Cho Yong-Pil Vol. 1 (조용필 1집) (1980)

While Cho Yong-Pil had released music throughout the 1970’s, it wasn’t until his first release with Jigu Records in 1980 that he became a superstar. Many of the songs on this album are among Cho’s best-known to this day. “Return to Busan Port” is considered by some to be the most significant Korean pop song in history, its message resonating with Korean families whose relatives had gone abroad. The bluesy ballad “The Woman Outside the Window” and the synth-pop disco of “Bobbed Hair” were musically innovative, and there’s a reverence for previous generations of Korean music as well, with a recording of the folk song “Five Hundred Years” and a remake of the 1959 hit “Daejeon Blues.”

Several tracks here had been released previously, such as “Return to Busan Port,” “The River of No Return,” “Jeong,” and “Too Short.” “The River of No Return,” “Love Hasn’t Ended Yet,” and “The Woman Outside the Window” were originally musical pieces written for dramas. In a sense, this album is like a greatest hits collection of Cho’s 1970’s work and then some. It ended up becoming the first Korean album to sell a million copies, and far and away the best-selling Korean album of 1980.

Note: The CD version of this album has a slightly different track sequence. The sequence here is from the original vinyl album.

Album cover via ManiaDB

1. 창밖의 여자
The Woman Outside the Window

Lyrics: Bae Myeong-Sook (배명숙)
Music: Cho Yong-Pil (조용필)

창가에 서면 눈물처럼 떠오르는 그대의 흰손
When I stand by the window, your fair hand comes to mind like tears
돌아서 눈 감으면 강물이어라
When I turn around and close my eyes, it’s like river water
한줄기 바람되어 거리에 서면
When I become a gust of wind and stand in the street
그대는 가로등 되어 내곁에 머무네
You become a streetlight and stay by my side

누가 사랑을 아름답다 했는가
Who said love was beautiful?
누가 사랑을 아름답다 했는가
Who said love was beautiful?
차라리 차라리 그대의 흰손으로 나를 잠들게 하라
I’d rather, I’d rather, you put me to sleep with your fair hand




2. 돌아와요 부산항에
Return to Busan Port

Lyrics & Music: Hwang Seon-Woo (황선우)

꽃피는 동백섬에 봄이 왔건만
Spring has come to Dongbaek Island, where flowers bloom
형제떠난 부산항에 갈매기만 슬피 우네
But at Busan Port, where my brother left, only the seagulls mournfully cry
오륙도 돌아가는 연락선 마다 목메여 불러봐도 대답없는 내 형제여
Though I chokingly call with every ferry that goes past Oryukdo, you, oh my brother, don’t answer
돌아와요 부산항에 그리운 내 형제여
Return to Busan Port, oh my brother, who I long for

가고파 목이메여 부르던 이 거리는
This street where I chokingly called, wanting to go
그리워서 헤매이던 긴긴날의 꿈이였지
It was the dream of a long, long day when I wandered because I missed you
언제나 말이 없는 저 물결들도 부딪쳐 슬퍼하며 가는 길을 막았었지
Even the waves, which never say a word, blocked the way as they crashed with sadness
돌아왔다 부산항에 그리운 내 형제여
You returned to Busan Port, oh my brother, who I long for



3. 잊혀진 사랑
Forgotten Love

Lyrics: Kim Joong-Soon (김중순)
Music: Kim Hee-Gap (김희갑)

가지 말라고 가지 말라고
“Please don’t go! Please don’t go!”
애원하며 잡았었는데
I pleaded as I held you
돌아섰던 그 사람은 무정했던 당신이지요
But the one who turned away is you, who were so heartless

가지 말라고 가지 말라고
“Please don’t go! Please don’t go!”
잊을 수는 없다 했는데
I said I could never forget it
지금의 내 마음은 차라리 모든 것을 잊고 싶어요
But the way I’m feeling now, I’d rather forget it all

가지 말라고 가지 말라고
“Please don’t go! Please don’t go!”
애원하며 잡았었는데
I pleaded as I held you
잃어버린 그 사람은 야속했던 당신이지요
But the one I’ve lost is you, who were so cold-hearted

가지 말라고 가지 말라고
“Please don’t go! Please don’t go!”
잊을 수는 없다 했는데
I said I could never forget it
지금의 내 마음은 차라리 모든 것을 잊고 싶어요
But the way I’m feeling now, I’d rather forget it all




4. 돌아오지 않는 강
The River of No Return

Lyrics & Music: Im Taek-Soo (임택수)

당신의 눈속에 내가 있고
When I was in your eyes
내 눈속에 당신이 있을때
And you were in my eyes
우린 서로가 행복했노라
We were happy with each other
아, 그 바닷가 파도 소리 밀려오는데
Ah, the sound of the waves on the beach rushes in
겨울 나무 사이로 당신은 가고
You went between the winter trees
나는 한마리 새가 되었네
And I became a bird



5. 정
Jeong

Lyrics: Cho Nam-Sa (조남사)
Music: Kim Hak-Song (김학송)

정이란 무엇일까
What is this thing called jeong?
받는 걸까, 주는 걸까
Something you receive? Something you give?
받을 땐 꿈속 같고
When I receive it, it’s like being in a dream
줄 때는 안타까워
And when I give it, it’s like feeling compassion

정을 쏟고 정에 울며 살아온 살아온 내 가슴에
In my heart, that has lived pouring out jeong and crying for jeong,
오늘도 남 모르게 무지개 뜨네
Even today a rainbow secretly appears


Note: Jeong (정) is an emotion that doesn’t have an exact equivalent word in English, so I decided not to translate it, since this song ponders the meaning of the word itself. It’s a type of affection that involves connectedness to another person, and you can read an essay here to get an idea of what it’s about.



6. 사랑은 아직도 끝나지 않았네
Love Hasn’t Ended Yet

Lyrics: Oh Sa-Rang (오사랑)
Music: Heo Yeong-Cheol (허영철)

다시는 생각을 말자 생각을 말자고
Let me not, not think about it again
그렇게 애타던 말 한마디 못하고
I couldn’t say the word I was so anxious to say

잊어야 잊어야만 될 사랑이기에
Because of this love I absolutely must forget
깨끗이 묻어버린 내 청춘이건만
I have thoroughly buried my youth
그래도 못잊어 나 홀로 불러보네
But even so, I call out when I’m by myself, unable to forget
사랑은 아직도 끝나지 않았네
Love hasn’t ended yet




7. 단발머리
Bobbed Hair

Lyrics: Park Geon-Ho (박건호)
Music: Cho Yong-Pil (조용필)

그 언젠가 나를 위해 꽃다발을 전해주던 그소녀
That girl who once gave me a bouquet of flowers
오늘따라 왜 이렇게 그 소녀가 보고 싶을까
Why do I miss that girl so much today?
비에 젖은 풀잎처럼 단발머리 곱게 빗은 그 소녀
That girl with nicely-combed bobbed hair, like rain-soaked blades of grass
반짝이는 눈망울이 내 마음에 되살아나네
Her sparkling eyes are coming back to me

내 마음 외로워 질때면 그 날을 생각하고
When my heart gets lonely, I think of that day
그 날이 그리워 질때면 꿈길을 헤매는데
And when I long for that day, I wander the path of dreams…
우…못잊을 그리움 남기고
Ooh…it leaves a longing I can’t forget
그 소녀 데려간 세월이 미워라
How I hate time for taking that girl away!




8. 한오백년
Five Hundred Years

Folk song

한 많은 이 세상 야속한 님아
Oh, this sorrow-filled world! Oh, cold-hearted lover!
정을 두고 몸만 가니 눈물이 나네
My tears are falling, for you've left me, leaving your love behind
아무렴 그렇지 그렇구 말구
What you say is certainly right, indeed
한오백년 사자는데 웬 성화요
Let us live about five hundred years, but why are you so troubled?

백사장 세모래밭에 칠성단을 보고
At the Chilseongdan in the white beach’s fine sand
임 생겨 달라고 비나이다
I pray that my love comes to me
아무렴 그렇지 그렇구 말구
What you say is certainly right, indeed
한오백년 사자는데 웬 성화요
Let us live about five hundred years, but why are you so troubled?

청춘에 짓밟힌 애끓는 사랑
Oh, my heartbroken love taken in the springtime of youth!
눈물을 흘리며 어디로 가나
As tears are flowing, where are you going?
아무렴 그렇지 그렇구 말구
What you say is certainly right, indeed
한오백년 사자는데 웬 성화요
Let us live about five hundred years, but why are you so troubled?

한 많은 이 세상 냉정한 세상
This sorrowful world, cold world!
동정심 없어서 나는 못살겠네
It’s so unsympathetic I can’t stand it
아무렴 그렇지 그렇구 말구
What you say is certainly right, indeed
한오백년 사자는데 웬 성화요
Let us live about five hundred years, but why are you so troubled?


Notes: I have to give a huge, huge thanks to an online friend of mine who goes by the handle “littlething” for helping me translate this album, but particularly with this song. Without his help, I never would have figured it out on my own. As he explained to me, this folk song was originally sung in a group. People would step forward one by one to sing the verses, where they would tell of their difficulties in life. The refrain is sung by the group as an encouragement (the idea being that 500 years would heal the wound), and the question “why are you so troubled?” was a call to the next singer.

“Chilseong” is the Korean name for the Big Dipper, and people would wish upon it or pray to it. The Chilseongdan is an altar that was traditionally used to offer up such prayers.




9. 대전 블루스
Daejeon Blues

Lyrics: Choi Chi-Soo (최치수)
Music: Kim Boo-Hae (김부해)

잘있거라 나는 간다 이별의 말도 없이
Without even a parting word, “Farewell, I’m going,”
떠나가는 새벽열차 대전발 영시 오십분
The early train is leaving Daejeon at 12:50 AM
세상은 잠이들어 고요한 이 밤
As the world goes to sleep on this tranquil night
나만이 소리치며 울줄이야
I never thought I alone would be bawling
아, 붙잡아도 뿌리치는 목포행 완행열차
Ah, the slow train to Mokpo, that shakes me off although I catch it

기적 소리 슬피 우는 눈물의 플렛트홈
At the platform of tears where the sound of the whistle sadly cries
무정하게 떠나가는 대전발 영시 오십분
The train is cruelly leaving Daejeon at 12:50 AM
영원히 변치말자 맹세했건만 눈물로 헤어지는 쓰린 심정
I feel bitter about parting tearfully though we vowed we would never change
아, 보슬비에 젖어가는 목포행 완행열차
Ah, the slow train to Mokpo, that’s going to get wet in the drizzling rain




10. 너무 짧아요
Too Short

Lyrics: Yoon Cheol (윤철)
Music: Cho Yong-Pil (조용필)

처음 만난 날부터 다정했던 사람
The one who was kind since the day we first met
생각하는 하루는 너무 짧아요
A day is too short to think of her
우리 만나 하던 말 생각하다가 지나간 하루는
The day I spent thinking of the words I said when we met
너무 짧아요
It’s too short
하루해는 너무 짧아요
A day is too short
하루해는 너무 짧아요
A day is too short

사랑하던 날부터 그리워진 사람
The one I longed for since the day I loved her
생각하는 하루는 너무 짧아요
A day is too short to think of her
만나서도 못한 말 생각하다가 지나간 하루는
The day I spent thinking of the words I couldn’t say even after we met
너무 짧아요
It’s too short
하루해는 너무 짧아요
A day is too short
하루해는 너무 짧아요
A day is too short





11. 슬픈 미소
Sad Smile

Lyrics: Yoo Hyeon-Jong (유현종)
Music: Cho Yong-Pil (조용필)

돌아서면 잊혀질까 세월가면 잊을 수 있을까
If I turn around, is it forgotten? If time goes by, can I forget?
슬픔은 흘러흘러 가슴을 적시네
Sadness flows and flows, dampening my heart
장미꽃 피는 날엔 돌아오마던 당신
On the day the rose blooms, you said you would return
여울지는 꿈속에서 그 미소를 찾아 헤맸지
In a vivid dream, I searched everywhere for that smile

가버리면 잊혀질까 눈감으면 잊을 수 있을까
If I go away, is it forgotten? If I close my eyes, can I forget?
서러움은 물들어 가슴을 적시네
Sorrow seeps in and dampens my heart
장미꽃 피는 날엔 돌아오마던 당신
On the day the rose blooms, you said you would return
여울지는 꿈속에서 그 미소를 찾아 헤맸지
In a vivid dream, I searched everywhere for that smile

Special thanks to littlething and law for help with these translations.