바람과 나, 그리고 희망의 노래 Wind and I , and the Song of Hope

 

Han Dae-Soo, after he debuted in Korea, lived in US and Korea alternately. His marrage with the first wife came to an end in early 1990s with no children. He met his second wife Oxana, a Russian-American, in New York, as he was looking for an apartment to live. She was the resident in the apartment and, he later said, they had a drink together on the first day they met. He was 44 when he married Oxana, but he was  59 when he had his first and only child girl Yangho. 

'Wind and I' was first released by Kim Min-gi, the writer himself of  the monumental "Morning Dew", in 1971. Han gave the song to Kim before he went for the military service with ROK Navy. He included the song in his first album released in 1974.

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끝.. 끝없는 바람  End…,  Endless wind,

저 험한 산 위로 나뭇잎 사이 불어 가는

Blowing over the rugged mountains, through the leaves,

아~ 자유의 바람 Oh, the wind of freedom,

저 언덕 넘어 물결 같이 춤추던 님

My Nim, who danced like a water flow over the hills.

무명.. 무실.. 무감한 님 No name, no substance, no emotion

나도 님과 같은 인생을 지녀 볼래.. 지녀 볼래

I wish to have and live a life like yours

물결 건너 편에        On the other side of the water flow

황혼에 젖은 산 끝 보다도 아름다운  More beautiful than the mountain end drenched in the hue of sunset

아~ 나의 님 바람      Oh, Wind, my Nim,

뭇 느낌 없이 진행하는 시간 따라   You just travel on the time that goes with no feeling

하늘위로 구름 따라      Over the sky, after clouds,

무목 여행하는 그대여    Travelling with no destination

인생은 나.. 인생은 나    Life is me, life is me.

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Han wrote all the songs in his albums, but the only exception was the Song of Hope 희망가. This song originated from the Christian Hymn written by a Scot in early 19C. [ Look for "The Lord Into His Garden Comes (Hymn)" ]   It first became popular in Japan as a funeral song for the young victims of a marine accident in 1910. [Look for 『眞白き富士の根』 to listen] Then, in Korea it became a big hit in 1960s as Song of Hope in a quite different sentiment. [ Look for "고복수 희망가" to listen.]  The song reminds Koreans of the traditional genre called Ta-ryeong 타령 or Lament Song, which was popular during Joseon Dynasty. Like Ta-ryeong, the lyrics carry a typical Korean sentiment with the tint of the Buddhist Nihilism and compassion in its perspective to life. Han seems to have loved this song and,I believe, this song of his singing is the best in its expression of the Korean sentiment the lyrics carried. He was a good singer.

                                    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  Lyrics

   이 풍진세상을 만났으니 너의 희망이 무엇이냐

부귀와 영화를 누렸으면 희망이 족할까

푸른 하늘 밝은 달 아래 곰곰이 생각하니

세상만사가 춘몽 중에 또다시 꿈 같도다

 

이 풍진 세상을 만났으니 너의 희망이 무엇이냐

부귀와 영화를 누렸으면 희망이 족할까

담소화락에 엄벙덤벙 주색잡기에 침몰하랴

세상만사를 잊었으면 희망이 족할까

 

In this world of troubles, what’s your hope?

Wasn’t it enough with the affluence and glory that you had rejoiced over?

Under the clear sky and the bright moon, I’m mulling over and over,

Everything in this world is but a dream in a dream.

In this world of troubles, what’s your hope?

Wasn’t it enough with the affluence and glory that you had rejoiced over?

Wasn't it yet enough, giggling and laughing away your youth, sodden from partying with wine and women, closing your eyes to all the worries of life and you still have hope? 

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