Album
Release Date
February 21, 2020
Genre
Label
Participating Members
About the Song
《Interlude : Shadow》 is a dark and intensely introspective track by BTS from MAP OF THE SOUL : 7, released in 2020 through BIGHIT MUSIC. Written and composed by SUGA, EL CAPITXN, Pdogg, and RM, the song confronts ambition, fear, and the weight of success with striking honesty, turning inner conflict into something tense, dramatic, and unforgettable. With its sharp production, escalating intensity, and deeply personal emotional core, 《Interlude : Shadow》 stands out as one of BTS’s most compelling and psychologically rich songs, and I would strongly recommend it to listeners who appreciate the group at their most vulnerable, complex, and fearless.
[FULL LYRICS – ROMANIZATION & ENGLISH ONLY]
English Translation
i wanna be a rap star
i wanna be the top
i wanna be a rockstar
i want it all mine
i wanna be rich
i wanna be the king
i wanna go win
i wanna be
i wanna be the top
i wanna be a rockstar
i want it all mine
i wanna be rich
i wanna be the king
i wanna go win
i wanna be
i wanna be a rap star
i wanna be the top
i wanna be a rockstar
i want it all mine
i wanna be rich
i wanna be the king
i wanna be me
i want a big thing
i wanna be the top
i wanna be a rockstar
i want it all mine
i wanna be rich
i wanna be the king
i wanna be me
i want a big thing
oh boy let me see
i got a big dream yeah
i got a big dream yeah
woo mae-il seol-leot-ji nae-ga eo-di-kka-ji gal-ji
jeong-sin-eop-si dal-li-da bo-ni eo-neu-sae yeo-gi-kka-ji wat-ji
yeah eum bal-mit-e geu-rim-ja
go-gae su-gyeo-bo-ni deo keo-jyeot-jan-a
do-mang-chyeo-bwat-ja nal tta-ra-o-neun jeo bit-gwa
bi-rye-ha-neun nae geu-rim-ja
jeong-sin-eop-si dal-li-da bo-ni eo-neu-sae yeo-gi-kka-ji wat-ji
yeah eum bal-mit-e geu-rim-ja
go-gae su-gyeo-bo-ni deo keo-jyeot-jan-a
do-mang-chyeo-bwat-ja nal tta-ra-o-neun jeo bit-gwa
bi-rye-ha-neun nae geu-rim-ja
Woo, every day I was excited, wondering how far I’d go
Running without thinking, suddenly I’ve come this far
Yeah, the shadow beneath my feet
When I look down, it’s grown bigger
Even if I run away, it follows me, that light
My shadow grows in proportion to it
Running without thinking, suddenly I’ve come this far
Yeah, the shadow beneath my feet
When I look down, it’s grown bigger
Even if I run away, it follows me, that light
My shadow grows in proportion to it
du-ryeo-wo nop-ge na-neun ge nan mu-seop-ji
a-mu-do mal an hae-jwot-jan-a
yeo-gi-ga eol-ma-na oe-ro-un-ji mal-ya
na-e do-yag-eun chu-ra-gi doel su it-dan geol
i-je-ya al-gess-eo
ttae-ron do-mang-i cha-seo-ni-ran geol pause
a-mu-do mal an hae-jwot-jan-a
yeo-gi-ga eol-ma-na oe-ro-un-ji mal-ya
na-e do-yag-eun chu-ra-gi doel su it-dan geol
i-je-ya al-gess-eo
ttae-ron do-mang-i cha-seo-ni-ran geol pause
I’m scared of flying high, it terrifies me
No one told me
How lonely it is here
That my leap could become a fall
I finally understand
Sometimes running away is the second best option, pause
No one told me
How lonely it is here
That my leap could become a fall
I finally understand
Sometimes running away is the second best option, pause
sa-ram-deu-reun mwo mal-ha-ji jeo bit so-geun chal-lan-ha-ne
geun-de nae geu-rim-ja-neun doe-ryeo deo keo-jyeo
na-reul sam-kyeo goe-mu-ri dwae
jeo wi-ro wi-ro tto wi-ro wi-ro-man ga-da bo-ni
yeo-gin eo-ji-reo-wo
deo wi-ro wi-ro-man ga-ne silh-eo
na mu-sa-ha-gil bil-eo bil-eo
na-e ba-ram-dae-ro nop-ge nal-go it-neun sun-gan
jeo nae-ri-jjoe-neun bit-e deo keo-jin geu-rim-ja
geun-de nae geu-rim-ja-neun doe-ryeo deo keo-jyeo
na-reul sam-kyeo goe-mu-ri dwae
jeo wi-ro wi-ro tto wi-ro wi-ro-man ga-da bo-ni
yeo-gin eo-ji-reo-wo
deo wi-ro wi-ro-man ga-ne silh-eo
na mu-sa-ha-gil bil-eo bil-eo
na-e ba-ram-dae-ro nop-ge nal-go it-neun sun-gan
jeo nae-ri-jjoe-neun bit-e deo keo-jin geu-rim-ja
What do people say? The light is brilliant
But my shadow grows bigger instead
Swallowing me, becoming a monster
As I go higher, higher, only higher
It’s dizzying here
I keep going higher, higher, I hate it
I pray, pray to be safe
In the moment I’m flying high as I wished
The shadow grows bigger in the blazing light
But my shadow grows bigger instead
Swallowing me, becoming a monster
As I go higher, higher, only higher
It’s dizzying here
I keep going higher, higher, I hate it
I pray, pray to be safe
In the moment I’m flying high as I wished
The shadow grows bigger in the blazing light
please don’t let me shine
don’t let me down
don’t let me fly
i-je-neun du-ryeo-wo
ga-jang mit-ba-dag-e na-reul ma-ju-ha-neun sun-gan
gong-gyo-rob-ge-do yeo-gin chang-gong-i-jan-a
please don’t let me shine
don’t let me down
don’t let me fly
i-je-neun mu-seo-wo
don’t let me shine
don’t let me down
don’t let me fly
i-je-neun du-ryeo-wo
ga-jang mit-ba-dag-e na-reul ma-ju-ha-neun sun-gan
gong-gyo-rob-ge-do yeo-gin chang-gong-i-jan-a
please don’t let me shine
don’t let me down
don’t let me fly
i-je-neun mu-seo-wo
don’t let me shine
Please don’t let me shine
Don’t let me down
Don’t let me fly
Now I’m afraid
The moment I face the lowest part of me
Ironically, this is the sky
Please don’t let me shine
Don’t let me down
Don’t let me fly
Now I’m scared
Don’t let me shine
Don’t let me down
Don’t let me fly
Now I’m afraid
The moment I face the lowest part of me
Ironically, this is the sky
Please don’t let me shine
Don’t let me down
Don’t let me fly
Now I’m scared
Don’t let me shine
us-eo-bwa mwol mang-seol-yeo
ne-ga ba-ra-deon ge i-reon ge a-ni-eoss-ni
ul-deon-ga mwo-ga du-ryeo-wo
ne-ga won-ha-deon ge i-reon ge a-ni-eoss-ni
ne-ga ba-ran sam ne-ga won-han sam
ne-ga taek-han sam hu-hoe eop-si da i-ru-eoss-ji
ne-ga ba-ra-deon ge i-reon ge a-ni-eoss-ni
ul-deon-ga mwo-ga du-ryeo-wo
ne-ga won-ha-deon ge i-reon ge a-ni-eoss-ni
ne-ga ba-ran sam ne-ga won-han sam
ne-ga taek-han sam hu-hoe eop-si da i-ru-eoss-ji
Smile, why hesitate?
Isn’t this what you wanted?
Cry, what are you afraid of?
Isn’t this what you wished for?
The life you wanted, the life you chose
You achieved it all without regret
Isn’t this what you wanted?
Cry, what are you afraid of?
Isn’t this what you wished for?
The life you wanted, the life you chose
You achieved it all without regret
geo-gi-e-da neo-neun big house big cars big rings
ne-ga won-han geon mo-deun geol da ga-jyeoss-ji
geun-de mwo-ga mun-je-ya jeul-gyeo
a-nim noh-deon-ga silh-eo?
geu-reom dal-li-deon-ga mwo meom-chu-deon-ga
han ga-ji-man ha-ra-go jing-jing-dae-ji mal-go
ne-ga won-han geon mo-deun geol da ga-jyeoss-ji
geun-de mwo-ga mun-je-ya jeul-gyeo
a-nim noh-deon-ga silh-eo?
geu-reom dal-li-deon-ga mwo meom-chu-deon-ga
han ga-ji-man ha-ra-go jing-jing-dae-ji mal-go
And you have a big house, big cars, big rings
You got everything you wanted
So what’s the problem? Enjoy it
Or let it go, don’t you like it?
Then run or stop
Just do one thing, stop whining
You got everything you wanted
So what’s the problem? Enjoy it
Or let it go, don’t you like it?
Then run or stop
Just do one thing, stop whining
al-lyeo-jun jeok eop-da-go? (yeah yeah)
jeong-mal mol-lass-eoss-nya-go? (oh no)
ne-ga ga-jin man-keum-man na-neun ga-jyeo-gal-ge
geu-ge mwo-deun-ji mal-ya
ttae-ron neo-e hyu-sig-eun chu-ra-gi doen-dan geol
i-je-ya al-gess-ni mae-beon choe-seon-i choe-seon-i-ran geol
jeong-mal mol-lass-eoss-nya-go? (oh no)
ne-ga ga-jin man-keum-man na-neun ga-jyeo-gal-ge
geu-ge mwo-deun-ji mal-ya
ttae-ron neo-e hyu-sig-eun chu-ra-gi doen-dan geol
i-je-ya al-gess-ni mae-beon choe-seon-i choe-seon-i-ran geol
Didn’t they tell you? (Yeah yeah)
Did you really not know? (Oh no)
I’ll take only as much as you have
Whatever it is
Sometimes your rest becomes a fall
Do you finally understand that the best is the best?
Did you really not know? (Oh no)
I’ll take only as much as you have
Whatever it is
Sometimes your rest becomes a fall
Do you finally understand that the best is the best?
na-e ba-ram-dae-ro nop-ge nal-go it-neun sun-gan
jeo nae-ri-jjoe-neun bit-e deo keo-jin geu-rim-ja
please don’t let me shine
don’t let me down
don’t let me fly
i-je-neun du-ryeo-wo
ga-jang mit-ba-dag-e na-reul ma-ju-ha-neun sun-gan
gong-gyo-rob-ge-do yeo-gin chang-gong-i-jan-a
jeo nae-ri-jjoe-neun bit-e deo keo-jin geu-rim-ja
please don’t let me shine
don’t let me down
don’t let me fly
i-je-neun du-ryeo-wo
ga-jang mit-ba-dag-e na-reul ma-ju-ha-neun sun-gan
gong-gyo-rob-ge-do yeo-gin chang-gong-i-jan-a
In the moment I’m flying high as I wished
The shadow grows bigger in the blazing light
Please don’t let me shine
Don’t let me down
Don’t let me fly
Now I’m afraid
The moment I face the lowest part of me
Ironically, this is the sky
The shadow grows bigger in the blazing light
Please don’t let me shine
Don’t let me down
Don’t let me fly
Now I’m afraid
The moment I face the lowest part of me
Ironically, this is the sky
please don’t let me shine
don’t let me down
don’t let me fly
i-je-neun mu-seo-wo
don’t let me shine
i wanna be a rap star
i wanna be the top
i wanna be a rockstar
don’t let me down
don’t let me fly
i-je-neun mu-seo-wo
don’t let me shine
i wanna be a rap star
i wanna be the top
i wanna be a rockstar
Please don’t let me shine
Don’t let me down
Don’t let me fly
Now I’m scared
Don’t let me shine
I wanna be a rap star
I wanna be the top
I wanna be a rockstar
Don’t let me down
Don’t let me fly
Now I’m scared
Don’t let me shine
I wanna be a rap star
I wanna be the top
I wanna be a rockstar
i want it all mine
i wanna be rich
i wanna be the king
i wanna go win
i wanna be
i wanna be a rap star
i wanna be the top
i wanna be a rockstar
i want it all mine
i wanna be rich
i wanna be the king
i wanna be me
i wanna be
gae-rae na-neun neo-go neo-neun na-ya i-jen al-gess-ni
gae-rae neo-neun na-go na-neun neo-ya i-jen al-gess-ji
u-rin han mo-mi-go tto ttae-ron bu-di-chi-gess-ji
i wanna be rich
i wanna be the king
i wanna go win
i wanna be
i wanna be a rap star
i wanna be the top
i wanna be a rockstar
i want it all mine
i wanna be rich
i wanna be the king
i wanna be me
i wanna be
gae-rae na-neun neo-go neo-neun na-ya i-jen al-gess-ni
gae-rae neo-neun na-go na-neun neo-ya i-jen al-gess-ji
u-rin han mo-mi-go tto ttae-ron bu-di-chi-gess-ji
I want it all mine
I wanna be rich
I wanna be the king
I wanna go win
I wanna be
I wanna be a rap star
I wanna be the top
I wanna be a rockstar
I want it all mine
I wanna be rich
I wanna be the king
I wanna be me
I wanna be
Yeah, I am you and you are me, do you understand now?
Yeah, you are me and I am you, do you get it now?
We are one body and sometimes we’ll clash
I wanna be rich
I wanna be the king
I wanna go win
I wanna be
I wanna be a rap star
I wanna be the top
I wanna be a rockstar
I want it all mine
I wanna be rich
I wanna be the king
I wanna be me
I wanna be
Yeah, I am you and you are me, do you understand now?
Yeah, you are me and I am you, do you get it now?
We are one body and sometimes we’ll clash
neo-neun jeol-dae na-reul tte-eo-nael sun eop-seo al-gess-ji
yeah yeah tte-eo-nael su eop-seo ne-ga mwo-reul ha-deon-ji
yeah in-jeong-ha-neun ge deo pyeon-an-ha-gess-ji
yeah seong-gong ho-geun sil-pae eo-di it-deon-ji
yeah do-mang-chil su eop-seo eo-dil ga-deon-ji
na-neun neo-go neo-neun na-ya al-gess-ni
neo-neun na-go na-neun neo-ya al-gess-ni
u-rin han mo-mi-go bu-di-chi-gess-ji
u-rin neo-go u-rin na-ya al-gess-ni
yeah yeah tte-eo-nael su eop-seo ne-ga mwo-reul ha-deon-ji
yeah in-jeong-ha-neun ge deo pyeon-an-ha-gess-ji
yeah seong-gong ho-geun sil-pae eo-di it-deon-ji
yeah do-mang-chil su eop-seo eo-dil ga-deon-ji
na-neun neo-go neo-neun na-ya al-gess-ni
neo-neun na-go na-neun neo-ya al-gess-ni
u-rin han mo-mi-go bu-di-chi-gess-ji
u-rin neo-go u-rin na-ya al-gess-ni
You can never separate me, understand?
Yeah yeah, you can’t separate us, no matter what you do
Yeah, it’s easier to admit it
Yeah, success or failure, wherever it is
Yeah, you can’t run away, wherever you go
I am you and you are me, understand?
You are me and I am you, understand?
We are one body and we’ll clash
We are you and we are me, understand?
Yeah yeah, you can’t separate us, no matter what you do
Yeah, it’s easier to admit it
Yeah, success or failure, wherever it is
Yeah, you can’t run away, wherever you go
I am you and you are me, understand?
You are me and I am you, understand?
We are one body and we’ll clash
We are you and we are me, understand?
🗣️ Practice Korean Words
그림자
(Geurimja)
Shadow
💡 Note: A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface
도약
(Doyak)
Leap
💡 Note: A sudden and significant act of jumping upward or advancing forward
추락
(Churaak)
Fall
💡 Note: The act of dropping or crashing down from a high place or status
창공
(Changgong)
Firmament
💡 Note: The vast blue expanse of the sky representing high aspirations or reality
🎵 Song Meaning & Interpretation
The song explores the inescapable relationship between success and the accompanying Shadow of fear and isolation. It portrays the internal conflict of an artist who reaches the peak of fame only to realize that the higher they fly, the more terrifying the potential fall becomes.
