Born Singer

I’m a born singer 좀 늦어버린 고백 (I swear)
I’m a born singer, a little belated confession (I swear)

언제나 멀기만했었던 신기루가 눈 앞에 있어 (여기 있어)
The mirage that always seemed so far away is now before my eyes (It’s here)

I’m a born singer 어쩌면 이른 고백 (이른 고백)
I’m a born singer, perhaps it’s an early confession (early confession)

그래도 너무 행복해 I’m good (whoa whoa)
But still, I’m so happy, I’m good (whoa whoa)

난생 처음 방탄이란 이름으로 선 무대
The very first stage we stood on under the name Bangtan

삼년 전 첫무대의 마음을 다시 검문해
I revisit how I felt about that first time on stage 3 years ago

여전히 대구 촌놈 랩퍼와 다를게 없었지 But
I was still just a country bumpkin rapper from Daegu but

아마추어란 단어 위에 프로란 단어를 덧 썼지
I wrote the word ‘pro’ on top of ‘amateur’

그토록 원하던 무대 랩을 하며 춤 출때
I wanted the stage so bad, and when I rap and dance on it

아직 살아 있음을 느껴 피곤하고 고된 출퇴근
It makes me feel alive, going to work every day is hard and exhausting

따위는 견딜만해 내 사람들이 지켜보니까
But it’s bearable because my people are watching over me

몸이 아파도 버틸만해 함성들이 밀려 오니까
Even if my body hurts I can endure the pain, because the cheers come rolling in

데뷔 전후의 차의점
The difference between before and after debut

아이돌과 랩퍼 사이 경계에
Although I’m living on the boundary between idol and rapper

살아도 여전히 내 공책엔 라임이 차있어
My notebook’s still filled with rhymes

대기실과 무대 사이에선 펜을 들고 가사를 써
Backstage in the green room and between performances I hold a pen and write lyrics

이런 내가 니들 눈에는 뭐가 달라졌어?
When this is how I still am, then what’s changed in your eyes?

Damn shit 난 여전해
Damn shit I’m still the same

내가 변했다고? (What) 가서 전해
I changed, you say? (What) Go and tell them

변함없이 본질을 지켜 I’m still rapperman
Without change I keep my essence, I’m still rapperman

3년전과 다름없이 랩하고 노래해 I’m out
No different than 3 years ago I rap and sing, I’m out

I’m a born singer 좀 늦어버린 고백 (I swear)
I’m a born singer, a little belated confession (I swear)

언제나  멀기만했었던 신기루가 눈 앞에 있어 (여기 있어)
The mirage that always seemed so far away is now before my eyes (It’s here)

I’m a born singer 어쩌면 이른 고백 (이른 고백)
I’m a born singer, perhaps it’s an early confession (early confession)

그래도 너무 행복해 I’m good (whoa whoa)
But still, I’m so happy, I’m good (whoa whoa)

솔직히 두려웠었어 큰 소린 쳐놨는데 날 증명한다는게
Honestly I was afraid, I’d shouted loud about proving myself

펜과 책만 알던 애가 이제 세상을 놀래킨다는게 I dunno
The fact that a kid who only knew pens and books is now shocking the world, I dunno

세상의 기대치와 너무 비대칭 할까봐 두려웠어
I was afraid I’d stand asymmetrical to the world’s expectations

나를 믿어줬던 모든 사람들을 배신하게 될까봐
I was worried I’d betray all those who believed in me

무거운 어께를 펴고 첫 무대에 올라
I straighten my heavy shoulders and go up on my first stage

찰나의 짧은 정적 숨을 골라
In the brief moment of silence, I steady my breath

내가 지켜봤던 사람들이 이젠 날 지켜보고 있네
The people I’ve been watching are now all watching me

항상 올려봤던 TV속 그들이 지금은 내 밑에
Those I looked up to on TV, right now they’re beneath me

Uh 주마등처럼 스칠 틈도 없이 한번뿐인 연극은 시작 돼버렸지
Uh this single-night play began, flashing by so fast there was no time to even catch a glimpse

3분만에 증발한 내 3년의 피땀 피터지는 마이크와의 기싸움
Three years of battling with the mic, doused in blood and sweat, and it just evaporates in 3 minutes

몇십초일 뿐이었지만 똑똑히 쏟아내 I’m fuckin real
It was barely a few seconds but it’s all flowing back so clearly, I’m fuckin real

야임마 니 꿈은 뭐야 나는 랩스타가 되는 거야 can’t you feel
”Hey you, what’s your dream?”* Mine is to become a rap star can’t you feel

그리고 내려온 순간 그 함성 yeah I could read your mind (uh yeah)
And the moment we came down, those cheers yeah I could read your mind (uh yeah)

I could read your mind 물음표 대신 미소만
I could read your mind, just smiles instead of question marks

말없이 멤버들은 그저 내 어깨를 두드려줬어
The members patted my shoulder wordlessly

꼭 엊그제같은데 스무 밤이 흘러버렸어
It feels just like the day before yesterday but 20 nights have passed already

And let the haters on me 걔네가 늘상 해온 일
And let the haters on me, that’s always been their job

니네가 키보드 놀릴동안 난 내 꿈들을 채웠지
While you all were playing at the keyboard, I fulfilled my dreams

썬글라스 hair style 왜 욕하는지 알아
Sun glasses, hair style, I know why you ridicule me

어쨌든 스무살에 너보다 잘나가는 나야
In any case, at age 20 I’m the one doing better

I’m a born singer 좀 늦어버린 고백 (I swear)
I’m a born singer, a little belated confession (I swear)

언제나  멀기만했었던  신기루가 눈 앞에 있어 (여기 있어)
The mirage that always seemed so far away is now before my eyes (It’s here)

I’m a born singer 어쩌면 이른 고백 (이른 고백)
I’m a born singer, perhaps it’s an early confession (early confession)

그래도 너무 행복해 I’m good (whoa whoa)
But still, I’m so happy, I’m good (whoa whoa)

우리가 뛰었던 날 우리 같이 겪었던 날
The days we’ve run through, the days we’ve been through together

3년이란 시간 모두 하나가 됐던 마음
This feeling like we’ve all become one over these last three years

그렇게 흘린 피땀이 날 적시네
I’m drenched with the blood and sweat I’ve spilled

무대가 끝난 뒤 눈물이 번지네
After the performance tears start flowing

매순간 마다 자신에게 다짐해 초심을 잃지 않게
Every single moment I promise myself not to forget why I started

항상 나답게 처음의 나에게 부끄럽지 않게
To always be myself, so I don’t embarrass the me from the beginning

So we go we go we go

더 위로 위로 위로
Higher higher higher

I’m a born singer 좀 늦어버린 고백 (I swear)
I’m a born singer, a little belated confession (I swear)

언제나  멀기만했었던  신기루가 눈 앞에 있어 (여기 있어)
The mirage that always seemed so far away is now before my eyes (It’s here)

I’m a born singer 어쩌면 이른 고백 (이른 고백)
I’m a born singer, perhaps it’s an early confession (early confession)

그래도 너무 행복해 I’m good (whoa whoa)
But still, I’m so happy, I’m good (whoa whoa)

Translators’ Notes: 

* Lyrics from No More Dream.