Translation of IU's Dear Name

K-POP is popular nowadays with BTS, Blackpink, and other groups. My favorite artist is IU.

She sings all kinds of songs, from ballads to pop songs. Her songs are very popular in Korea but not as much in other countries. One of the reasons, I think, is that her songs are very Korean. The lyrics are often times poetic. Often times, the lyrics requires understanding of Korean culture and language.

Even then, I think most english translations of her songs don’t do justice. So, I decided to translate one of her songs, quite unprofessionally, in English.

Original song: Dear Name

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The voice that I miss even in my dreams
Does not answer even when I call its name
Only tearful echo returns
And I alone listen to that sound.

Even if it is so cold that it breaks
This time I will never let go of
your hands of that distant past.

Across endless dark nights
I know that your dreams has quietly disappeared

I will wait for a long time
I will definitely find you.
Even though we are invisibly far, let’s go
To that place where this dawn ends.

Again, the kid that stands in front of me
Even though his head is down, he does not cry
When I reach out with pity, he runs away.
I embrace that empty void alone.

Even if it is so cold that it shatters
This time I will never forget
The words that you had been waiting for a long time alone.

Across endless dark nights
I know that your dreams has forever disappeared

I will wait for a long time
I will definitely find you
Even though we are invisibly far, let’s go
To that place where this dawn ends.

Through the endless lost cold and harsh days
I know your name that has been quietly forgotten\

I will not stop.
I will shout as many times as it takes
Even though we are inconceivably far, let’s go
To that place that this dawn ends.

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