i-reun a-chim hae-wa si-jak-doe-neun nae kkum
my dream begins with the early morning sun
ul-lyeo-dae-neun al-lam-eun gi-bun jo-eun tune
the ringing alarm plays a pleasant tune
u-ri a-pe pyeol-chyeo-jil a-reum-da-un view
a beautiful view waits to open before us
gi-pi bo-gi wi-hae keu-ge cham-eun sum
i hold a deep breath to take it all in
is-seo-jul geo-ya neo-ui gyeot-e
i’ll stay right here by your side
nal gi-da-ri-neun neo-reul wi-hae
for the one who's been waiting for me
neo-man is-seum man-jok-hae
just having you is enough
o-jik neol wi-han
made only for you
neo-man-e ui-han
shaped only by you
sweetest MELODY
the sweetest MELODY
geu-reo-ni-kka ham-bu-ro
so don’t you dare
nal a-peu-ge a-peu-ge ha-ji-ma how dare
don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, how dare
ne mam-eul sum-gi-go a-nin cheok hae-bwa-do so-yong eop-seo
you can hide your heart or pretend, but it won’t matter
nat-seon gam-jeong na-reul hyang-hae heu-reu-ni
these unfamiliar feelings flow straight toward me
ah nun-eul ga-ma ga-byeop-ge
ah close your eyes lightly
jal deur-eo-bwa geu-reo-ke
listen closely, just like that
ah nun-eul tteo-bwa ne a-pe
ah open them now, right in front of you
'cause i'd always think of YOU
sa-rang-eun swip-ge byeon-ha-ji
love doesn’t change so easily
sa-ram-eun swip-ge an byeon-hae
but people don’t change that easily either
nae mam-eul kkeo-nae bo-yeo-ju-myeon
and if i open my heart and show it to you
sa-rang-ui jeong-ui-ga ba-kkwil geol
the meaning of love might change for us
gyeo-ul-e pin flower
a flower blooming in winter
chu-wi-reul mat-seo ssa-wo
fighting back the cold
neo-man is-seum nan okay
as long as there’s you, i’m okay
o-jik neol wi-han
made only for you
neo-man-e ui-han
shaped only by you
sweetest MELODY
the sweetest MELODY
geu-reo-ni-kka ham-bu-ro
so don’t you dare
nal a-peu-ge a-peu-ge ha-ji-ma how dare
don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, how dare
ne mam-eul sum-gi-go a-nin cheok hae-bwa-do so-yong eop-seo
you can hide your heart or pretend, but it won’t matter
nat-seon gam-jeong na-reul hyang-hae heu-reu-ni
these unfamiliar feelings flow straight toward me
ah nun-eul ga-ma ga-byeop-ge
ah close your eyes lightly
jal deur-eo-bwa geu-reo-ke
listen closely, just like that
ah nun-eul tteo-bwa ne a-pe
ah open them now, right in front of you
'cause i'd always think of YOU
eo-di-do eop-seo
there’s nowhere else
nae-ga is-seul got
i’m meant to be
ne-ga in-neun geo-gi
except wherever you are
pi-ryo-hae o-jik
i need only
ne u-seum so-ri
the sound of your laughter
geu-reo-ni-kka ham-bu-ro
so don’t you dare
nal a-peu-ge a-peu-ge ha-ji-ma how dare
don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, how dare
ne mam-eul sum-gi-go a-nin cheok hae-bwa-do so-yong eop-seo
you can hide your heart or pretend, but it won’t matter
nat-seon gam-jeong na-reul hyang-hae heu-reu-ni
these unfamiliar feelings flow straight toward me
ah nun-eul ga-ma ga-byeop-ge
ah close your eyes lightly
jal deur-eo-bwa geu-reo-ke
listen closely, just like that
ah nun-eul tteo-bwa ne a-pe
ah open them now, right in front of you
'cause i'd always think of YOU
🗣️ Practice Korean Words
beautiful
💡 Note: expressing visually pleasing emotion or scenery
unfamiliar
💡 Note: describing a new or unexpected feeling
melody
💡 Note: symbolic of emotional flow in the song
winter
💡 Note: metaphor for hardship or emotional coldness
The song expresses a warm but emotionally honest promise of devotion, built around the idea that love can be both fragile and resilient. It describes waking to a hopeful dream, holding on to someone through shifting feelings, and recognizing that affection doesn’t change as easily as people do. Despite hidden emotions and unspoken signals, the narrator commits to staying by the other person’s side, asking for sincerity in return. “Payback” ultimately portrays love as a gentle exchange—one that deepens when both hearts reveal themselves without hesitation.
