[North Korean Pop Song] 휘파람(Whistle) - English Translations

 

 

Translations (done by me), scroll to the bottom for some notes and explanations about the song

 

[Verse 1]  0:23

어제밤에도 불었네 휘파람 휘파람

Even last night, I whistled and whistled

벌써 몇달째 불었네 휘파람 휘파람

For months, I've whistled and whistled

복순이네 집앞을 지날땐

When I pass BokSun's house,

이 가슴 설레어

My heart flutters

나도 모르게 안타까이 휘파람 불었네

Without thinking, sadly, I whistled

 

반응형

 

[Chorus] 0:55

휘, 휘 휘, 호 호호, 휘 휘 호호, 호

Whi, whi, whi, whistling, whi, whi, whistling

휘, 휘 휘, 호 호호, 휘휘 호호 호

Whi, whi, whi, whistling, whi, whi, whistling

 

[Verse 2]  1:13

한번 보면은 어쩐지 다시 못볼듯

Once I see her, somehow, as if I won't be able to see her again

보고 또봐도 그모습 또보고싶네

Regardless how many times I see her, I want to see her again

 

오늘 계획 삼백을 했다고 생긋이 웃을때

When she smiles saying she did 300 of labor  plans,

이 가슴에 불이 인다오

My heart lights up

이 일을 어찌하랴

What should I do

 

[Chorus] 1:42

휘, 휘 휘, 호 호호, 휘 휘 호호, 호

Whi, whi, whi, whistling, whi, whi, whistling

휘, 휘 휘, 호 호호, 휘휘 호호 호

Whi, whi, whi, whistling, whi, whi, whistling

 

[Bridge] 2:09

휘휘,호호- 휘휘,호호-

Whi,whi,whistling, whi,whi,whistling-

휘-호- 휘파람

whi-whi whistling

 

[Verse 3]  2:22

어제밤에도 불었네 휘파람 휘파람

Even last night, I whistled and whistled

벌써 몇달째 불었네 휘파람 휘파람

For months, I've whistled and whistled

혁신자의 꽃다발 안고서

If I hug the flowers of the innovator*,

휘파람 불면은

and whistle

복순이도 내마음 알리라

Boksun would know of my feelings for her

알아주리라

She would, for sure

 

[Chorus] 2:50

휘, 휘 휘, 호 호호, 휘 휘 호호, 호

Whi, whi, whi, whistling, whi, whi, whistling

휘, 휘 휘, 호 호호, 휘휘 호호 호

Whi, whi, whi, whistling, whi, whi, whistling

 

[Outro] 3:03

아--- 휘파람, 아-- 휘파람

Ah, whistling, Ah, whistling

아--- 휘파람, 휘, 휘, 호, 호, 휘파람

Ah, whistling, Whi, whi, whistling

휘-- 호--

whistling-

 

*Notes about the song*

It's a song sung from a man's perspective to a girl named BokSun whom he loves.

 

Some interesting things are shown in the lyrics:

-There are some lyrics showing(boasting) North Korea's communist state.

On verse 2, the protagonist's heart 'lights up(in happiness)' hearing that his lover did ‘300 of her labor plans’. On verse 3, there are lyrics of 'the innovator(most likely Kim)’.

-This music and video is most likely made by the state. The North Korea that is shown here(apartment buildings!) is the better part of North Korea. Most North Koreans live in a much worse state. 

-Linguistically, as a South Korean, it’s quite fascinating how North Korea does much less spacing between words than South Korea. ‘내 마음 (my feelings)’ is ‘내마음(myfeelings)’ in North Korean punctuation. Also, it’s written in a much antique style of speech. The lyrics are like script from the 1900s. The name used (Bok-sun) is also an antique name(a ‘grandma-name’).

 

I had an assignment in school to research the ways South Korea should preserve its traditional music(gug-ak). So I searched up North Korea’s pop music, thinking it would have some traditional music in it. But I was met with synth-music that sounds like it’s from the 80s, with some communist propaganda sprinkled on top. There’s no sight of traditional Korean music in this song.

 

I did this translation in a whim, seeing that a lot of people wanted translations. So here you go! Hope you have a nice day.

 

-a South Korean student