This is the song that plays over the radio in EP04 as Soo-ho thinks back on his parting with Young-ro. Given the lyrics, it’s little wonder she comes to mind.
The song’s title, roughly translated, means ‘grass of the same heart.’ It was composed in 1945 by Kim Seong-tae, who derived the lyrics from a poem written by the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) courtesan Xue Tao (薛濤), touted as one of the three most gifted poetesses of her age. The poem was translated into Korean by Kim Eok in 1934 and again by Kim An-seo in 1955.
Composition: Kim Seong-tae | Lyrics: Xue Tao, Kim Eok, Kim Seong-tae
꽃잎은 하염없이 바람에 지고
kkotnip-eun hayeom-eopshi baram-e jigo
Flower petals fall ceaselessly in the wind
만날 날은 아득타
mannal nal-eun adeukta
The day on which we shall meet is remote [as a star]
기약이 없네
giyag-i eomne
It is not promised
무어라 맘과 맘은 맺지 못하고
mueora mam-gwa mam-eun maetji mot-hago
There is no means by which to link heart with heart
한갓되이 풀잎만 맺으려는고
hangat-doei pulip-man maejeu-ryeoneungo
Only the blades of grass strive to knit together in vain
한갓되이 풀잎만 맺으려는고
hangat-doei pulip-man maejeu-ryeoneungo
Only the blades of grass strive to knit together in vain
바람에 꽃이 지니 세월 덧없어
baram-e kkoch-i jini seweol deot-eopseo
As flowers fall in the wind, time passes hollowly
만날 길은 뜬 구름
mannal gil-eun ddeun kureum
The path to our meeting is a bridge of clouds
기약이 없네
giyag-i eomne
It is not promised
무어라 맘과 맘은 맺지 못하고
mueora mam-gwa mam-eun maetji mot-hago
There is no means by which to link heart with heart
한갓되이 풀잎만 맺으려는고
hangat-doei pulip-man maejeu-ryeoneungo
Only the blades of grass strive to knit together in vain
한갓되이 풀잎만 맺으려는고
hangat-doei pulip-man maejeu-ryeoneungo
Only the blades of grass strive to knit together in vain
The song has been performed by many artists over the years, put I’m partial to this interpretation by Jo Su-mi, with the full orchestral accompaniment. Her control right around the 4 minute mark is astounding.
Below is the text of the original poem by Xue Tao, entitled 春望詞 (‘spring-hope/longing-poem’). The first line in grey is the Korean reading of the Chinese characters (hanja), and the line below that is one interpretation of how their meaning might be expressed verbally in Korean. I say ‘might’ because the original Chinese contains no subjects or particle markers, so interpretations vary broadly. I’m working primarily off that third line of text, so this constitutes indirect translation.
花開不同賞
화개부동상
꽃이 피어도 함께 완상하지 못하고,
Though flowers bloom, we cannot admire them together, and
花落不同悲。
화락부동비
꽃이 져도 함께 슬퍼하지 못하네.
Though flowers fall we cannot sorrow together.
欲問相思處
욕문상사처
상사처를 묻노니,
Where be the one for whom I long?
花開花落時。
화개화락시
꽃 피고 꽃 지는 시절이로다.
In this, the season when flowers bloom and fall.
攬草結同心
남초결동심
풀 뜯어 한마음 묶어서,
I pluck grass and bind it into one heart,
將以遺知音。
장이유지음
장차 지음에게 보내려 하네.
One day I shall endeavor to convey it to you, dear friend.*
春愁正斷絕.
춘수정단절
봄 시름 바로 끊어지려 하는데,
I endeavor to sever the dolor of springtime, yet
春鳥復哀吟。
춘조부애음
봄새들이 다시 구슬피 우네.
The spring birds cry sorrowfully again.
風花日將老
풍화일장노
바람 속의 꽃은 나날이 시들어 가고,
Day after day, flowers wither in the wind
佳期猶渺渺。
가기유묘묘
만날 기약 아직 아득하기만 하네.
Our promise to meet again remains naught but distant.
不結同心人
불결동심인
마음을 함께 한 님과는 맺어지지 못한 채,
Unable to be joined with the love whose heart accompanied mine,
空結同心草。
공결동심초
공연히 동심초만 맺고 있네요.
Only the grass of the same heart (dongsimcho) knits together in vain.
那堪花滿枝
나감화만지
어찌 하리 꽃은 나뭇가지에 가득하건만,
How thick the branches are with flowers, yet
翻作兩相思。
번작양상사
사모하는 마음은 어쩔 수 없으니
As I can do nothing about this yearning heart
玉箸垂朝鏡
옥저수조경
두 줄기 눈물은 아침 거울에 떨어지는데,
In the morning, two tear tracks fall on my mirror, yet
春風知不知。
춘풍지부지
봄바람은 이 마음을 아는지 모르는지.
Whether or not the spring breeze knows of these feelings [I know not].
All source materials belong to the parties to which they are licensed. All translations are our own.