Love, older you
📥 Save Card
Album
Release Date
April 30, 2026
Genre
Ballad / K-pop
Label
BELIFT LAB
Composers / Lyricists
신쿵, dyvahh, VINCENZO, Sasha Alex Sloan, Henry Allen, 문여름, 미아 (153/Joombas), 장정원(Jam Factory), 윤아 (아일릿(ILLIT)), 민주 (아일릿(ILLIT)), 모카, 원희 (아일릿(ILLIT)), 이로하
Participating Members
About the Song
《Love, older you》 is a tender and reflective track by ILLIT, released on April 30, 2026, as part of the album MAMIHLAPINATAPAI under BELIFT LAB. Written and composed by Shinkung, dyvahh, VINCENZO, Sasha Alex Sloan, Henry Allen, Moon Yeoreum, Mia, Jang Jeongwon, Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha, the song captures ILLIT’s softer emotional side with a warm pop sound, expressing affection for a future self, a growing heart, and the quiet wish to meet an older version of oneself with kindness and love.
[FULL LYRICS – ROMANIZATION & ENGLISH ONLY]
jo-geu-ma-han meon-ji-ga dwae sa-ra-jil-kka
hon-ja na-meun peo-jeul-cheo-reom
ne ja-rin eop-neun geot gat-ni
Will you disappear like a tiny speck of dust?
Like a puzzle left alone,
Do you feel like there’s no place for you?
nu-gu-bo-da-do mi-wo
sam-kyeo-on nun-mu-reun
ma-me ba-da-reul i-ru-eo
I hate more than anyone.
The tears I’ve swallowed
Have created an ocean in my heart.
dear younger me,
Dear younger me,
hon-ja-in bang an
ung-keu-ryeo jam-deul-deon
neo-ui meo-ri-mat jeo-jeun be-gae wi
no-a-du-neun letter
In a room alone,
Curled up and asleep,
On your wet pillow beside your head,
I leave a letter.
geu-go-se-seo neol gi-da-ril geo-ya
cham-ji-neun ma u-reo-do dwae jal-ha-go iss-eo
I’ll be waiting for you there.
Don’t hold back, it’s okay to cry, you’re doing well.
older you
eom-ma hwa-nae-seo mi-an-hae
neul ‘yeol-si-mi’, tto ‘yeol-si-mi’
geu ma-ri ga-kkeum a-pat-ji
dear younger me,
Sorry for making mom angry.
Always ‘work hard’, again ‘work hard’,
Those words sometimes hurt, right?
Dear younger me,
hon-ja-in bang an
ung-keu-ryeo jam-deul-deon
neo-ui meo-ri-mat jeo-jeun be-gae wi
no-a-du-neun letter
In a room alone,
Curled up and asleep,
On your wet pillow beside your head,
I leave a letter.
deo dan-da-nan nal-gae-reul jul geo-ya
gwaen-chanh-da-go bo-deu-meo-jwo neo-reul mit-eo-jwo
Stronger wings in the future.
Embrace yourself, it’s okay, believe in yourself.
older you
dear younger me,
nun-tteu-myeon eo-dup-deon mam-do hwan-hae-jil geo-ya
Dear younger me,
When you open your eyes, even the dark heart will brighten.
love, older you
dear younger me,
love, older you
ae-il sok-ui neo-reul mit-go kkum-eul kku-gil
Love, older you
Dear younger me,
Love, older you
Believe in the you of tomorrow and dream.
older you
The lyrics beautifully frame a touching, retrospective letter written from an older self to their vulnerable, younger counterpart who is currently enduring loneliness and self-doubt. Acknowledging hidden tears that form an ocean in the heart and the painful pressure of always having to work harder, the narrator sends comforting reassurance back through time to a dark, isolated bedroom. This emotional ballad promises that these deep struggles will eventually transform into resilient wings, offering a tender embrace to encourage the younger self to cry freely, heal, and hold onto an unwavering trust in a brilliantly shining future.
