Cho Duk-Bae Vol. 1 (조덕배 1집) (1985)

Seven years after an unsuccessful independent release, Cho Duk-Bae made his official debut with this record in 1985. Cho’s laid-back, soothing folk style, and his signature lyrical themes: nighttime, mysterious women, yearning etc. are all on display here. Though it doesn’t get billing on the front cover, the leadoff track “My Old Story,” a plea to a lover that got away, is the best-known song from this album.

This album today is available on CD as a two-for-one package featuring Cho’s first two albums, and the track sequencing is different. The sequence here is the original one.

Image via ManiaDB

All music and lyrics by Cho Duk-Bae (조덕배)

1. 나의 옛날이야기
My Old Story

쓸쓸하던 그 골목을 당신은 기억하십니까
Do you remember that lonesome alley?
지금도 난 기억합니다
Even now I remember
사랑한다 말못하고 애태우던 그날들을
Those days of being unable to say the words “I love you” and worrying
당신은 알고 있었습니까
Did you understand them?
철없었던 지난날에 아름답던 그밤들을 아직도 난 사랑합니다
I still love those beautiful nights from past childish days

철없던 사람아
Oh, childish one
그대는 나의 모든것을 앗으려하나
Do you intend to take everything away from me
무정한 사람아
Oh heartless one?
수줍어서 말못했나 내가 싫어 말안했나
Whether you were too shy to say the words or didn’t like me
지금도 난 알 수 없어요
Even now I can’t know
이 노래를 듣는다면 나에게로 와주오
If you hear this song, come to me
그대여 난 기다립니다
Oh darling, I await

무정한 사람아
Oh, heartless one
이밤도 나의 모든것을 앗으려하나
Even this night do you intend to take everything away from me?
철없었던 사람아
Oh, childish one?
오늘밤도 내일밤도
Tonight and tomorrow night
그리고 그다음 밤도 영원히 난 기다립니다
And the next night, forever I await




2. 뒷모습이 참 이쁘네요
You Look So Pretty From Behind

뒷모습이 참 이쁘네요
You look so pretty from behind
당신 얼굴을 볼 수 없을까요
I wonder if I couldn’t see your face?
어디선가 본듯한 모습인데
You look like someone I’ve seen somewhere
알쏭달쏭 기억이 안나네요
I can’t recall the fuzzy memory
당신 얼글은 참 이쁠거야
Your face will be so pretty
뒷모습이 이렇게 이쁘니까
Because you’re this pretty from behind
얼굴 돌리는게 뭐 힘들어요
What’s so hard about turning your face?
얼굴 한번 보는게 소원인데
My wish is to see your face one time

이쁠거야 단신은 이쁠거야 당신은
You’ll be pretty, yes you will, you’ll be pretty, yes you will
당신은 이쁠거야
You will be pretty

누가 알어 세상일은 모르는것
You never know how it’ll turn out
돌다리도 두들기며 건너야지
You must tap on even a stone bridge while crossing, you know*
이제와서 망설이지 말아요
Don’t hesitate at this point
이젠 어쩔 수가 없잖아요
You can’t help it now, can you?

*Note: This is a Korean saying. The implication is that even for something as sturdy-looking as a stone bridge, you must tap on it to be sure that it’s safe. It’s similar to “look before you leap.”



3. 장미 (경음악)
Rose (Instrumental)



4. 파문
Ripple

잔잔한 호수에 돌을 던져
Throw a stone into the still lake
내꿈을 깨뜨리지 마오
Don’t crush my dream
해지고 호수에 달뜨면
When the sun sets and the moon rises at the lake
나 이제 그곳에 함께 하리라
I shall then be there with it

돌아가주오 나혼자 있게 해주오
Go away, leave me alone
내 맘에 파문이 사라지는 날
The day the ripple in my heart disappears
나 당신께 돌아가리라
I shall return to you

밤이면 떠오는 저달도 내맘을 달래지는 못해
Even the moon that comes out every night can’t comfort my heart
달뒤에 숨겨논 그 모습이 내맘을 더듬어주네
The dark side of the moon tries to get to my heart



5. 사랑이 끝나면
When Love is Over

내 마음을 아시나요
Do you know my heart?
그대를 위해 바친 내 마음
My heart that I devoted to you
달빛아래 피어나는 이밤
On this night, when it’s glowing under the moonlight
안타까운 나의 이맘을 아시나요
Do you know this miserable heart of mine?
피어나는 내 마음을
My glowing heart…
그대를 위해 바친 내 마음
My heart that I devoted to you
달빛아래 피어나는 이밤
On this night, when it’s glowing under the moonlight

굳게 맺은 마음 언제든가 벌써 잊었나
Have you already forgotten when my heart was firmly bound to you?
너를 위해 피워논 불꽃 달빛아래 피어나는데
The spark I lit for you is glowing again under the moonlight

내 마음을 보아나요
Do you see my heart?
그대를 위해 바친 내 마음
My heart that I devoted to you
달빛아래 피어나는 이밤
On this night, when it’s glowing under the moonlight
안타까운 나의 이맘을 아시나요
Do you know this miserable heart of mine?
피어나는 내 마음을
My glowing heart…
그대를 위해 바친 내 마음
My heart that I devoted to you
달빛아래 피어나는 이밤
On this night, when it’s glowing under the moonlight




6. 너풀거리듯
Like a Flutter

너풀거리듯 자꾸 까만 너의 머리카락
It was like a constant flutter, your jet-black hair
너풀거리듯 나를 쫓아오던 발자욱소리
It was like a flutter, the sound of your footsteps chasing me
너풀거리는 나비 쫓아 떠나버렸네
You left chasing the fluttering butterfly
음…너풀거리며 나비 쫓아 떠나버렸네
Mmm… as it fluttered you left chasing the butterfly

꿈을 꾸던 여인아 그렇게 이쁘지는 않지만
Oh woman I dreamed of, you’re not that pretty
내 맘을 꺾어버린 여인아
But oh, woman who has crushed my heart
나만홀로 남겨두고 나비 쫓아 떠나버렸네
You left me all alone and left chasing the butterfly
너풀거리며 나비 쫓아 떠나버렸네
As it fluttered, you left chasing the butterfly
음…너풀거리며 나비 쫓아 떠나버렸네
Mmm…as it fluttered, you left chasing the butterfly




7. 들어봐요
Listen

들어봐요 내가슴에 흐르는 소리
Listen, to the sound flowing in my heart
들리나요 당신을 부르는 소리
Can you hear? The sound of it calling you?
들리나요 내가슴에 흐르는 소리
Can you hear? The sound flowing in my heart?
들어봐요 당신을 부르는 소리
Listen, to the sound of it calling you

난 추워요
I feel cold
아무도 없나요
Isn’t there anyone here?
당신이 어디로 떠난뒤 난 추워요
Since you went away, I feel cold

들어봐요 내가슴에 흐르는 소리
Listen, to the sound flowing in my heart
들리나요 당신을 부르는 소리
Can you hear? The sound of it calling you?
들어봐요 내가슴에 흐르는 소리
Listen, to the sound flowing in my heart
들리나요 당신을 부르는 소리
Can you hear? The sound of it calling you?

Special thanks to Tay, littlething, Terry and J-huhn for help with these translations.