ROSÉ – On the Ground Lyrics | Romanization & Meaning

About the Song

“On the Ground” is the debut solo single by New Zealand–Korean singer Rosé, released as the lead track of her first single album R on March 12, 2021 through YG Entertainment and Interscope Records. Rosé took part in writing the song alongside Amy Allen, Raúl Cubina, Jon Bellion, Jorgen Odegard, and Teddy, with production handled by Bellion, Odegard, OZ, and 24. Musically, the track blends electro-pop, pop rock, and atmospheric synth-pop, building a sound that feels polished yet emotionally direct. Lyrically, it reflects on Rosé’s journey—from her childhood in Australia to her move to Korea—and the realization that the things she’s been chasing were always closer than she thought.

The single was met with broadly positive reviews, with critics pointing to its introspective lyrics and Rosé’s clean, expressive vocal delivery as the song’s strongest points. Commercially, it became a landmark release: “On the Ground” reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts, making Rosé the first solo K-pop artist to top either ranking. With this achievement, she also became the first performer to reach No. 1 on the Global 200 as both a soloist and a group member. The song peaked at No. 4 on Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart, No. 3 on the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100, and hit No. 1 in Malaysia and Singapore. It also marked the highest U.S., U.K., and Canadian chart positions for a female K-pop soloist at the time.

The music video, directed by Han Sa-min, dropped the same day as the song and immediately broke multiple YouTube records for a solo K-pop release, including the most-viewed video within 24 hours. It racked up 41.6 million views on its first day, later earning an official Guinness World Record. Rosé promoted “On the Ground” with performances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and across major Korean music programs such as M Countdown, Inkigayo, and Show! Music Core. The single went on to win several awards, including Best Dance Performance at the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards.

[FULL LYRICS – ROMANIZATION & ENGLISH ONLY]

My life's been magic seems fantastic

I used to have a hole in the wall

With a mattress

It's funny when you want it

Suddenly you have it

You find out that your gold's just plastic

Every day every night

I've been thinking back on you and I

Every day every night

I worked my whole life

Just to get right just to be like

Look at me I'm never coming down

I worked my whole life

Just to get high just to realize

Everything I need is on the

Everything I need is on the ground

On the ground

Everything I need is on the ground

Nah but they don't hear me though

(Yeah what goes up it must come down)

Nah but they don't hear me though

(You're running out of time)

My world's been hectic seems electric

But I've been waking up

With your voice in my head

And I'm trying to send a message

And let you know that every single minute

I'm without you I regret it

Every day every night

I've been thinking back on you and I

Every day every night

I worked my whole life

Just to get right just to be like

Look at me I'm never coming down

I worked my whole life

Just to get high just to realize

Everything I need is on the

Everything I need is on the ground

On the ground

Everything I need is on the ground

Nah but they don't hear me though

(Yeah what goes up it must come down)

Nah but they don't hear me though

(You're running out of time)

I'm way up in the clouds

And they say I've made it now

But I figured it out

Everything I need is on the ground

Just drove by your house

So far from you now

But I figured it out

Everything I need is on the

Everything I need is on the ground

On the ground

Everything I need is on the ground

Nah but they don't hear me though

On the ground

Nah but they don't hear me though

Everything I need is on the ground