After a career that started as an accompanist, moved toward songwriter and eventually television show host, Noh Yeong-Shim released her debut album in 1992. This isn’t a typical pop album, as the first half contains four vocal songs, and the second half contains five piano-based instrumental pieces. The only vocals in the second half are a conversation with the legendary Kim Chang-Wan of Sanullim during the final track, “Goodbye.”
The first four tracks, like the instrumentals, are built around Noh’s piano, with the exception of the keyboard-based single “The Man Who Remembers All Sorts of Things.” “The Man…” has been said to be a sequel to Noh’s composition for Byeon Jin-Seob, “Wishful Thinking,” in which the singer lists all the qualities of his ideal woman, most of which are unrealistic to expect. “The Man…” sees Noh pondering all the minutiae of daily life that she never notices, and wishing merely for a man who cares enough to remember such things about her. “The Man…” may stick out a bit sound-wise, but its lyrics are a creative departure from standard fare, and uniquely Korean as well.
Noh’s soft vocals, evocative lyrics and emotional piano playing create a very relaxed yet often melancholic atmosphere. The album art, which shows Noh on a beach on a gray day, captures the mood of this record pretty well. It has a subdued beauty, and in the darker moments, there remains the knowledge that brightness and warmth await with the change of seasons.
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| Image source: ManiaDB |
All music and lyrics by Noh Yeong-Shim (노영심)
1. 4월이 울고있네
April is Crying
봄비가 내려오는데
The spring rain falls
꽃잎이 흩날리는데
The flower petals scatter
나의 눈에는 4월이 울고있는것처럼 보이네
And to my eyes, it looks like April is crying
봄비가 내리는 소리
The sound of the spring rain falling
꽃잎이 떨어지는 소리
The sound of the flower petals dropping
나의 귀에는 4월이 울고있는것처럼 들리네
To my ears, it sounds like April is crying
창문열고 봄비 속으로 젖어드는 그대 뒷모습 바라보면은
If I open the window and gaze at the back of you, soaking in the spring rain
아무리 애써보아도 너를 잊을 수 없어라
No matter how I try, I won’t be able to forget you
내일을 기다려도 될까
Is it OK to wait for tomorrow?
내 사랑을 믿어도 될까
Is it OK to believe in my love?
네가 딛고가는 저 흙이 마르기전에
Before that ground you walked on dries up
내 눈물이 그칠까
I wonder if my tears will stop?
1. 4월이 울고있네
April is Crying
봄비가 내려오는데
The spring rain falls
꽃잎이 흩날리는데
The flower petals scatter
나의 눈에는 4월이 울고있는것처럼 보이네
And to my eyes, it looks like April is crying
봄비가 내리는 소리
The sound of the spring rain falling
꽃잎이 떨어지는 소리
The sound of the flower petals dropping
나의 귀에는 4월이 울고있는것처럼 들리네
To my ears, it sounds like April is crying
창문열고 봄비 속으로 젖어드는 그대 뒷모습 바라보면은
If I open the window and gaze at the back of you, soaking in the spring rain
아무리 애써보아도 너를 잊을 수 없어라
No matter how I try, I won’t be able to forget you
내일을 기다려도 될까
Is it OK to wait for tomorrow?
내 사랑을 믿어도 될까
Is it OK to believe in my love?
네가 딛고가는 저 흙이 마르기전에
Before that ground you walked on dries up
내 눈물이 그칠까
I wonder if my tears will stop?
2. 꿈에 본 겨울
The Winter I Saw in a Dream
아침햇빛이 빨갛게 물든 앞집 지붕위에는
On top of the roof of the house across the street that the morning sunlight has colored red
살찐 하얀색 비둘기가 날아와 앉아 있구나
I see a stout, white dove has come flying and sat down
창가에 앉은 햇살이 너무 따스해
The sunbeam sitting at the window is so warm
방안이 좀 쓸쓸해도 기분이 정말 좋아
Although it’s a bit lonely in this room, I’m in a really good mood
찌그러진 빨간 주전자에 물을 끓이고
I boil water in a dented red kettle
마음속에 흐르는 흥겨운 노랠 부르면서
As I sing a flowing, merry song in my heart
아름다운 것만 생각하는 사랑하는 그대를 생각해
I think of you, who thinks of and loves only beautiful things
오늘 아침은 날개가 없어도 날 것만 같아
This morning, though I don’t have wings, it seems like I could fly
바람이 좀 차가우면 어때
So what if the wind is a bit chilly?
창문을 활짝 열어봐
I open the window wide
저 햇살위로 날 기다리는 것이 너무 많아
There are so many things waiting for me over that sunbeam
아름다운 것만 생각하는 사랑하는 그대를 생각해
I think of you, who thinks of and loves only beautiful things
오늘 아침은 날개가 없어도 날 것만 같아
This morning, though I don’t have wings, it seems like I could fly
The Winter I Saw in a Dream
아침햇빛이 빨갛게 물든 앞집 지붕위에는
On top of the roof of the house across the street that the morning sunlight has colored red
살찐 하얀색 비둘기가 날아와 앉아 있구나
I see a stout, white dove has come flying and sat down
창가에 앉은 햇살이 너무 따스해
The sunbeam sitting at the window is so warm
방안이 좀 쓸쓸해도 기분이 정말 좋아
Although it’s a bit lonely in this room, I’m in a really good mood
찌그러진 빨간 주전자에 물을 끓이고
I boil water in a dented red kettle
마음속에 흐르는 흥겨운 노랠 부르면서
As I sing a flowing, merry song in my heart
아름다운 것만 생각하는 사랑하는 그대를 생각해
I think of you, who thinks of and loves only beautiful things
오늘 아침은 날개가 없어도 날 것만 같아
This morning, though I don’t have wings, it seems like I could fly
바람이 좀 차가우면 어때
So what if the wind is a bit chilly?
창문을 활짝 열어봐
I open the window wide
저 햇살위로 날 기다리는 것이 너무 많아
There are so many things waiting for me over that sunbeam
아름다운 것만 생각하는 사랑하는 그대를 생각해
I think of you, who thinks of and loves only beautiful things
오늘 아침은 날개가 없어도 날 것만 같아
This morning, though I don’t have wings, it seems like I could fly
3. 눈물이 마를때까지만
Only Until My Tears Dry Up
희미한 창가의 불빛이 거리를 비추고
The light from a dim window illuminates the street
그대와 내 발자욱 소리만 퍼져 울려요
And only the sound of our footsteps resonates throughout
부딪히는 눈길 피하려 고개 숙여도
Though I lower my head, trying to avoid eye contact
지워지지 않는 눈동자 마음에 담아둡니다
I carry in my mind those indelible pupils
저 달빛이 너무 밝아
That moonlight is too bright
내 눈물이 들킬 것 같아
It looks like my tears will be found out
잠시만 날 기다려요
Wait for me just a moment
내 눈물이 마를때 까지
Until my tears dry up
내 눈물이 마를때 까지만 이렇게 서있게요
I’ll be standing here like this only until my tears dry up
저 달빛이 너무 밝아
That moonlight is too bright
내 눈물이 들킬 것 같아
It looks like my tears will be found out
잠시만 날 기다려요
Wait for me just a moment
내 눈물이 마를때 까지
Until my tears dry up
내 눈물이 마를때 까지만 이렇게 서있어요
I’m standing here like this only until my tears dry up
Only Until My Tears Dry Up
희미한 창가의 불빛이 거리를 비추고
The light from a dim window illuminates the street
그대와 내 발자욱 소리만 퍼져 울려요
And only the sound of our footsteps resonates throughout
부딪히는 눈길 피하려 고개 숙여도
Though I lower my head, trying to avoid eye contact
지워지지 않는 눈동자 마음에 담아둡니다
I carry in my mind those indelible pupils
저 달빛이 너무 밝아
That moonlight is too bright
내 눈물이 들킬 것 같아
It looks like my tears will be found out
잠시만 날 기다려요
Wait for me just a moment
내 눈물이 마를때 까지
Until my tears dry up
내 눈물이 마를때 까지만 이렇게 서있게요
I’ll be standing here like this only until my tears dry up
저 달빛이 너무 밝아
That moonlight is too bright
내 눈물이 들킬 것 같아
It looks like my tears will be found out
잠시만 날 기다려요
Wait for me just a moment
내 눈물이 마를때 까지
Until my tears dry up
내 눈물이 마를때 까지만 이렇게 서있어요
I’m standing here like this only until my tears dry up
4. 별걸다 기억하는 남자
The Man Who Remembers All Sorts of Things
나를 처음 본 게 정확히
The first time he saw me, exactly
목요일이었는지 금요일이었는지
Was it a Thursday or a Friday?
그 때 귀걸이를 했는지 안 했었는지
Did I wear earrings that time or didn’t I?
기억할 수 있을까
I wonder if I can remember?
그런 시시콜콜한걸 다 기억할 필요가
The need to remember such minute details perfectly
뭐가 있을까 생각하겠지만
What is it? You might think
내 생일이나 전화번호를 외우는 건
But memorizing something like my birthday or phone number
너무 당연하지 않아요
Isn’t that just natural?
내가 전화걸 때 처음에 여보세요 하는지
When I make phone calls, is the first thing I say “Hello?”
죄송합니다만 그러는지
Or do I say it like “I beg your pardon”?
번호 8자를 적을 때 왼쪽으로 돌리는지
When I write the number 8, do I make a pen stroke to the left
오른쪽으로 돌려쓰는지
Or do I make it to the right?
지하철 1호선과 4호선안에서
On subway line 1 and line 4
내 표정은 어떻게 달라지는지
I don’t know how my expressions varied
내가 미처 깨닫지 못한 내 모습까지도 기억하는 남자
But that man remembers even features of mine that I couldn’t have perceived
같이 걷던 한강 인도교의 철조 아치가
The engraved metal arches of the Han River footbridge that we walked together
여섯개인지 일곱개인지
Were there six or seven of them?
그때 우리를 조용히 따르던 하늘의 달은
The moon in the sky that quietly followed us that time
초생달인지 보름달인지
Was it a crescent moon or a full moon?
우리동네 목욕탕 정기휴일이
The days our neighborhood bathhouse is closed
혹시 첫째 셋째 수요일에 쉬는지
Might they be off on the first and third Wednesday
아니면 둘째 넷째 수요일에 쉬는지
Or are they off on the second and fourth Wednesday?
그걸 기억할 수 있을까
I wonder if I can remember that?
나를 둘러싼 수많은 모습과
The many images that surround me
내 마음속의 숨은 표정까지도
And even the hidden expressions of my heart
오직 나만의것으로 이해해주는
He understands as things unique to me
별걸 다 기억하는 남자
The man who remembers all sorts of things
내 새끼손가락엔 매니큐얼 칠했는지
Did I paint the nail on my pinky with nail polish
봉숭아물을 들였는지
Or did I color it with balsam?
커피는 설탕 두스푼에 프림 한스푼인지
For coffee, is it one spoon of cream for two spoons of sugar
설탕 하나에 프림 둘인지
Or is it two of cream for one of sugar?
그런 사소한 것까지 다 기억을 한다면
If I perfectly remembered even such trivial things
얼마나 피곤할까 생각하겠지만
How weary would I be? You might think
아주 가끔씩만 내게 일깨워준다면 어때요
But what if he were to let me know once in a while?
매력 있지 않아요
Wouldn’t that be charming?
어릴적 동화 보물섬 해적선장 애꾸눈 잭은
The pirate captain One-Eyed Jack from the treasure island childhood story
안대가 오른쪽인지 왼쪽인지
Was his eyepatch on the right side or the left side?
만화 주인공 영심이를 좋아하는 남학생이
The boy student who likes the cartoon character Yeong Shim-I
안경을 썼는지 안 썼는지
Did he wear glasses or not?
고깃집에서 내가 쌈을 먹을 때
When I eat ssam in a barbecue restaurant
쌈장을 바르고 고기를 얹는지
Do I add soybean paste and put the meat on
아니면 고기부터 얹고 쌈장을 바르는지
Or do I put the meat on first and add soybean paste?
기억할 수 있을까
I wonder if I can remember?
나도 모르는 날 일깨워 주듯이
As though reminding me of a me that I myself don’t know
볼 때마다 새로움을 주는 사람이면
If he’s someone who makes me feel new whenever I see him
그 어떤 능력보다 소중하지요
Isn’t that more valuable than any ability?
별걸 다 기억하는 남자
The man who remembers all sorts of things
지난겨울에 내가 즐겨 끼던 장갑이
The gloves I liked to wear last winter
보라색인지 분홍색인지
Were they purple or pink?
그게 벙어리 장갑인지 손가락 장갑인지
And was that a pair of mittens or finger gloves?
기억할 수 있을까
I wonder if I can remember?
나를 처음으로 집까지 데려다준날
The day he escorted me home for the first time
정류장에서 들리던 노래가
The song we heard at the station
목포의 눈물인지 빈대떡 신산지
Was it “Tears of Mokpo” or “Bindaeddeok Gentleman”?
혹시 기억할 수 있을까
I wonder if by some chance I can remember?
The Man Who Remembers All Sorts of Things
나를 처음 본 게 정확히
The first time he saw me, exactly
목요일이었는지 금요일이었는지
Was it a Thursday or a Friday?
그 때 귀걸이를 했는지 안 했었는지
Did I wear earrings that time or didn’t I?
기억할 수 있을까
I wonder if I can remember?
그런 시시콜콜한걸 다 기억할 필요가
The need to remember such minute details perfectly
뭐가 있을까 생각하겠지만
What is it? You might think
내 생일이나 전화번호를 외우는 건
But memorizing something like my birthday or phone number
너무 당연하지 않아요
Isn’t that just natural?
내가 전화걸 때 처음에 여보세요 하는지
When I make phone calls, is the first thing I say “Hello?”
죄송합니다만 그러는지
Or do I say it like “I beg your pardon”?
번호 8자를 적을 때 왼쪽으로 돌리는지
When I write the number 8, do I make a pen stroke to the left
오른쪽으로 돌려쓰는지
Or do I make it to the right?
지하철 1호선과 4호선안에서
On subway line 1 and line 4
내 표정은 어떻게 달라지는지
I don’t know how my expressions varied
내가 미처 깨닫지 못한 내 모습까지도 기억하는 남자
But that man remembers even features of mine that I couldn’t have perceived
같이 걷던 한강 인도교의 철조 아치가
The engraved metal arches of the Han River footbridge that we walked together
여섯개인지 일곱개인지
Were there six or seven of them?
그때 우리를 조용히 따르던 하늘의 달은
The moon in the sky that quietly followed us that time
초생달인지 보름달인지
Was it a crescent moon or a full moon?
우리동네 목욕탕 정기휴일이
The days our neighborhood bathhouse is closed
혹시 첫째 셋째 수요일에 쉬는지
Might they be off on the first and third Wednesday
아니면 둘째 넷째 수요일에 쉬는지
Or are they off on the second and fourth Wednesday?
그걸 기억할 수 있을까
I wonder if I can remember that?
나를 둘러싼 수많은 모습과
The many images that surround me
내 마음속의 숨은 표정까지도
And even the hidden expressions of my heart
오직 나만의것으로 이해해주는
He understands as things unique to me
별걸 다 기억하는 남자
The man who remembers all sorts of things
내 새끼손가락엔 매니큐얼 칠했는지
Did I paint the nail on my pinky with nail polish
봉숭아물을 들였는지
Or did I color it with balsam?
커피는 설탕 두스푼에 프림 한스푼인지
For coffee, is it one spoon of cream for two spoons of sugar
설탕 하나에 프림 둘인지
Or is it two of cream for one of sugar?
그런 사소한 것까지 다 기억을 한다면
If I perfectly remembered even such trivial things
얼마나 피곤할까 생각하겠지만
How weary would I be? You might think
아주 가끔씩만 내게 일깨워준다면 어때요
But what if he were to let me know once in a while?
매력 있지 않아요
Wouldn’t that be charming?
어릴적 동화 보물섬 해적선장 애꾸눈 잭은
The pirate captain One-Eyed Jack from the treasure island childhood story
안대가 오른쪽인지 왼쪽인지
Was his eyepatch on the right side or the left side?
만화 주인공 영심이를 좋아하는 남학생이
The boy student who likes the cartoon character Yeong Shim-I
안경을 썼는지 안 썼는지
Did he wear glasses or not?
고깃집에서 내가 쌈을 먹을 때
When I eat ssam in a barbecue restaurant
쌈장을 바르고 고기를 얹는지
Do I add soybean paste and put the meat on
아니면 고기부터 얹고 쌈장을 바르는지
Or do I put the meat on first and add soybean paste?
기억할 수 있을까
I wonder if I can remember?
나도 모르는 날 일깨워 주듯이
As though reminding me of a me that I myself don’t know
볼 때마다 새로움을 주는 사람이면
If he’s someone who makes me feel new whenever I see him
그 어떤 능력보다 소중하지요
Isn’t that more valuable than any ability?
별걸 다 기억하는 남자
The man who remembers all sorts of things
지난겨울에 내가 즐겨 끼던 장갑이
The gloves I liked to wear last winter
보라색인지 분홍색인지
Were they purple or pink?
그게 벙어리 장갑인지 손가락 장갑인지
And was that a pair of mittens or finger gloves?
기억할 수 있을까
I wonder if I can remember?
나를 처음으로 집까지 데려다준날
The day he escorted me home for the first time
정류장에서 들리던 노래가
The song we heard at the station
목포의 눈물인지 빈대떡 신산지
Was it “Tears of Mokpo” or “Bindaeddeok Gentleman”?
혹시 기억할 수 있을까
I wonder if by some chance I can remember?
5. Prologue
6. 미련
Lingering Regrets
Lingering Regrets
7. 잊혀지기 전에
Before Being Forgotten
Before Being Forgotten
8. 나
Me
Me
9. 안녕
Goodbye
노영심: 어제 친구가 결혼을 하는데요.
Noh Yeong-Shim: Yesterday my friend got married.
식장으로 걸어들어가는 친구 뒷모습보면서 막 울었어요.
As I saw her back while she was walking into the wedding hall, I just cried.
왠지 아주 헤어진다는 느낌이 들었거든요.
Somehow, I got the feeling that we were completely parting.
순간 그런 생각이 들었어요.
That moment I had thoughts like that.
헤어지지않고 살수는 없을까 하구요.
I wonder whether we can’t live without parting.
김창완:하하~
Kim Chang-Wan: Ha ha…
노영심:아저씨는 저보다 좀 더 사셨으니까
Noh Yeong-Shim: Ajeosshi has lived a bit more than me,
그만큼 헤어진 사람들도 많을거예요. 그치요?
so there would be a bit more people who’ve parted. Right?
김창완:그랬겠지.
Kim Chang-Wan: That’s right.
노영심:그래도 좋아하는 사람들과는 헤어지지않았으면 좋겠어요.
Noh Yeong-Shim: Even so, with the people I like, I wish they wouldn’t part with me.
김창완:그래?
Kim Chang-Wan: Really?
노영심:아저씬 더이상 헤어질 사람이 없는 것처럼 보여요.
Noh Yeong-Shim: For Ajeosshi, it looks like there are no more people who’ll part with him.
김창완:만남을 간직한다는 것은 불가능해…
Kim Chang-Wan: Holding onto the people you meet is impossible…
언제나 헤어짐으로 완성되기 마련이야
It’s always bound to end with parting.
노영심:그래도 헤어지는 건 정말 싫다...
Noh Yeong-Shim: Even so, I really don’t like parting…
Goodbye
노영심: 어제 친구가 결혼을 하는데요.
Noh Yeong-Shim: Yesterday my friend got married.
식장으로 걸어들어가는 친구 뒷모습보면서 막 울었어요.
As I saw her back while she was walking into the wedding hall, I just cried.
왠지 아주 헤어진다는 느낌이 들었거든요.
Somehow, I got the feeling that we were completely parting.
순간 그런 생각이 들었어요.
That moment I had thoughts like that.
헤어지지않고 살수는 없을까 하구요.
I wonder whether we can’t live without parting.
김창완:하하~
Kim Chang-Wan: Ha ha…
노영심:아저씨는 저보다 좀 더 사셨으니까
Noh Yeong-Shim: Ajeosshi has lived a bit more than me,
그만큼 헤어진 사람들도 많을거예요. 그치요?
so there would be a bit more people who’ve parted. Right?
김창완:그랬겠지.
Kim Chang-Wan: That’s right.
노영심:그래도 좋아하는 사람들과는 헤어지지않았으면 좋겠어요.
Noh Yeong-Shim: Even so, with the people I like, I wish they wouldn’t part with me.
김창완:그래?
Kim Chang-Wan: Really?
노영심:아저씬 더이상 헤어질 사람이 없는 것처럼 보여요.
Noh Yeong-Shim: For Ajeosshi, it looks like there are no more people who’ll part with him.
김창완:만남을 간직한다는 것은 불가능해…
Kim Chang-Wan: Holding onto the people you meet is impossible…
언제나 헤어짐으로 완성되기 마련이야
It’s always bound to end with parting.
노영심:그래도 헤어지는 건 정말 싫다...
Noh Yeong-Shim: Even so, I really don’t like parting…
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