‘After My Love Left’ (Nim Ddeonan Hu) is, in many ways, Young-ro’s song.
The song features heavily in the first couple of episodes: first when Young-ro and her roommates sing and dance to it, and again as Young-ro sits and waits for Soo-ho at the Roma Café the day after the group date. It appears a third time when Young-ro, Jeong-min, and Seol-hee sing it in the sauna in EP02. Much like ‘One Way Ticket,’ the song’s upbeat melody belies its sad lyrics.
‘After My Love Left’ is the title song of Jang Deok’s third studio album, released in June of 1986. Aside from the B-side track 5 song ‘Oh, The Republic of Korea!,’ which she was obligated to record by the military government at the time, a total of nine songs on the album — ‘After My Love Left’ included — were composed by Jang Deok herself.
Vocals: Jang Deok (1986)
Composition: Jang Deok | Lyrics: Jang Deok
사랑했던 사람은 곁에 없지만
sarang-haetteon saram-eun gyeot-e eop-jiman
The person I loved isn’t by my side, but
사랑했던 마음은 남아 있어요
sarang-haetteon maeum-eun nama isseoyo
My feelings of having loved [him] remain
홀로 남아 이렇게 생각해봐도
hollo nama irohke saenggak hae bwa-do
Left behind alone, even if I think about it
어쩌면 그것이 잘된 일이야
eojjeomyeon geu geoshi jal-doen il-iya
It could be that was for the best
어느날 우연히 사랑을 알게 됐지만
eonu nal uyeonhi sarang-eul alge dwaet-jiman
One day I came to know love by chance, but
사랑을 하면서 슬픔은 커져만 가고
sarang-eul hamyeonseo seulpeum-eun keojeo-man gago
While loving, my sadness only grew
서로가 서로를 더 깊이 이해 못하며
seoro-ga seoro-reul deo gipi ihae mot-hamyeo
Each unable to understand the other more deeply,
우리의 갈등은 자꾸만 커져 갔지요
uri-ui galdeung-eun jakku-man keojeo gattjiyo
Our conflict only continued to grow
나 혼자면 어때요 난 아직 어린걸
na honja-myeon eottaeyo nan ajik eorin-geol
Who cares if I’m alone? I’m still young
슬퍼지면 어때요 울어버리면 되지
seulpeo-jimyeon eottaeyo ureobeori-myeon doeji
Who cares if I’m sad? I can just go ahead and cry
떠난 님이 그리워 방황하고 있어요
ddeonan nim-i geuriwo banghwang-hago isseoyo
Longing for my departed* love, I’m wandering
미워할 수 없는데 어떻게 하나
miwo-hal su eomneunde eotteohke hana
I can’t bring myself to hate [him], so what is there to do?
어느날 우연히 사랑을 알게됐지만
eonu’nal uyeonhi sarang-eul alge-dwaet-jiman
One day I came to know love by chance, but
사랑을 하면서 슬픔은 커져만 가고
sarang-eul hameon-seo seulpeum-eun keojeo-man gago
While loving, my sadness only grew
서로가 서로를 더 깊이 이해 못하며
seoro-ga seoro-reul deo gip-i ihae mot-hamyeo
Each unable to understand the other more deeply,
우리의 갈등은 자꾸만 커져 갔지요
uri-e galdeung-eun jaggu-man keojeo gattji-yo
Our conflict only continued to grow
나 혼자면 어때요 난 아직 어린걸
na honja-myeon eottae-yo nan ajik eorin-geol
Who cares if I’m alone? I’m still young
슬퍼지면 어때요 울어버리면 되지
seulpeo-jimyeon eottae-yo uleo-beori-myeon dwe-ji
Who cares if I’m sad? I can just go ahead and cry
떠난 님이 그리워 방황하고 있어요
ddeonan nim-i geuriwo banghwang-hago isseo-yo
Longing for my departed love, I’m wandering
미워할 수 없는데 어떻게하나
miwo-hal su eom-neun-de eotteok-hana
I can’t bring myself to hate [him], so what is there to do?
나 혼자면 어때요 난 아직 어린걸
na honja-myeon eottae-yo nan ajik eorin-geol
Who cares if I’m alone? I’m still young
슬퍼지면 어때요 울어버리면 되지
seulpeo-jimyeon eottae-yo uleo-beori-myeon dwe-ji
Who cares if I’m sad? I can just go ahead and cry
떠난 님이 그리워 방황하고 있어요
ddeonan nim-i geuriwo banghwang-hago isseo-yo
Longing for my departed love, I’m wandering
미워할 수 없는데 어떻게하나
miwo-hal su eom-neun-de eotteok-hana
I can’t bring myself to hate [him], so what is there to do?
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