She then participated in numerous Korean musicals of national scale and for which she has often been rewarded. She has even been demanded by one of the Biggest Japanese company of the genre (Sakye), but declined the invitation.
As she did not find suitable fulfilment in these musical environments, due to all their constraints, Youn Sun decided in 1995 to go to Paris in order to study jazz and French songs. She registered at CIM school, one of the oldest jazz school of the French capital, at the National Music Institute of Beauvais and at the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Conservatory. Her natural fondness for jazz reveals itself when she starts playing in the Parisians jazz clubs in 1996-97 with David Georgelet and Yoni Zelnik (still playing together today). She rapidly provokes considerable attention, notably by Jacques Vidal who invites her on his record ‘Ramblin’ (1999). She receives numerous prizes (Jazz à La Defense, Saint-Maur, Montmartre...), continues to comb jazz clubs and also participates at festivals.
Parallel to this French life, Youn Sun performs in Korea. Some opportunities have her living a double life, one in her native country, one in the country that has adopted her. In order to make this feasible, she is working with two different teams. In Seoul, she created her own production structure, Bis Music, with which she produced two records as a leader. Those were distributed by SONY MUSIC. In Paris, she almost exclusively worked with her quintet whose records are produced by an independent label, In Circum Girum.
In 5 years, Youn Sun Nah has recorded 4 albums (2 of which are exclusively distributed in Korea) and has extensively performed in various jazz festivals in France, Europe and Korea. In 2003 she obtains a full recognition by the Korean audience and media who declare her Jazz Artist of the Year. A few months before, she had been broadcast with her quintet on a program for ARTE Channel called Paris Jazz Club – Rue des Lombard. In 2004, the release of Youn Sun Nah5’s ‘So I Am...’ is widely celebrated by the French specialised as well as generalist press which fully recognise her talent and present her now like one of the most remarkable singer of the new generation. Lastly, her live performances are awarded by an impressive jury of jazz professionals at Jazz à Juan Revelation 2005.
Inner Prayer
Youn Sun Nah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How it all went wrong
Help me please, my lord, lift me up from down
Oh, grab me from the dead, let me see the sun
That's all I need, my lord,
Please come, please take me away
I wanna feel, I wanna feel ...safe
A wondering star falls into nowhere
Oh,lord,help me out of this chaos
Please,hold your hand on me
Let me, just breathe in and rid of doubt
Out of abysse, oh lord, lift me up on high
The lyrics of Youn Sun Nah's song Inner Prayer reveal a deep sense of desperation and a need for help. The first line "Isn't it funny? How it all went wrong" expresses the confusion that the singer is feeling about their life, and how they find it ironic that it has ended up this way. The following line "Help me please, my lord, lift me up from down" shows the singer's plea for help and their belief that a higher power can help them out of their despair. They ask to be saved from their despair, "grab me from the dead, let me see the sun, that's all I need my lord, please come, please take me away."
The singer longs to feel secure and safe, "I wanna feel, I wanna feel...safe". They describe the situation they find themselves in as a "chaos" and ask for God's help and guidance to lift them out of the "abyss" and onto higher ground. The closing lines "Let me just breathe in and rid of doubt, out of abysse, oh lord, lift me up on high" show a sense of hope for a brighter future, thanks to the divine intervention of the Lord.
Overall, Youn Sun Nah's Inner Prayer portrays a sense of longing, desperation, hope, and faith that speaks to many different people.
Line by Line Meaning
Isn't it funny?
Isn't it ironic or strange?
How it all went wrong
How everything became messed up or turned out badly
Help me please, my lord, lift me up from down
Asking for assistance from a higher power to elevate oneself upwards from feeling down or depressed
Oh, grab me from the dead, let me see the sun
Desiring to be saved from feeling lifeless or stuck in a rut, and to experience light and vitality
That's all I need, my lord,
Stating that only divine assistance is required
Please come, please take me away
Pleading for divine intervention to remove oneself from problematic circumstances
I wanna feel, I wanna feel ...safe
Expressing the desire to feel secure and protected
A wondering star falls into nowhere
A metaphorical depiction of feeling lost or without direction
Unending echoes haunt me everywhere
Being plagued by persistent, distressing thoughts or memories
Oh,lord,help me out of this chaos
Pleading for divine intervention to decrease confusion or disorder
Please,hold your hand on me
Asking for the support and guidance of a greater power
Let me, just breathe in and rid of doubt
Desiring to calm oneself, and eliminate negative thoughts
Out of abysse, oh lord, lift me up on high
A plea to be saved from a dark abyss, and elevated to a better state
Writer(s): Youn Sun Nah
Contributed by Daniel S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.