A Glass Of Soju – Lyrics Meaning In English – Choi Woo Shik

This song is from the South Korean thriller film, “Parasite” which bagged several accolades at the annual Academy Awards. The given song portrays the mundane and tiring daily life of the narrator, with vivid imagery of dusty roads, dry feet, and calloused hands. The lyrics depict a sense of exhaustion and resignation to the monotonous routine, symbolized by the fine dust and the tough, dried-up soles of the feet.

Singer(s): 최우식(Choi Woo Shik)
Lyricist(s): 봉준호  (Bong Joon Ho)
Composer(s): 정재일  (Jung Jaeil )

Gil-eun huippuyeon angaeseok-e
Himkkeot masineun mise-meondji
Nun-eun ojianjgo
Bi do ojianhne
Bassag memaleun nae balbadag

In the pale and hazy fog on the road,
I gulp down the fine dust with all my strength.
No snow is falling,
And no rain is either,
My dried-up soles of feet.

Maeil hayahge buttaeune
Eobsneun geunyugi da talodog
Sseulgo milgo dalgo
Dasi umkyeojwine
Ijen ttakttakhan nae sonbadag

Every day, I burn myself white,
Until even the nonexistent muscles burn.
I scrub, push, and polish,
Then I clench my hands again,
Now my palms have become calloused.

Ah, ah, ah…

Ah, ah, ah…

Chagaun sojuga suljan-e neomchimyeon
Sontop mit-e naen ttaega chogchoghae
Maleun haneul-e bi guleum
Jogeumshig mill-eowa

When the cold soju overflows in the glass,
The dirt under my nails becomes moist.
Rain clouds gradually
Gather in the dry sky.

Sseudiswin i sojuga suljan-e neomchimyeon
Sontop mit-e naen ttaega chogchoghae
Ppalgan nae oleunjjog ppae
Ijeya
Biga one –

When the bitter soju overflows in the glass,
The dirt under my nails becomes moist.
Now, on my reddened right cheek,
Finally,
The rain falls