[Romanized:]
[Jungkook:]
Oh, ah, yeah
[Rap Monster:]
Eojjieojji georeo badaewane
I badaeseo naneun haebyeoneul bwa
Musuhan moraealgwamaeseopgo geochin baram
Yeojeonhi naneun samageul bwa
Badil gajgo sipeo neol ontong deurikeosseo
Geunde geujeonbodadeo mogi malla
Naegadaaneun geosi jinjeong badainga
Animyeon pureun samaginga
[J-Hope:]
I don’t know I don’t know
Naegajigeum padorol neukkigo ineunji yeah
I don’t know I don’t know
Ajikdo morebaramejjoccgigo ineunji yeah
I don’t know I don’t know
Badainji samaginji huimanginji jeolmanginji
Jinjjainji gajjainji shit
I know I know
Jigeum nae siryeonul
I know I know
Igyeonael geoseul
I know I know
Nat kkaballeo
Naegauijihal gosiran geoseul
Johge saenggakhae mareunchim samkyeo
Buranhadeorado samagiljirado
Areumdaun namibeu samagirago
[Jimin, Jin:]
Huimangi ineun gose bandeusi siryeoni ine
Huimangi ineun gosen bandeusi siryeoni ine
Huimangi ineun gose bandeusi siryeoni ine
Huimangi ineun gosen bandeusi siryeoni ine
[V, Jungkook:]
Huimangi ineun gosen
You know you know you know yeah yeah
Huimangi ineun gosen
You know you know you know yeah yeah
[Suga:]
Badainjul aradeon yeogineun doeryeo samagieogo
Byeolge eopneun jungsoaidori dubeonjjae ireumieosseo
Bangsonge jjalligineunmwo bujigisu
Nuguui ttaemppangi uriui kkum
Eotteon ideureun hoesagajagaseo jedaeromosttolgeorae
I know I know nado areo
Hanbangeseo ilgobi jamdeul cheonghadeon sijeoldo
Jami deulgijeon naeireun dareulgeoran miryeondo
Samagui singiru hyeongtaeneun boijiman japhijineun anhago
Kkeuti eopdeon i samageseo saranamgeol bireo
Hyeonsiri anigireul bireo
Gyeolguk singiruneun japhigo hyeonsiri dwaego
Duryeopdeon samageun uriui pittamnunmeullo jeo badagadwaesseo
Geunde i haengbokdeul saie i duryeoeumdeureun mwolkka
Wonrae igoseun samagirangeol urin neomujarara
Ulgo sipji anha
Swigo sipji anha
(Ani jogeumman swimyeon eottae
Ani ani ani)
Jigo sipji anha
Wonrae samagijanha
(Geureom daallyeochwne
Deo uulhaeyaji mwo)
[Jungkook, V:]
Huimangi ineun gose bandeusi siryeoni ine
Huimangi ineun gosen bandeusi siryeoni ine
Huimangi ineun gose bandeusi siryeoni ine
Huimangi ineun gosen bandeusi siryeoni ine
[Jimin, Jin:]
Huimangi ineun gosen
You know you know you know yeah yeah
Huimangi ineun gosen
You know you know you know yeah yeah
[Rap Monster:]
Ocean, desert and the world
Everything, same thing
Different night
I see ocean,l see desert
I see the world
Everything, same thing
Different night
It’s life again
[V, Jungkook:]
Huimangi ineun gosen
You know you know you know yeah yeah
Huimangi ineun gosen
You know you know you know yeah yeah
[Jin, Jungkook, Jimin:]
Huimangi ineun gose bandeusi siryeoni ine
Huimangi ineun gosen bandeusi siryeoni ine
Huimangi ineun gose bandeusi siryeoni ine
Huimangi ineun gosen bandeusi siryeoni ine
[V:]
Urin jeolmangieoyahaegeumodeun siryeoneul wihae
Urin jeolmangieoyahaegeumodeun siryeoneul wihae
[Korean:]
[Jungkook:]
Oh, ah, yeah
[RM:]
어찌어찌 걸어 바다에 왔네
이 바다에서 나는 해변을 봐
무수한 모래알과 매섭고 거친 바람
여전히 나는 사막을 봐
바다 갖고 싶어 널 온통 들이켰어
근데 그 전보다 더 목이 말라
내가 다 아는 것이 진정 바다인가
아니면 푸른 사막인가
[J-Hope:]
I don’t know I don’t know
내가 지금 파도를 느끼고 있는지 yeah
I don’t know I don’t know
아직도 모래바람에 쫓기고 있는지 yeah
I don’t know I don’t know
바다인지 사막인지 희망인지 절망인지
진짜인지 가짜인지 shit
I know I know 지금 내 시련을
I know I know 이겨낼 것을
I know I know
나야말로 네가 의지할 곳이란 것을
좋게 생각해 마른침 삼켜
불안하더라도 사막일지라도
아름다운 나미브 사막이라고
[Jimin, Jin:]
희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 시련이 있네
희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 시련이 있네
희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 시련이 있네
희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 시련이 있네
[V, Jungkook:]
희망이 있는 곳엔
You know you know you know you know yeah yeah
희망이 있는 곳엔
You know you know you know you know yeah yeah
[Suga:]
바다인줄 알았던 여기는 되려 사막이었고
별거 없는 중소아이돌이 두번째 이름이었어
방송에 짤리기는 뭐 부지기수
누구의 땜빵이 우리의 꿈
어떤 이들은 회사가 작아서
제대로 못 뜰거래
I know I know 나도 알어
한방에서 일곱이 잠을 청하던 시절도
잠이 들기전에 내일은
다를거란 믿음도
사막의 신기루 형태는 보이지만
잡히지는 않았고
끝이 없던 이 사막에서 살아남길 빌어
현실이 아니기를 빌어
결국 신기루는 잡히고
현실이 됐고
두렵던 사막은
우리의 피 땀 눈물로 채워 바다가 됐어
그런데 이 행복들 사이에
이 두려움 들은 뭘까
원래 이곳은 사막이란걸 우린 너무 잘 알아
울고 싶지 않아
쉬고 싶지 않아
아니 조금만 쉬면 어때
아니 아니 아니
지고 싶지 않아
원래 사막이잖아
그럼 달려야지 뭐
더 우울해야지 뭐
[Jungkook, V:]
희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 시련이 있네
희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 시련이 있네
희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 시련이 있네
희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 시련이 있네
[Jimin, Jin:]
희망이 있는 곳엔
You know you know you know you know yeah yeah
희망이 있는 곳엔
You know you know you know you know yeah yeah
[RM:]
Ocean, desert, the world
Everything is the same thing
Different name
I see ocean, I see desert, I see the world
Everything is the same thing
But with different name
It’s life again
[V, Jungkook:]
희망이 있는 곳엔
You know you know you know you know yeah yeah
희망이 있는 곳엔
You know you know you know you know yeah yeah
[Jin, Jungkook, Jimin:]
희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 절망이 있네
희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 절망이 있네
희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 절망이 있네
희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 절망이 있네
[V:]
우린 절망해야해 그 모든 시련을 위해
우린 절망해야해 그 모든 시련을 위해
[English Translation:]
[Jungkook:]
Oh, ah, yeah
[Rap Monster:]
I just started walking and ended up at the sea
I’m looking at the coast from here
There’s endless sand and the rough wind
I’m still looking at a desert
I wanted to have the sea so I swallowed you up
But I’m even thirstier than before
Is what I know really the ocean?
Or a blue desert?
[J-Hope:]
I don’t know, I don’t know
If I’m feeling the waves right now, yeah
I don’t know, I don’t know
If I’m being chased by the sand wind, yeah
I don’t know, I don’t know
Is this the sea or the desert?
Is this hope or despair?
Is this real or fake? shit
I know, I know, my hardship right now
I know, I know, I’ll overcome
I know, I know, open me up
It’s the place I can rely on
Think positive, I’m swallowing my dry spit
Even if I’m nervous, even if I’m in a desert
I’m in the beautiful Namib Desert
[Jimin, Jin:]
Where there is hope, there is always hardship
Where there is hope, there is always hardship
Where there is hope, there is always hardship
Where there is hope, there is always hardship
[V, Jungkook:]
Where there is hope
You know, you know
You know, yeah yeah
Where there is hope
You know, you know
You know, yeah yeah
[Suga:]
I thought this was the ocean but it’s a desert
A medium-sized, ordinary idol was my second name
Countless people get cut from broadcast
But someone’s empty spot is our dream
They say some of these kids can’t make it cuz their agency is too small
I know, I know, I know too
Times when the seven of us had to sleep in one room
With foolish hope that tomorrow will be different before we fell asleep
We saw the mirage in the desert but we couldn’t grasp it
Praying that we’ll remain in this desert till the end
Praying that this isn’t truly our reality
In the end, we reached the mirage and it became our reality
The scary desert became the ocean with our blood, sweat and tears
But why is there this fear in between the happiness?
Because we know too well that this place is really a desert
I don’t wanna cry
I don’t wanna rest
No, who cares if we rest a little?
No no no
I don’t wanna lose
It’s always a desert
I told you everything
Then I’ll just be more depressed
[Jungkook, V:]
Where there is hope, there is always hardship
Where there is hope, there is always hardship
[Jimin, Jin:]
Where there is hope
You know, you know
You know, yeah yeah
Where there is hope
You know, you know
You know, yeah yeah
[Rap Monster:]
Ocean, desert, the world
Everything, the same thing
Different name
I see ocean, l see desert
I see the world
Everything’s, the same thing
With a different name
It’s life again
[V, Jungkook:]
Where there is hope
You know you know you know yeah
Where there is hope
You know you know you know yeah
[Jin, Jungkook, Jimin:]
Where there is hope, there is always despair
Where there is hope, there is always despair
[V:]
We need to be in despair, for all our hardships
We need to be in despair, for all our hardships
Between Ocean and Desert: The Journey of BTS in “Sea”
“바다 (Sea)” by BTS paints a vivid metaphorical landscape where the ocean and the desert intertwine, reflecting the group’s arduous journey from obscurity to global stardom. The lyrics oscillate between hope and despair, using the sea as a symbol of dreams and the desert as the struggle and loneliness that often accompanies ambition. The members confess to moments of doubt and thirst for success, even as they achieve their goals. The recurring refrain, “where there is hope, there is always hardship,” encapsulates the bittersweet reality of pursuing one’s dreams—every moment of happiness is closely shadowed by fear and challenge. This duality creates an emotional resonance that many listeners, especially those striving for their own aspirations, can deeply relate to.
Song Credits
- Performed by: BTS
- Songwriters: RM, Suga, J-Hope, Slow Rabbit, Supreme Boi, Pdogg
- Release Year: 2017
- Label: Big Hit Entertainment