Annotated lyrics — pink lines have K-pop slang & culture notes (tap to read). Or highlight any line to add your own.
한국어 (Korean)
English Translation
[Pre-Chorus: Ningning, Winter, Giselle]
[Pre-Chorus: Ningning, Winter, Giselle]
Don't be afraid, 'cause life's too short
후회없이 걸어가
Walk forward with no regrets
때로는 비가 쏟아져도 I don't care
Even when the rain pours down sometimes, I don't care
쉬어갈 수 있는 걸 (쉬어갈 수 있는 걸)
You can take a moment to rest (You can take a moment to rest)
[Chorus: All]
[Chorus: All]
I'll go my own way
And I don't care what you say about it
And I don't care what you say about it
어차피 둘 중하나 do it or not
Either way it's one or the other, do it or not
꿈꿔온 어딘가로, why would I ever stop?
To wherever I've dreamed of, why would I ever stop?
단순하게 갈래
I'll keep it simple
No, I don't care what you say about it
No, I don't care what you say about it
거름이 닿는 데로 way that I want
The way I want to go, wherever the path leads
거기가 어디라도, why would I ever stop?
Wherever that may be, why would I ever stop?
[Post Chorus: Karina, Giselle, (All)]
[Post Chorus: Karina, Giselle, (All)]
내 방식대로 갈래
I'll go my own way
단순하게 갈래
I'll keep it simple
(Why would I ever stop?)
(Why would I ever stop?)
[Bridge: Winter, Ningning]
[Bridge: Winter, Ningning]
더 멋진 오늘이 곁에 있는 걸
A more brilliant today is right here beside you
So why are you wasting your time?
So why are you wasting your time?
단 한 걸음으로 달라진 (달라진)
Changing with just a single step (Changed)
하루 눈부시게 변해가
Each day shines brilliantly
[Chorus: All, Ningning]
[Chorus: All, Ningning]
더 자유럽길 바래
I hope to be more free
수 없이 펼쳐진 모두 날이
All the countless days stretching out ahead
인생은 한 번인 걸 do it right now
Life only comes once, do it right now
더 빛날 세상으로, why would I ever stop?
Toward a world that shines brighter, why would I ever stop?
늦기 전에 갈래 (I don't care)
I'll go before it's too late (I don't care)
시간은 멈출 순 없을 테니 (멈출 순은 없어, babe)
Because time can't be stopped (It can't be stopped, babe)
때로는 서툴러도 way that I want
Even if I stumble sometimes, way that I want
거기가 어디라도, why would I ever stop?
Wherever that may be, why would I ever stop?
[Post-Chorus: All, Karina]
[Post-Chorus: All, Karina]
내 방식대로 갈래
I'll go my own way
(Yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
(Yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
('Cause life's too short)
('Cause life's too short)
단순하게 갈래
I'll keep it simple
(Regardless, baby, baby, baby, baby)
(Regardless, baby, baby, baby, baby)
(Life's too short)
(Life's too short)
Why would I ever stop?
Why would I ever stop?
[Outro: All]
[Outro: All]
더 자유럽게 바래
I hope to be more free
(Ooh-ooh-ooh
(Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
늦기 전에 갈래
I'll go before it's too late
(Ooh-ooh-ooh
(Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Fan Annotations (2)
“duryeowohaji ma, 'cause life's too short” 두려워하지 마, 'cause life's too short
"두려워하지 마" (duryeowohaji ma) means "don't be afraid" — the imperative 하지 마 (haji ma) is a direct "don't." Pairing that Korean reassurance with the English idiom "life's too short" makes fear feel like wasted time in either language. "Life's Too Short" was aespa's first song recorded fully in English, released June 24, 2022 as the pre-release single from the EP Girls, with a Korean version following on July 8, 2022; aespa framed it as a reminder to "stay true to yourselves" because life is too short for hate (Wikipedia).
FFernanda_CDMX_Coral🇲🇽 Mexico City
“nae bangsik daero gallae” 내 방식대로 갈래
"내 방식대로 갈래" means "I'll go my own way" — the casual ending 갈래 (gallae) is the kind of soft, self-directed phrasing you use in private self-talk or with close friends, not in a formal declaration, which gives the line a diary-entry intimacy. It fits the song's message of staying true to yourself: "Life's Too Short" was aespa's first fully English single (June 24, 2022, pre-release single from the EP Girls), and the group described it as a reminder to "stay true to yourselves" (Wikipedia).
ZZoe_NYC_Pink🇺🇸 New York
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