North Staircase
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North Staircase captures the courage to leave behind empty praise and find strength in following your own path.
Album
回:Song of the Sirens
Release Date
July 13, 2020
Genre
K-pop / Ballad
Label
Source Music
Composers / Lyricists
“hitman”bang, FRANTS
Participating Members
Sowon
Yerin
Eunha
Yuju
SinB
Umji
Watch the Video
[FULL LYRICS – ROMANIZATION & ENGLISH ONLY]
English Translation
jo-geum-man jo-geum-man deo ol-la bo-ja
han geo-reum deo geo-reum deo him-nae bo-neun geo-ya
ap-man bo-myeo swim eop-si geot-da bo-ni i gye-dan kkeut-e
nal gi-da-ri-deon haet-sal-ui spotlight
ha-ji-man i-jen neo-mu o-rae i-sseot-na bwa
eo-neu-sae cha-ga-un bam-gong-gi-man do-ra
han geo-reum deo geo-reum deo him-nae bo-neun geo-ya
ap-man bo-myeo swim eop-si geot-da bo-ni i gye-dan kkeut-e
nal gi-da-ri-deon haet-sal-ui spotlight
ha-ji-man i-jen neo-mu o-rae i-sseot-na bwa
eo-neu-sae cha-ga-un bam-gong-gi-man do-ra
Let’s climb a little more, just a little more
One more step, another step, let’s keep going
As I walked without rest, only looking ahead, at the end of these stairs
The sunlight’s spotlight was waiting for me
But now it seems I’ve been here too long
Suddenly, only the cold night air returns
One more step, another step, let’s keep going
As I walked without rest, only looking ahead, at the end of these stairs
The sunlight’s spotlight was waiting for me
But now it seems I’ve been here too long
Suddenly, only the cold night air returns
jo-geum a-swip-ji-man i-je-neun an-nyeong
in-sa-reul nam-gi-go nae-ryeo-gal si-gan-i-ya
da-si do-ra-ol su i-sseul-kka
ma-ni bu-ran-ha-go mang-seo-ryeo-jyeo eo-tteok-hae
i-mi ik-suk-hae-jin gal-chae-wa tta-tteu-tan gi-eok-deul
jeong-mal dwi-ro-ha-go nae-ryeo-gal su i-sseul-kka
in-sa-reul nam-gi-go nae-ryeo-gal si-gan-i-ya
da-si do-ra-ol su i-sseul-kka
ma-ni bu-ran-ha-go mang-seo-ryeo-jyeo eo-tteok-hae
i-mi ik-suk-hae-jin gal-chae-wa tta-tteu-tan gi-eok-deul
jeong-mal dwi-ro-ha-go nae-ryeo-gal su i-sseul-kka
A bit regretful, but now it’s goodbye
It’s time to leave a farewell and go down
Will I be able to return?
I’m so anxious and hesitant, what should I do?
The applause I’ve grown used to and warm memories
Can I really leave them behind and go down?
It’s time to leave a farewell and go down
Will I be able to return?
I’m so anxious and hesitant, what should I do?
The applause I’ve grown used to and warm memories
Can I really leave them behind and go down?
a-mu-reot-ji a-neun cheok
jo-geum-ssik jo-geum-ssik nae-di-dyeo bwa-sseo
han geo-reum-ssik geo-reum-ssik bam-gong-gi sok-eu-ro
eo-neu-saen-ga nae-did-neun nae bal-ja-guk so-ri-e kkeul-lyeo
nae mom-e him-i sot-neun geol neu-kyeo
o-reul ttaen geu-to-rok bu-reop-deon dwit-mo-seup
jo-geum-ssik jo-geum-ssik nae-di-dyeo bwa-sseo
han geo-reum-ssik geo-reum-ssik bam-gong-gi sok-eu-ro
eo-neu-saen-ga nae-did-neun nae bal-ja-guk so-ri-e kkeul-lyeo
nae mom-e him-i sot-neun geol neu-kyeo
o-reul ttaen geu-to-rok bu-reop-deon dwit-mo-seup
Pretending nothing’s wrong
I tried stepping little by little
Step by step into the night air
Somehow, drawn by the sound of my footsteps
I feel strength rising in my body
The backs I envied so much when climbing
I tried stepping little by little
Step by step into the night air
Somehow, drawn by the sound of my footsteps
I feel strength rising in my body
The backs I envied so much when climbing
ji-na-on gye-dan dwi-ro deon-jyeo no-ko-seo
sok-do-reul jeul-gyeo bwa na-man-ui ri-deum
nu-gu-ui si-seon-do sin-gyeong-sseu-ji a-na
da-si hae-ga tteo-o-reu-na bwa
bit-i nae ju-byeon-eul saek-saek-kal-lo mul-deu-ryeo
haet-sal-i nae-ri-neun got-ma-da a-reum-da-un geot-deul
sok-do-reul jeul-gyeo bwa na-man-ui ri-deum
nu-gu-ui si-seon-do sin-gyeong-sseu-ji a-na
da-si hae-ga tteo-o-reu-na bwa
bit-i nae ju-byeon-eul saek-saek-kal-lo mul-deu-ryeo
haet-sal-i nae-ri-neun got-ma-da a-reum-da-un geot-deul
Throwing the stairs I’ve passed behind me
I enjoy the speed, my own rhythm
I don’t care about anyone’s gaze
It seems the sun is rising again
The light colors my surroundings in various hues
Everywhere the sunlight falls, beautiful things
I enjoy the speed, my own rhythm
I don’t care about anyone’s gaze
It seems the sun is rising again
The light colors my surroundings in various hues
Everywhere the sunlight falls, beautiful things
nae an-ui yong-gi-ga chae-wo-ji-neun geol neu-kyeo
bi-ro-so i-got-e-seo
da-si hae-ga tteo-o-reu-na bwa
bit-i nae ju-byeon-eul saek-saek-kal-lo mul-deu-ryeo
haet-sal-i nae-ri-neun got-ma-da a-reum-da-un geot-deul
nae an-ui yong-gi-ga chae-wo-ji-neun geol neu-kyeo
bi-ro-so i-got-e-seo
da-si hae-ga tteo-o-reu-na bwa
bit-i nae ju-byeon-eul saek-saek-kal-lo mul-deu-ryeo
haet-sal-i nae-ri-neun got-ma-da a-reum-da-un geot-deul
nae an-ui yong-gi-ga chae-wo-ji-neun geol neu-kyeo
I feel courage filling inside me
Finally, here in this place
It seems the sun is rising again
The light colors my surroundings in various hues
Everywhere the sunlight falls, beautiful things
I feel courage filling inside me
Finally, here in this place
It seems the sun is rising again
The light colors my surroundings in various hues
Everywhere the sunlight falls, beautiful things
I feel courage filling inside me
bi-ro-so i-got-e-seo
buk-jjok gye-dan-e-seo bal-gyeon-han bi-mil
buk-jjok gye-dan-e-seo bal-gyeon-han bi-mil
Finally, here in this place
The secret discovered on the north stairs
The secret discovered on the north stairs
🗣️ Practice Korean Words
계단
(gyedan)
staircase
💡 Note: A metaphorical path of ascending and descending, representing the journey of growth, achievement, and courage to move beyond.
갈채
(galchae)
applause/acclaim
💡 Note: Applause and praise from others, symbolizing external validation that becomes a comfortable but constraining habit.
망설이다
(mangseolyida)
to hesitate
💡 Note: To waver with uncertainty, expressing conflict between staying in familiar comfort and taking the leap into unknown.
용기
(yonggi)
courage
💡 Note: Inner strength and bravery, representing newfound determination to move forward at one’s own pace without external approval.
🎵 Song Meaning & Interpretation
The lyrics use a staircase as a metaphor for a journey of ambition and success, where the narrator climbs in pursuit of spotlight and applause, only to realize that external validation has become a comfortable prison. Deciding to descend and reclaim their own rhythm, they discover that leaving behind familiar praise requires courage but ultimately brings newfound light and purpose. The descent becomes a liberation—a moment where fear transforms into strength, and the narrator finds beauty in trusting their own pace rather than the gazes of others.
