Yun Sim-deok

'Hymn of Death'
'Hymn to Death' -or Praise of Death / Psalm of Death- (original melody based on Ivanovici's
'Danube Waltz'), was recorded in 1926 and is the first Korean 'pop' record, not based on
traditional Korean music. The singer Yun Sim Deok (first woman soprano to achieve fame
throughout Korea) whilst in Japan met and fell in love with a Korean man, but he had a wife
and children. The two took a steam ship back to Korea, but ended their lives by jumping
into the sea.
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View original song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG4Lol...
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First verse: 광막한 황야에 달리는 인생아 - Through the vast wilderness, in this life of
uncertainties 너의 가는 곳 그 어데이냐 - You are running, yet where are you going? 쓸쓸
한 세상 험악한 고해에 - In this lonely world, through the rough seas, 너는 무엇을 찾으러
가느냐 - What are you searching for? Chorus: 눈물로 된 이 세상에 나 죽으면 그만일까 -
This world that will become tears, will everything end if I die? 행복 찾는 인생들아 너 찾
는 것 설움 - Those lives searching for happiness, it is really sadness that you are seeking
for.
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Second verse: 웃는 저 꽃과 우는 저 새들이 - Those smiling flowers, and those crying
birds, 그 운명이 모두 다 같구나 - Their destinies would all be the same. 삶에 열중한 가
련한 인생아 - Engrossed in living this miserable life, 너는 칼 위에 춤추는 자로다 - You
are the one dancing on the blade of a knife. Chorus: 눈물로 된 이 세상에 나 죽으면 그만
일까 - This world that will become tears, will everything end if I die? 행복 찾는 인생들아
너 찾는 것 설움 - Those lives searching for happiness, it is really sadness that you are
seeking for.
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Third verse: 허영에 빠져 날뛰는 인생아 - This far-flung life that has fallen to vanity, 너
속혔음을 네가 아느냐 - You are being deceived, don't you know? 세상의 것은 너에게 허
무니 - Everything in this world to you is emptiness; 너 죽은 후에 모두 다 없도다 - After
you die, nothing exists anymore. Chorus: 눈물로 된 이 세상에 나 죽으면 그만일까 - This
world that will become tears, will everything end if I die? 행복 찾는 인생들아 너 찾는 것
설움 - Those lives searching for happiness, it is really sadness that you are seeking for.
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Yun Sim-deok (1897-1926)
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Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UmOwel6jZU