Release Date
December 5, 2016
Genre
R&B / Hip-hop
Label
Composers / Lyricists
WOOZI, S.COUPS, Vernon, Lishi
Participating Members
S.Coups
Jeonghan
Joshua
Jun
Hoshi
Wonwoo
Woozi
THE 8
Mingyu
DK
Seungkwan
Vernon
Dino
About the Song
《I Don’t Know (글쎄)》 brings a quiet, uncertain emotional tone to SEVENTEEN, featured on Seventeen 3rd Mini Album ’Going Seventeen’. Composed by WOOZI, with lyrics by S.COUPS, Vernon, and WOOZI, and arrangement by Rishi, the track captures the hesitation and confusion that often follow complicated feelings. Its Korean title suggests “I’m not sure” or “well, I don’t know,” and 《I Don’t Know》 turns that uncertainty into a smooth, restrained song that highlights SEVENTEEN’s ability to express emotional distance, regret, and vulnerability with subtle detail.
[FULL LYRICS – ROMANIZATION & ENGLISH ONLY]
English Translation
deu-reo-ga-ja jam-kkan
yae-min-han na-ri seon si-gye so-ri na-neun bang
gung-geum-jjeung-e bi-hae da-so jjal-ba-jin mu-reum-eun
jeong-jeog-eul kkae dae-hwa sok-en bul-man-seu-reon neu-gim-deu-ri ga-deuk cha
neom-cheo-na deo i-sang-eun an-dwae
yae-min-han na-ri seon si-gye so-ri na-neun bang
gung-geum-jjeung-e bi-hae da-so jjal-ba-jin mu-reum-eun
jeong-jeog-eul kkae dae-hwa sok-en bul-man-seu-reon neu-gim-deu-ri ga-deuk cha
neom-cheo-na deo i-sang-eun an-dwae
Let’s go in for a moment
In a room with the sharp ticking of a sensitive clock
Questions shorter than curiosity
Break the silence, the conversation is filled with dissatisfaction
Overflowing, can’t take it anymore
In a room with the sharp ticking of a sensitive clock
Questions shorter than curiosity
Break the silence, the conversation is filled with dissatisfaction
Overflowing, can’t take it anymore
han-sum-e mut-hyeo-beo-rin ju-byeon-eun go-yo-hae
sum ma-kil deut-hae-do ip da-mul-go it-neun ge cha-ra-ri sok pyeon-hae
ddak-ddak-hae-jin gwan-gye hae-so-doe-ji an-heun ssa-um
kkeut-nae yeol-li-neun ban-mun won-jeom-i dwae go-gae dol-lin chae
da-eum-e yae-gi-hae
sum ma-kil deut-hae-do ip da-mul-go it-neun ge cha-ra-ri sok pyeon-hae
ddak-ddak-hae-jin gwan-gye hae-so-doe-ji an-heun ssa-um
kkeut-nae yeol-li-neun ban-mun won-jeom-i dwae go-gae dol-lin chae
da-eum-e yae-gi-hae
The surroundings buried in sighs are quiet
Even if it’s suffocating, keeping silent is easier
Hardened relationship, unresolved fights
The door finally opens, back to square one, turning away
Talk later
Even if it’s suffocating, keeping silent is easier
Hardened relationship, unresolved fights
The door finally opens, back to square one, turning away
Talk later
ttok-ga-teun go-seul tto he-mae-go it-seo
mo-deun ge da nat-seol-ge-man neu-kyeo-jyeo
i-je-neun jeong-mal kkeut-nae-ya doel-kka
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
mo-deun ge da nat-seol-ge-man neu-kyeo-jyeo
i-je-neun jeong-mal kkeut-nae-ya doel-kka
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
Wandering the same place again
Everything feels so unfamiliar
Should I really end it now?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
Everything feels so unfamiliar
Should I really end it now?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
tto nun-mul-i heul-leo
mwot mo-reul nun-mul-i heul-leo
ye-jeon-e neo-wa na geu-ri-un geol-kka wae
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
mwot mo-reul nun-mul-i heul-leo
ye-jeon-e neo-wa na geu-ri-un geol-kka wae
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
Tears fall again
Tears fall without knowing why
Is it longing for the old you and me?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
Tears fall without knowing why
Is it longing for the old you and me?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
tto nun-mul-i heul-leo
han-eop-si nun-mul-i heul-leo
i-je-neun jeong-mal kkeut-nae-ya doel-kka neol
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
han-eop-si nun-mul-i heul-leo
i-je-neun jeong-mal kkeut-nae-ya doel-kka neol
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
Tears fall again
Endlessly tears fall
Should I really end it now, you?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
Endlessly tears fall
Should I really end it now, you?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
daydreaming in the midst of the night
you brush my thoughts and sweep my sleep away
i-je wa-seo i miss all the times
bul-pil-yo-hae, there are plenty more times we’ll miss anyway
it’s painful to face you, deut-go sip-eo ha-neun dap-byeon
al-myeon-seo-do gwaen-hi ppi-tul-eo-ji-neun gam-jeong
da-si tto bi-kko-i-neun hyung-teo-wa joe-chaek-gam
jo-yeo-o-neun byeok-myeon-e pye-swae-gam
you brush my thoughts and sweep my sleep away
i-je wa-seo i miss all the times
bul-pil-yo-hae, there are plenty more times we’ll miss anyway
it’s painful to face you, deut-go sip-eo ha-neun dap-byeon
al-myeon-seo-do gwaen-hi ppi-tul-eo-ji-neun gam-jeong
da-si tto bi-kko-i-neun hyung-teo-wa joe-chaek-gam
jo-yeo-o-neun byeok-myeon-e pye-swae-gam
Daydreaming in the midst of the night
You brush my thoughts and sweep my sleep away
Now I miss all the times
Unnecessary, there are plenty more times we’ll miss anyway
It’s painful to face you, the answer you want to hear
Even knowing, emotions turn crooked
Again, twisted scars and guilt
The enclosing walls’ sense of confinement
You brush my thoughts and sweep my sleep away
Now I miss all the times
Unnecessary, there are plenty more times we’ll miss anyway
It’s painful to face you, the answer you want to hear
Even knowing, emotions turn crooked
Again, twisted scars and guilt
The enclosing walls’ sense of confinement
ttok-ga-teun go-seul tto he-mae-go it-seo
mo-deun ge da nat-seol-ge-man neu-kyeo-jyeo
i-je-neun jeong-mal kkeut-nae-ya doel-kka
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
mo-deun ge da nat-seol-ge-man neu-kyeo-jyeo
i-je-neun jeong-mal kkeut-nae-ya doel-kka
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
Wandering the same place again
Everything feels so unfamiliar
Should I really end it now?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
Everything feels so unfamiliar
Should I really end it now?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
tto nun-mul-i heul-leo
mwot mo-reul nun-mul-i heul-leo
ye-jeon-e neo-wa na geu-ri-un geol-kka wae
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
mwot mo-reul nun-mul-i heul-leo
ye-jeon-e neo-wa na geu-ri-un geol-kka wae
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
Tears fall again
Tears fall without knowing why
Is it longing for the old you and me?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
Tears fall without knowing why
Is it longing for the old you and me?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
tto nun-mul-i heul-leo
han-eop-si nun-mul-i heul-leo
i-je-neun jeong-mal kkeut-nae-ya doel-kka neol
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
han-eop-si nun-mul-i heul-leo
i-je-neun jeong-mal kkeut-nae-ya doel-kka neol
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
Tears fall again
Endlessly tears fall
Should I really end it now, you?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
Endlessly tears fall
Should I really end it now, you?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
seo-ro eo-geut-na-it-neun gil geon-neo-pyeon
meong-ha-ni seo it-neun neo-e-ge mu-reo
da-si doe-do-ra-gal su eop-neun geol-kka
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
meong-ha-ni seo it-neun neo-e-ge mu-reo
da-si doe-do-ra-gal su eop-neun geol-kka
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
Across the path where we’re misaligned
I ask you standing blankly
Can’t we go back again?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
I ask you standing blankly
Can’t we go back again?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
seo-ro eo-geut-na-it-neun gil geon-neo-pyeon
meong-ha-ge seo it-neun neo-e-ge mu-reo
da-si doe-do-ra-gal su eop-neun geol-kka
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
meong-ha-ge seo it-neun neo-e-ge mu-reo
da-si doe-do-ra-gal su eop-neun geol-kka
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
Across the path where we’re misaligned
I ask you standing blankly
Can’t we go back again?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
I ask you standing blankly
Can’t we go back again?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
tto nun-mul-i heul-leo
meom-chu-ji anh-go-seo heul-leo
al geot man gat-a a-ni i-jen al-a
neo a-nim an dwae bo-nae-myeon an dwae
meom-chu-ji anh-go-seo heul-leo
al geot man gat-a a-ni i-jen al-a
neo a-nim an dwae bo-nae-myeon an dwae
Tears fall again
Flowing without stopping
I think I know, no, now I know
It can’t be without you, I can’t let you go
Flowing without stopping
I think I know, no, now I know
It can’t be without you, I can’t let you go
wae i-je-seo-ya nan
ne mo-seub-i bo-i-neun-ji
meol-eo-jin nal an-a jul su it-seul-kka
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
ne mo-seub-i bo-i-neun-ji
meol-eo-jin nal an-a jul su it-seul-kka
guel-sse jal mol-la na-do jal mol-la
Why only now
Do I see your figure?
Can you hold the distant me?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
Do I see your figure?
Can you hold the distant me?
Well, I don’t know, I really don’t know
🗣️ Practice Korean Words
정적을
(jeonjeogeul)
the silence/quietude
💡 Note: Represents the tense, heavy atmosphere in the room that is sharply interrupted by cold arguments.
원점이
(wonjeomi)
the starting point/origin
💡 Note: Illustrates how their exhausting fights continuously loop back to the beginning without resolution.
헤매고
(hemaego)
wandering/roaming
💡 Note: Captures the speaker’s emotional disorientation as they lose their way in the exact same relational rut.
폐쇄감
(pyeswaegam)
claustrophobia/sense of confinement
💡 Note: Metaphorically describes the suffocating, closing-in sensation triggered by lingering guilt and unhealed emotional scars.
🎵 Song Meaning & Interpretation
The lyrics detail the suffocating atmosphere and emotional stagnation of a failing relationship where communication has deteriorated into defensive silence. Caught in a repetitive loop of arguments, the narrator experiences intense guilt and a claustrophobic pressure while contemplating an inevitable breakup. Ultimately, it emphasizes an agonizing emotional ambivalence and confusion, transforming a once familiar bond into an uncomfortable foreign landscape before arriving at a belated desperate realization that they cannot let the partner go.
