The Ram Jam Band were formed around 196… Read Full Bio ↴Geno brings the party to you
The Ram Jam Band were formed around 1964 and evolved out of a group called Les Blues who were formed to rival a English group with a Black American singer called Milton And The Continentals. Before taking on Geno Washington, they had been backing a British Blues singer by the name of Errol Dixon. Their first single featuring Dixon, "Shake, Shake, Senora" / "Akinla" released on Columbia had sunk without a trace.
Geno Washington was a U.S. airman stationed in East Anglia who became well known for his impromptu performances in London nightclubs. In 1965, guitarist Pete Gage needed a singer front his new band and replace the previous singer Errol Dixon, and asked Washington to join and the latter was discharged from the U.S. Air force, he became the band's frontman.
The band broke up in the autumn of 1969 and the band members went their own ways while Geno Washington continued as a solo artist before returning to the United States.
If This Is Love
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sarangeur haedo haedo nan oeropda
Da da da piryoeopseo negen sarangi eopseo
Nareur barabogetdadeon neoui
Jeonhyeo neukkyeojijir anha naman honja ireohge nama
Neor gidarida ulgomanda gaseum apeuge
Yeojan oeroumi manha namjan geureon geor neomu molla
Kkog malhago malhaejwoya alsuga itni
Oeropda neur niga geuripda nar saranghanda malhaedo
Nae gyeoteneun eopseo
Neo ireomyeon andwae neon nae namjainde neo jakku ireomyeon na ulgeotman gata jeongmar...
Naega saranghaetdeon mankeum niga jeomjeom
Meoreojijanha
Naega oerowotdeon mankeum ijen beotir suga eoptjanha
Ireohge ulgoitneun nareur jikyeonaejir
Mothalgeomyeonseo
Wae haesseo ije deoisang piryoeopseo tteonabeoryeo
Neomanboneun nareur naega neoreur tteonaga
Deoisangeun miryeoneoptjanha
Naege duson bilgo mureup kkulhgo kkulhgo
Kkulheo bwado naega
Yongseohaji anheulgeoya jeoldae geurae nae apeseo ulmyeobulmyeo japge neoreur mandeulgeoya huhoehamyeo salge majimagiya naega gihoeljulkke
Ijen neoeopsido sara geuge iksukhago joha
Neor gidarida jichyeoganda nado moreuge
Yeojan nunmuri neomumanha
Namjan geureogeor neomu molla
Wae dwineutge heeojigo huhoehaneunji
Oeropda neur niga geuripda nar saranghanda malhaedo
Nae gyeoteneun eopseo
Neo ireomyeon andwae neon nae namjainde neo jakku ireomyeon na ulgeotman gata jeongmar...
Naega saranghaetdeon mankeum niga jeomjeom
Meoreojijanha
Naega oerowotdeon mankeum ijen beotir suga eoptjanha
Ireohge ulgoitneun nareur jikyeonaejir
Mothalgeomyeonseowae haesseo
Ije deoisang piryoeopseo tteonabeoryeo
Nar saranghaetnyago nar beoringeonyago
Naega sar su eoptneungeor nuguboda neon jar aljanha
Na tteonagandago nar japji mallago
Naega neor jabeulji molla
Naega saranghaetdeon mankeum niga jeomjeom
Meoreojijanha
Naega oerowotdeon mankeum ijen beotir suga eoptjanha
Ireohge ulgoitneun nareur jikyeonaejir mothalgeomyeonseo
Wae haesseo ije deoisang piryoeopseo tteonabeoryeo.
Sarangeur haedo...
Sarangeur haedo...
Naneun oeropda
"If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely)" is a multilingual song that talks about a painful heartbreak. The lyrics combined phrases in Korean and English; the latter expressed the chorus, while the former was present in the verses. The Korean lyrics conveyed deep sadness and desperation, with lines such as "I'm so hurt, even if you love me, I'm so scared," "I'm waiting for you, sobbing in pain," "I can't bear to see you with someone else," and "I cry and cry, but I can't let go of you." On the other hand, the English verses hinted at self-preservation, with phrases like "I'd rather be lonely" and "I'm better off without your love."
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band released the song in 1966, and it became a hit in the UK, reaching #41 on the charts. The band was known for their high-energy performances, and the same vibe translated into the song's arrangement, which incorporated horns, a groovy beat, and a catchy melody. Interestingly, the Korean lyrics were likely added as a marketing strategy to appeal to the growing international audience, as the band was gaining popularity abroad at the time. As for the song's meaning, it speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and the struggle to cope with the pain.
Line by Line Meaning
nar saranghaji anha geu saram
I can't fall in love with that person
sarangeur haedo haedo nan oeropda
Though it is love, I'd rather be lonely
da da da piryoeopseo negen sarangi eopseo
I don't need love, I don't need anything
nareur barabogetdadeon neoui
You used to look for me
jeonhyeo neukkyeojijir anha naman honja ireohge nama
I don't feel comfortable doing this alone, but I have no choice
neor gidarida ulgomanda gaseum apeuge
I wait for you, crying and hurting
yeojan oeroumi manha namjan geureon geor neomu molla
I know so little about men because I have been hurt by women a lot
kkog malhago malhaejwoya alsuga itni
It hurts so much that I can't even speak
oeropda neur niga geuripda nar saranghanda malhaedo
I am lonely, even though I say I love you
nae gyeoteneun eopseo
You're not by my side
neo ireomyeon andwae neon nae namjainde neo jakku ireomyeon na ulgeotman gata jeongmar...
I can't be without you, you're my man, but when you're around, it hurts even more, really...
naega saranghaetdeon mankeum niga jeomjeom meoreojijanha naega oerowotdeon mankeum ijen beotir suga eoptjanha
As much as I loved you, you keep getting farther away from me, as much as I suffered, I can't help but accept it now
ireohge ulgoitneun nareur jikyeonaejir mothalgeomyeonseo wae haesseo ije deoisang piryoeopseo tteonabeoryeo
Even though I cry like this, you're still leaving me, why do I need to keep asking you to stay?
neomanboneun nareur naega neoreur tteonaga deoisangeun miryeoneoptjanha
You see me leaving you, but you don't know how regretful I am later on
naege duson bilgo mureup kkulhgo kkulhgo kkulheo bwado naega
Even though you encouraged and supported me, saying 'Fighting! Fighting!', I
yongseohaji anheulgeoya jeoldae geurae nae apeseo ulmyeobulmyeo japge neoreur mandeulgeoya huhoehamyeo salge majimagiya naega gihoeljulkke
I'll never forget your face, I'll catch you in my arms, but I'm afraid, I might hurt you, really, I'll remember till the end
ijen neoeopsido sara geuge iksukhago joha
I can live without you now, that's enough and it's okay
neor gidarida jichyeoganda nado moreuge
I wait for you while holding it in, even though I don't know how to do it anymore
yeojan nunmuri neomumanha namjan geureogeor neomu molla wae dwineutge heeojigo huhoehaneunji
Women's tears are too much, men know nothing, why do they leave and make us regret?
oeropda neur niga geuripda nar saranghanda malhaedo nae gyeoteneun eopseo neo ireomyeon andwae neon nae namjainde neo jakku ireomyeon na ulgeotman gata jeongmar...
I am lonely, even though I say I love you, you're not by my side, I can't be without you, you're my man, but when you're around, it hurts even more, really...
naega saranghaetdeon mankeum niga jeomjeom meoreojijanha naega oerowotdeon mankeum ijen beotir suga eoptjanha
As much as I loved you, you keep getting farther away from me, as much as I suffered, I can't help but accept it now
ireohge ulgoitneun nareur jikyeonaejir mothalgeomyeonseo wae haesseo ije deoisang piryoeopseo tteonabeoryeo
Even though I cry like this, you're still leaving me, why do I need to keep asking you to stay?
sarangeur haedo...
Though it is love...
sarangeur haedo...
Though it is love...
naneun oeropda
I am lonely
Writer(s): Michael Valvano, Martin Coleman, Charles Bassoline
Contributed by Lily G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.