..

When you see me by chance, I just give a tender smile.
when you pass me by chance, I just turn around and sigh.
Once again I painfully talk to myself.

“You see” dot dot dot.
“It’s nothing” dot dot dot.
The words that are hidden behind.
The words that are like teardrops.
I guess you don’t hear them.
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
The words inside my heart.

The phrase that is too painful to me, the words “I love you.”
The phrase that is buried in my heart, the words “I miss you.”
I couldn’t say those words and I…

When you see me looking at your love, I just give a tender smile .
When you see me looking at your happiness, I just turn around and sigh.
Once again I sadly lie.

“Congratulations” dot dot dot.
“That’s great” dot dot dot.
The words that are hidden behind.
The words that are like teardrops.
I guess you don’t hear them.
“Don’t love him.”
“Don’t go.”
The words inside my heart.

Once or Twice (한두번) (2008, 3rd album “Could’ve Been”)

We smiled, we cried, we even fought.
It takes a long time to remember that.
There was once a time when I spent all day content with thoughts of you.

I miss the greeting I always used to hear.
Just when I think I have forgotten, the words you used to say,
“I like you,”
linger in my head.

Even though I don’t think I am lonely,
today is difficult.

If I smile once and cry twice, it will be okay.
What I fear now is that memories of loving you will naturally become faint,
since there won’t be a love like this anymore.

If you treat me coldly, I will miss you more,
because you aren’t the type to treat me like that.
I don’t think of anyone else because I fear I will even forget those lips I kissed that night.

If I smile once and cry twice, it will be okay.
What I fear now is that memories of loving you will naturally become faint,
since there won’t be a love like this anymore.

Love is like that.
It will be okay.
What I fear now is that memories of loving you will naturally become faint,
since there won’t be a love like that anymore.

Love Fool (사랑의 바보) (2004, 1st album “The Nuts”)

Don’t speak that way.
Please don’t blame her.
To me, she is better than anyone else.

I was good to her because I wanted to be.
Even if I never hear “Thank you” from her,
if she just smiles for a moment, I’m okay.

Until someone she wants appears,
I’m only protecting her for a while.
Because I don’t desire anything else,
I’m happy just with this.
So she can use me whenever she needs to,
I will always be somewhere she can reach.
Even if she leaves one day without a word,
I will even love her disappearing back.

Because I’m a fool, it’s okay.
I can’t feel it no matter how much it hurts.
Don’t worry about me.
Even if you call me foolish, it can’t be helped.

I’m only proud of myself.
Even if she feels sorry for me,
I will continue to live as a fool for her.

Until someone she wants appears,
I’m only protecting her for a while.
Because I don’t desire anything else,
I’m happy just with this.
So she can use me whenever she needs to,
I will always be somewhere she can reach.
Even if she leaves one day without a word,
I will even love her disappearing back.

I know that one day she will leave me.
If there is a beginning, there must be an end.
Just to know when that is, I will go to the end.
Don’t look at me so pitifully.
Still, I’m happy.

On the day I have to send her away,
just buy me a drink.
On the day I have to send her away,
just buy me a drink.

She is Hurting (‪그녀가 아파요‬) (2009, 5th album “Truth J”)

I hope that you understand me who came so suddenly.
I didn’t give you any warning.
Rather than a short call, I wanted to see you in person.
I know it won’t be easy but I’m asking you.

I heard that you loved her a lot.
Do you still have that heart?
Even if it has changed because time has passed,
please meet her once.

She is hurting, hurting a lot.
She is crying because she misses you.
She keeps thinking about what she did wrong,
and because she is sorry, she’s holding back.
Meet her.

I’m the one who stole her. Please blame me.
I’m on my knees. Please.
She wants you, not me.
Please meet her.

She is hurting, hurting a lot.
She is crying because she misses you.
She keeps thinking about what she did wrong,
and because she is sorry, she’s holding back.

We don’t know how much time is left.
So that she can leave in peace…

She is hurting, hurting a lot.
You are her last love.
Please hold her hand and listen to her.
No words are needed.
So that she will be happy…

Nagging (잔소리) (2006, 2nd album “Whispers of Love”)

“Nothing’s happened, everything’s okay, right? See, I told you it would be okay.”
Your bright playful voice stays by my side all day.

Wherever I go, whatever I do, you don’t leave me alone.
What I should eat, what I should wear.
You nag me more every day.

So I cry because even though you are by ear,
the fact that I cannot see you makes me sad.

So I cry because you who are alive inside my heart,
I miss you so much, I miss you so much, it hurts.

“How is that girl?” Even if you pushed me to meet another girl,
ten out of ten times it couldn’t be achieved.
On those days, your nagging was like war.

So I cry because if I meet someone,
you won’t come by my ear again.

So I cry because if I send you away like that,
I will miss you, miss you so much, I will cry.

Why does it hurt so much, like my heart will burst?
When it’s only you that is not here.

So I cry because more than this world,
you have done so much more for me.

So I cry because without being able to hear you,
you have to live in my fist-size heart, I’m sorry.

One Love (2004, 1st album “The Nuts)

I will turn away now
so that you and he won’t ever see me again.
I can no longer expect or hope for anything from you.

But after a lot of time has passed,
if my breath and perfume is still on you.
Love that was always hard, unable to be realized.
If you also have a pain that is too big

Come back to me again.
I regret that I let you go.
The fact that we can’t be together.
Do you know that it is too painful for me?

Love that was always hard, unable to be realized.
If you also have a pain that is too big
come back to me.

To love with no regret, I chose only you.
You will come back to me someday.
After the hard times passed,
you are the person I found through my earnest wish.

Come back to me again.
I regret that I let you go.
The fact that we can’t be together,
Do you know that it is too painful for me?

Without a Greeting (인사없이) (2004, 1st album “The Nuts”)

Among all those people,
peeking in on your life
was my mistake.

I couldn’t pass you by.
I loved someone like you.
That became a sin.

I don’t have the confidence any more.
I want to end it.
Please go back.
Into time,
Cross over.

It can’t wait any longer.
Since you won’t be able to leave me,
I am leaving you without a greeting.

I have nothing to say.
Please hate the cowardly me.
Please live with that reason.

What is right,
I also don’t know.
I’m only trying to put thing back into place.

My one hope like my greed.
Be happy after you leave.

Live this world alone.
Don’t turn around.
Even if we meet by chance,
don’t stop and just step away.
Pass by without a greeting.

Forget me
and live this world alone.
Don’t turn around.
Even if we meet by chance.
Forget me
and live this world alone.
Don’t turn around.
Even if we meet by chance.
don’t stop and just step away.
Leave me without a greeting.

These photos are here because a little more Ji Hyun Woo never hurts. ❤