Release Date
January 28, 2020
Genre
Label
Composers / Lyricists
Hyuk Shin, MRey, JOONY, Jeff Lewis, Kim In-hyeong, Park Seong-hee
Participating Members
Leeteuk
Heechul
Yesung
Shindong
Eunhyuk
Donghae
Siwon
Ryeowook
Kyuhyun
About the Song
“Shadow (赤霞)” is a dark and cinematic track by SUPER JUNIOR that explores the psychological depth of an inescapable reflection. Released in 2020 as part of the repackage album TIMELESS – The 9th Repackage Album under SM Entertainment, the song builds a sophisticated tension through its atmospheric production. Composed by the 153/Joombas team led by Hyuk Shin, the track uses the imagery of a red sunset to mirror the creeping presence of one’s inner darkness. Its restrained verses and dramatic delivery highlight SUPER JUNIOR’s matured emotional control, portraying a haunting chase where one’s own shadow becomes the ultimate pursuer.
[FULL LYRICS – ROMANIZATION & ENGLISH ONLY]
English Translation
oh yeah, woo, let’s go
bu-ran-han geol
so-ri-do eop-neun bal-ja-guk (yeah)
jeom-jeom peo-ji-neun eo-du-um (yeah)
bu-ran-han geol
so-ri-do eop-neun bal-ja-guk (yeah)
jeom-jeom peo-ji-neun eo-du-um (yeah)
Oh yeah, woo, let’s go. There’s an unsettling feeling, a silent footstep. The darkness is slowly spreading.
gi-na-gin no-eul-i ji-na-myeon neon sa-ra-jyeo
deung dwi-e tto su-meo-wa
gi-cheok eop-si da-ga-wa
nun-bu-sin kkok geu sun-gan-e
deung dwi-e tto su-meo-wa
gi-cheok eop-si da-ga-wa
nun-bu-sin kkok geu sun-gan-e
As the long sunset fades, you disappear, hiding behind my back again. You approach without a trace, in that dazzling moment.
ja-ri-reul ja-ba
mang-chi-deu-si do it right
nal but-jap-go hide the light
eo-jji-hal jul mo-reu-neun nal
mang-chi-deu-si do it right
nal but-jap-go hide the light
eo-jji-hal jul mo-reu-neun nal
Hold your ground, like a hammer, do it right. Grab me and hide the light, I can’t figure out what to do.
a-neun geot gat-a
sae-ha-yan heun-jeok
neol ji-wo-nae nan
deo mun-jil-leo-bo-a-do
sae-ha-yan heun-jeok
neol ji-wo-nae nan
deo mun-jil-leo-bo-a-do
I feel like I know, the pale traces. I try to erase you, but I keep questioning more.
beon-ji-go beon-jyeo
sae-kka-man tae-yang
hon-ja-in na
jeo su-ma-neun ne mo-seup
sae-kka-man tae-yang
hon-ja-in na
jeo su-ma-neun ne mo-seup
It spreads and spreads, the blinding sun. I’m alone, among the countless images of you.
yeah gyeo-teul maem-do-neun geu-rim-ja
shadows like you you you you
shadows like you you you you
yeah na-reul ji-kyeo-bo-neun gi-bun
shadows like you you you you
shadows like you you you you
yeah na-reul ji-kyeo-bo-neun gi-bun
Yeah, the shadow that lingers beside me, shadows like you, you, you, you. Yeah, the feeling of watching over me.
nat-ge mo-meul sum-gi-myeo
jit-ge seu-myeo iss-eo
nun-i dah-neun got-ma-da
deo heun-deul-li-ji anh-ge
jit-ge seu-myeo iss-eo
nun-i dah-neun got-ma-da
deo heun-deul-li-ji anh-ge
Hiding my body clearly, blending in deeply. Wherever my eyes reach, I won’t be shaken anymore.
sae-gin hon-jat-mal
mo-deun bul-eul kkeun chae
eo-dum-e neol nok-yeo-bwa
bu-di nal deo i-sang
mo-deun bul-eul kkeun chae
eo-dum-e neol nok-yeo-bwa
bu-di nal deo i-sang
The lonely words I’ve captured, extinguishing all the lights. In the darkness, I melt you away, but I must go further.
tta-ra-o-ji mot-ha-ge
this way this way okay
nae gi-eok-e
geu eo-neu go-se-do
this way this way okay
nae gi-eok-e
geu eo-neu go-se-do
Unable to follow, this way, this way, okay. In my memory, in any place.
sum swi-ji mot-ha-ge
ah yeah gye-sok walk this way uh
gang-hae-jin bit-en
gang-hae-jin eo-dum
ah yeah gye-sok walk this way uh
gang-hae-jin bit-en
gang-hae-jin eo-dum
Unable to breathe, ah yeah, keep walking this way, uh. The light has grown stronger, the darkness has intensified.
geu-geol mol-lat-na bwa
gae-rae tteo-reo-jil su eop-neun neo
but geu-ge silh-eo
sae-ha-yan heun-jeok
gae-rae tteo-reo-jil su eop-neun neo
but geu-ge silh-eo
sae-ha-yan heun-jeok
Maybe I didn’t know, you can’t be shaken off. But I hate that, the pale traces.
neol ji-wo-nae nan
deo mun-jil-leo-bo-a-do
beon-ji-go beon-jyeo
sae-kka-man tae-yang
deo mun-jil-leo-bo-a-do
beon-ji-go beon-jyeo
sae-kka-man tae-yang
I try to erase you, but I keep questioning more. It spreads and spreads, the blinding sun.
hon-ja-in na
jeo su-ma-neun ne mo-seup
yeah gyeo-teul maem-do-neun geu-rim-ja
shadows like you you you you
jeo su-ma-neun ne mo-seup
yeah gyeo-teul maem-do-neun geu-rim-ja
shadows like you you you you
I’m alone, among the countless images of you. Yeah, the shadow that lingers beside me, shadows like you, you, you, you.
shadows like you you you you
yeah du-ryeo-un i gam-jeong-eul gu-hae-ju-neun savior
eop-da-neun geol al-go it-ji-man
ja-seok-bo-da gang-han kkeul-lim-eun tto follow
yeah du-ryeo-un i gam-jeong-eul gu-hae-ju-neun savior
eop-da-neun geol al-go it-ji-man
ja-seok-bo-da gang-han kkeul-lim-eun tto follow
Shadows like you, you, you, you. Yeah, the savior that rescues me from this fear. I know it’s not there, but the pull is stronger than my instincts, and I follow again.
neon na-ra-neun shadow
ttae-ro-neun jo-yong-hi
ttae-ro-neun gang-ryeol-hi tto heun-deul-eo
ga-kkeum-eun tu-myeong-hi
ttae-ro-neun jo-yong-hi
ttae-ro-neun gang-ryeol-hi tto heun-deul-eo
ga-kkeum-eun tu-myeong-hi
You’re the shadow that flies with me, sometimes quietly, sometimes intensely shaking, sometimes transparently.
ga-kkeum-eun jit-eo-jin saeg-eul ip-eo
ja-sin-i hwak-sil-ha-ge deul ttae get up
ae-ga yak-hae-ji-neun teum-e get up
mu-eot-do du-ryeo-ul geot eop-neun ne-ga
ja-sin-i hwak-sil-ha-ge deul ttae get up
ae-ga yak-hae-ji-neun teum-e get up
mu-eot-do du-ryeo-ul geot eop-neun ne-ga
Sometimes wearing a faded color, when you’re sure of yourself, get up. In the gap where my spirit weakens, get up. You’re not afraid of anything.
tto-da-si cha-ja-wa tonight
shadows like you you you you
shadows like you you you you
nae geo-reum-gwa ttok-ga-teun
shadows like you you you you
shadows like you you you you
nae geo-reum-gwa ttok-ga-teun
Come find me again tonight, shadows like you, you, you, you. Shadows like you, you, you, you. Just like my steps.
geu geo-reum sok-e
seu-min jon-jae-gam jal al-go iss-eo
ppal-gan-saek ha-neul-ui kkeut
jak-ge geol-lin tae-yang
seu-min jon-jae-gam jal al-go iss-eo
ppal-gan-saek ha-neul-ui kkeut
jak-ge geol-lin tae-yang
In those steps, I know well the hidden presence. At the end of the red sky, the small sun is caught.
shadow na-reul deop-chyeoss-eo
deo beo-seo-nal su eop-seo
eo-di-ra-do na-reul tta-ra
gi-peun am-heug-e-do
deo beo-seo-nal su eop-seo
eo-di-ra-do na-reul tta-ra
gi-peun am-heug-e-do
The shadow has engulfed me, I can’t escape anymore. Wherever I go, it follows me, even in the deep darkness.
bun-myeong-hi neon sum-eul swi-go
kkok geo-ul-eul bo-neun deut dalm-eun geo-ya
i-jen geu-man na-reul nwa-jwo
let me go
kkok geo-ul-eul bo-neun deut dalm-eun geo-ya
i-jen geu-man na-reul nwa-jwo
let me go
Clearly, you’re breathing, like looking into a mirror. Now, let me go, let me go.
🗣️ Practice Korean Words
기척
(gicheok)
sign of presence
💡 Note: a slight sound or movement indicating that someone is nearby
번지고
(beonjigo)
spreading
💡 Note: describing how a color or darkness smears and expands across a surface
스며
(seumyeo)
permeating
💡 Note: the process of a liquid or a feeling slowly soaking deep into something
혼잣말
(honjanmal)
soliloquy
💡 Note: words spoken to oneself rather than to an audience or another person
🎵 Song Meaning & Interpretation
The lyrics explore the duality of the self by portraying the shadow as an inescapable reflection that follows one even into the deepest darkness. It describes the struggle to erase this inner darkness, eventually realizing that the shadow is a magnetic force and a permanent part of one’s obsessive identity.
