Tablo is the rapper, singer, lyricist, and composer of Epik High. Tablo has a Masters Degree from Stanford University (California, USA) where he majored in English Literature and Creative Writing. When he was 17 years old he wrote the song Rainy Christmas with the famous Korean singer Kim Gun-mo. While attending Stanford University, Tablo was part of an underground hip hop group known as 4n Objects, which caught the attention of CB Mass and Drunken Tiger, leading to them eventually offer to support Tablo in releasing a solo album in Korea.
Mithra Jin is the rapper and lyricist of Epik High. Mithra Jin had been featured on over 11 major albums in Korea even before Epik High's debut. Mithra Jin and Tablo met through the Movement Crew (a collaboration of hip hop artists who are determined to promote social and political awareness through hip hop culture and music), during a freestyle contest in Seoul. Mithra Jin was pursuing a solo career of his own, but with his artistic vision and style matching so well with Tablo's, the two decided to join together.
DJ Tukutz is Epik High's DJ, "the boy with the magic fingers". He started DJing in 1995, and has attended the Technics DJ School in South Korea. He has DJed in not only Korea, but also in Japan at raves, and in America on radio shows, live events and clubs around Boston and NYC. He had also composed many of Epik High's songs.
Epik High's debut album was Map of the Human Soul, released in 2003 and featuring some big Korean hip hop names such as CB Mass, Drunken Tiger and Yoon Mi-rae (T). This album and the following three (High Society (2004), Swan Songs (2005) and Remapping the Human Soul (2007)), have featured other well-known Korean artists such as Nell, Clazziquai Project, Loveholic, TBNY, unknownDJs, Pe2ny and more.
In 2005, Epik High won several awards including Best Hip Hop Artist at the Korean Gold Disc Awards, and a tie for Best Artist of the year. Their song Fly, from their third album Swan Songs was a huge hit, claiming the #1 place on many Korean TV music programs and online music charts. This song also appeared in the video game FIFA 07 as the signature Korean track.
Epik High, and especially Tablo, are often featured in the releases of other artists', and have formed several side-project including Blac Bakery, Blu Sunflower and A.R.K.
Their releases, Pieces, Part One and Remapping the Human Soul, featured a different style of music than their previous albums. Some songs more aggressive and controversial, and other more heartfelt.
In 2009, Epik High formed their own independent label, Map the Soul Inc., with their first release under this label being the book-album, 魂: Map the Soul. In late July, Epik High collaborated with the Korean electronic DJ team, Planet Shiver, to remix a number of Epik High's previous hits with the result being that of songs which sounded nothing like the original, yet still remained addictive. Epik High returned in September with a new two-disc album called [e], which consisted of 30 tracks, their largest yet. Altogether, the number of songs released for 2009 alone consisted of well over 50 tracks—including skits and remixes.
In 2010, despite the fact that DJ Tukutz temporarily left Epik High to enter the Korean army to perform his mandatory 2 year service, Tablo and Mithra Jin, now under Woolim Entertainment, were able to release Epilogue. This would be Epik High's last and only album under Woolim Entertainment before Mithra Jin joined the army to perform his service, and Tablo, disappearing from the spotlight as a result of harassment from Korean netizens who questioned the authenticity of his academic education at Stanford University.
With the completion of their army service in 2012 for DJ Tukutz and Mithra Jin, both members joined Tablo in signing with YG Entertainment, home to most notably, BIGBANG and 2NE1. With Tablo's release of his solo album, Fever's End under YG Entertainment in 2012, all members of Epik High are united again and are set to release their much anticipated album in September.
Nocturne
Epik High Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
sebyog byorun chumul chwo
odumi doshisuphul samkhigo
pogpunge gomun nunul tto
bolsso golmoggire sumun
jo dodug goyangidul jocha
ssudissun usumjyo
onu gyocharo junggane
myochil goin bidmuljocha
godbaro jungbarhe
isungane gathun darul bomyo
onu nampyonun
gwigadgireso charul dollyo
gurul gidarimyonso
nugunga hwajangul gochyo
guga dungjin jiben
myondokarul jabun sonyo
tto magcharul nohchyo banghwanghanunga
goshigjung miindul
bagjarul nohchyo danghwanghanunga
gorie shiindul modu shigindul
soroui pirul pparamogji
godnunjanun ginun jaui
palgwa darirul paramogji
byonhamobshi taraghan gamyonguge
gwayon na onulbamun
tto otton gamyon ssunche nagalkka
nocturne the flies the lines
the money that you
earn let it burn let it burn
nocturne the grime the crimes
will you ever
learn let it burn let it burn
nocturne
the buildings the killings
the money that you
earn let it burn let it burn
nocturne the sex the death
will you ever
learn let it burn let it burn
necktie kkune mog joinun salm
jugdorog irhe bamul sedon
han ju kkuthe toyoire bam
gurul dogchoginun mam
namjaui noritoro
dulda done noridgam
mannamyon johji
soro gore gwangye dongwa kweragul
jugo badnun sangde gunyo apheson
wangdo gujo jagun gwangde
life & death love & sex
suine jugun hon
doshie yoram hundunun
macbeth buine bulgun son
why be alone
yukmanwonchari myonjoebuga sanun
ssaguryo chongugul gajimyon dwe
gunun gurohge
sungchongwa taragi dwisokkin che
hoterhan sungan kuthe
joecheggame dwichogine
gunun sodullo ane pume angigopha
gu pume momullo
andogame jamgigopha
guye momsoge shijagdoen jugumun
jashinjocha ajig molla
yogshi toyoirun bami joha
nocturne the flies the lines
the money that you
earn let it burn let it burn
nocturne the grime the crimes
will you ever
learn let it burn let it burn
nocturne
the buildings the killings
the money that you
earn let it burn let it burn
nocturne the sex the death
will you ever
learn let it burn let it burn
Teyangi kkojiltten
shine nuni gamginunga
sudboda gomun pyeye
gochin sumi jamidulkka
jonggwone banyogja
noui joenun jongjigham
non i bam dwichochun
gurimjaye mogigam
hanuri jikhyojulgoran
chakgagun juyehaljom
ingane chechigjire chidgyojinun
juye saljom domangchyo bwatja
shinun jurossuni mijippun
nol jugin joeye moggyogja
gojangnan cctv ppun
gogjongun mara
byonhosaga gobmogun jara
jungin obshin ochaphi
pansa jocha bobjongul para ja
sarine chuog no sarine suog
murogmurog kojyoganun
benisu sangine muyog
mugwanshime nujog
da honul panunde julso
the cheap
cost of holocaust
wolgube jagun segum goduo
gyolgug yugajogi badulge
munsoro obso
yusanun nol jugin
jongchijagume chulcho
nocturne the flies the lines
the money that you
earn let it burn let it burn
nocturne the grime the crimes
will you ever
learn let it burn let it burn
nocturne
the buildings the killings
the money that you
earn let it burn let it burn
nocturne the sex the death
will you ever
learn let it burn let it burn
The lyrics to Epik High's song Nocturne paint a picture of the darkness and chaos that exists in the world. The opening lines describe a night where the breath is shallow and the body is shaken by the sways of the night sky. The violence and sorrow of humanity are prevalent in the killings and crime that occur, all while money continues to burn. The noxious nature of society is conveyed in the line “the sex the death,” emphasizing the ugliness that sometimes lies in human desire. The song also speaks of the uncertain nature of life, with the lyrics “why be alone” asking the question of why be by oneself in a world filled with so much that is intangible.
As the lyrics progress, the imagery becomes more specific, painting a picture of a man who is watching the streets at night. The sight of the city is overwhelming, with the CCTV cameras that surveil everything and the violence that is so prevalent. The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and powerlessness, with the line “why be alone” a desperate plea for someone to share the burden of the night. However, even in the darkest of circumstances, there is still a glimmer of hope, with the lyrics "the cheap cost of holocaust" suggesting that there is still value to be found in the midst of the ugliness of life.
Overall, the song Nocturne is a powerful commentary on society and the darkness that can exist within it. It provides a bleak yet insightful look into the world, highlighting the struggles and chaos that exist alongside hope and the desire for a better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Onuse bami mojun sumul shwio
The sleeping trees rustle in the gentle breeze of the night
sebyog byorun chumul chwo
The starry sky dances in celebration of the moment
odumi doshisuphul samkhigo
The darkness covers everything, suffocating and menacing
pogpunge gomun nunul tto
But the beautiful moon shines its light again
bolsso golmoggire sumun
Making visible the hidden secrets
jo dodug goyangidul jocha
Unveiling all the movements and motions
ssudissun usumjyo
Like a cool breath of air that both calms and invigorates
onu gyocharo junggane
As I walk towards my destiny
hwiojin garodungare
I see so much sorrow and pain everywhere
myochil goin bidmuljocha
The countless tears that have been shed
godbaro jungbarhe
Say that we should forget it all
isungane gathun darul bomyo
While observing the twisted path
onu nampyonun
We started off small
gwigadgireso charul dollyo
And followed the narrow road
gurul gidarimyonso
But as we waited for the outcome
nugunga hwajangul gochyo
We realized that we were digging our own graves
guga dungjin jiben
Without even realizing it
myondokarul jabun sonyo
We've already put on the chains of our own slavery
tto magcharul nohchyo banghwanghanunga
Trying to break free, we struggle and fight
goshigjung miindul
As we realize the magnitude of the pain
bagjarul nohchyo danghwanghanunga
And try to escape from the despair
gorie shiindul modu shigindul
The loneliness, the sadness, it all piles up
soroui pirul pparamogji
We try to catch the tail of hope
godnunjanun ginun jaui
But not everything can be saved
palgwa darirul paramogji
And illusions fade away
byonhamobshi taraghan gamyonguge
In an endless cycle of change and uncertainty
gwayon na onulbamun
Tonight, as always
tto otton gamyon ssunche nagalkka
I wonder what kind of moments will pass by again
nocturne the flies the lines
Nocturne, the night melody that flies with the notes
the money that you
earn let it burn let it burn
It's all temporary, so let it go
nocturne the grime the crimes
Nocturne, the night's darkness and the corrupt deeds
will you ever
learn let it burn let it burn
Can we ever change and let go?
nocturne
Nocturne, the serenade of the night
the buildings the killings
The buildings tell of the murders
nocturne the sex the death
Nocturne, the night of passion and death
necktie kkune mog joinun salm
A man, tied up with the necktie of money
jugdorog irhe bamul sedon
Enduring through the long night
han ju kkuthe toyoire bam
The night is filled with a single sound
gurul dogchoginun mam
A feeling that is deeply embedded
namjaui noritoro
The man's ride
dulda done noridgam
Going up and down
mannamyon johji
But when we meet
soro gore gwangye dongwa kweragul
We exchange greetings and talk about politics and society
jugo badnun sangde gunyo apheson
We mourn over the hopeless world we live in
wangdo gujo jagun gwangde
The great country and its small people
life & death love & sex
The constant forces that shape everything
suine jugun hon
A soldier's soul
doshie yoram hundunun
Lost and wandering in this world
macbeth buine bulgun son
Eine geballte Faust aus Macbeth
why be alone
yukmanwonchari myonjoebuga sanun
The darkness that surrounds us when we are alone
ssaguryo chongugul gajimyon dwe
And we try to grasp onto anything we can find
gunun gurohge
As we walk through the darkness
sungchongwa taragi dwisokkin che
Our thoughts and hopes are twisted and tangled
hoterhan sungan kuthe
In moments that are hotter than fire
joecheggame dwichogine
We hold onto each other tightly
gunun sodullo ane pume angigopha
Afraid to let go, we hold on with all our might
gu pume momullo
And in each other's arms
andogame jamgigopha
We find a moment of peace
guye momsoge shijagdoen jugumun
The story that started in your embrace
jashinjocha ajig molla
I don't know yet if it's a curse or a blessing
yogshi toyoirun bami joha
But for now, this night is good
Teyangi kkojiltten
The sun disappears
shine nuni gamginunga
And darkness covers everything
sudboda gomun pyeye
It's darker than the deepest sea
gochin sumi jamidulkka
Can we stop the growing darkness?
jonggwone banyogja
In this quiet world
noui joenun jongjigham
My lonely silhouette
non i bam dwichochun
Wanders in this night
gurimjaye mogigam
Searching for a place to belong
hanuri jikhyojulgoran
Hoping for the stars to shine
chakgagun juyehaljom
So that I can see the way
ingane chechigjire chidgyojinun
In this world that's full of misunderstandings and conflicts
juye saljom domangchyo bwatja
I finally found a moment of peace
shinun jurossuni mijippun
In this silent night, everything is clear
nol jugin joeye moggyogja
My heart beats with the rhythm of the night
gojangnan cctv ppun
Like a CCTV camera
gogjongun mara
Watching over everything
byonhosaga gobmogun jara
The changes and the chaos
jungin obshin ochaphi
In the midst of the confusion and uncertainty
pansa jocha bobjongul para ja
I'll hold onto hope and keep going
sarine chuog no sarine suog
The cycle of life and death
murogmurog kojyoganun
Continues without a pause
benisu sangine muyog
Rays of light that pierce through the darkness
mugwanshime nujog
And give hope for a new day
da honul panunde julso
Let's embrace this moment and dance
the cheap
cost of holocaust
And never forget the terrible price of war
wolgube jagun segum goduo
A small candle that flickers in the darkness
gyolgug yugajogi badulge
Let's make it shine brighter with our love and unity
munsoro obso
Let's hold onto hope
yusanun nol jugin
And let our hearts beat together
jongchijagume chulcho
As we make our own path
Writer(s): KIM JEONG SIK, SEON WOONG LEE
Contributed by Muhammad D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Miiiine
on 선곡표
Thank you for the explaination, may I ask for the link or hangul name of the song by Lee Mija singer?