이루어 질 수 없는 사랑 Impossible Love

 

Yang Hee-eun 양희은 was born in downtown Seoul in 1952 during the period of Korea War. Her father died when she was 12 and her mother raised the three girls running a boutique shop, but her business went south after a series of unfortunate incidents. Up against such family vicissitude, she managed to go to the most-coveted girls’ high school in the whole country, yet being the eldest child of the poverty-stricken household, she had to make money for her family singing songs on stage. She had an exquisite voice and it was time for the folk music around the world and in South Korea too. Many quickly recognized her talent and gave her songs. Her first album released in 1971 when she was freshman in Sogang University included the legendary songs “Morning Dew” and “Senoya’, which made big hits and made her an icon of the new-generation young women in blue jeans and short-cut hair. She still remains one of the most admired popular artists in Korean society.

This song “Impossible Love” is written by Kim Jeong-shin 김정신, a young lady at the time of the song-writing. It is known she had written the song inspired by her friend who was suffering from a sudden parting with her love.

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이루어질 수 없는 사랑 Impossible love

너의 침묵에 메마른 나의 입술    차가운 네 눈길에 얼어붙은 내 발자욱

My lips dry from your silence         My footstep frozen from your cold gaze

돌아서는 나에게 사랑한단 말 대신에     안녕 안녕 목메인 그 한마디

As I turned away,  instead of saying you love me, just the choked-up voice of yours saying good-bye, good-bye

이루어질 수 없는 사랑이었기에 음-       For that was a love that could never be

 

밤새워 하얀 길을 나 홀로 걸었었다      부드러운 네 모습은 지금은 어디에

I walked down the white road all night alone Where is the gentle appearance of yours now?

가랑비야 내 얼굴을 거세게 때려다오 슬픈 내 눈물이 감춰질 수 있도록

 Oh you, drizzle, hit me hard on the face so that my sad tears can be hidden

이루어질 수 없는 사랑이었기에 음-   For that was a love that could never be

 

미워하며 돌아선 너를 기다리며 쌓다가 부수고 또 쌓은 너의 성

Waiting for you, who turned away hating me, I built, broke and built again your castle

부서지는 파도가 삼켜버린 그 한마디 정말 정말 너를 사랑했었다고

The one word that the breaking wave swallowed, I really really loved you  

이루어질 수 없는 사랑이었기에 음- For that was a love that could never be

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The song is known for simple guitar chords, so was loved by many guitar beginners. I found this video clip of the song cover by an amateur singer, Lee Je-soon 이제순, with unadorned, yet charming voice and atmosphere. She is not necessarily a guitar beginner.

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