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Track: Sea - BTS (Hidden Track)Album: Love Yourself: Her
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2mJJFFd AppleM: https://apple.co/2on21Mr #BeyondTheLyric [Thread]
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Intro:there are two hidden tracks on Love Yourself: Her. the first is ‘Skit: Hesitation & Fear’ and the second is ‘Sea’.
the two tracks were put together for a reason. Sea is the song, but Skit is the story behind it, the concerns & worry they have.
#BeyondTheLyric
Namjoon explains during an interview that “We add hidden tracks when we want to add details, right? ‘Skit’ was necessary for ‘Sea’ to be explained. I think they’re reacting to each other” [Dazed]
#BeyondTheLyric
{next tweet has a translated snippet of ‘Skit: Hesitation & Fear’}
#BeyondTheLyric
{next tweet has a translated snippet of ‘Skit: Hesitation & Fear’}
“Under ‘hesitation & fear’, BTS demonstrates their reflection upon their success. Has anyone else in the kpop idol scene shown such candor lately? In the face of uncontrollably enormous success, they always look back at the path they've taken..”
[The Review, Y.K]
#BeyondTheLyric
[The Review, Y.K]
#BeyondTheLyric
1. The Sea, The Desert
in the first verse Namjoon speaks of somehow eventually reaching the sea, only to look around & see the desert in sight.
the imagery of the sea & desert is heavily used throughout, so what do they mean?
#BeyondTheLyric
in the first verse Namjoon speaks of somehow eventually reaching the sea, only to look around & see the desert in sight.
the imagery of the sea & desert is heavily used throughout, so what do they mean?
#BeyondTheLyric
The Sea = their hopes, their dreams, their goals & in a sense, what they believe will be their happiness
The Desert = their despair, their hardships, their past & their fears.
#BeyondTheLyric
The Desert = their despair, their hardships, their past & their fears.
#BeyondTheLyric
for BTS, the desert is where they came from & so eventhough Namjoon is so close to the sea, he can still see the desert. it’s always there in plain sight. no matter how close he may to the Sea, Namjoon is vividly aware of how close the desert is to them aswell
#BeyondTheLyric
#BeyondTheLyric
he uses incredibly vivid imagery here as he looks to the desert “countless grains of sand & fierce, harsh winds”
the desert is chaotic, its riddled with struggle/despair, so no matter how close he gets to the Sea, they will always remember their past, the desert
#BeyondTheLyric
the desert is chaotic, its riddled with struggle/despair, so no matter how close he gets to the Sea, they will always remember their past, the desert
#BeyondTheLyric
2. Thirst
he wanted to have hope & in a desperate attempt to attain it, he drinks up the seawater. but drinking seawater is incredibly dangerous, the more you drink, the more dehydrated you become. Its an endless cycle that eventually destroys you
#BeyondTheLyric
he wanted to have hope & in a desperate attempt to attain it, he drinks up the seawater. but drinking seawater is incredibly dangerous, the more you drink, the more dehydrated you become. Its an endless cycle that eventually destroys you
#BeyondTheLyric
so is he desperate to get away from that desert? is he desperate to survive, to have hope? has he swallowed a drop of his dreams & is unable to stop drinking?
to me, these lines can mean all of that. how addictive must it be to have a taste of success after such hardship?
to me, these lines can mean all of that. how addictive must it be to have a taste of success after such hardship?
he keeps drinking, afraid to lose the sea, to lose hope & finally Namjoon questions it & his confusion begins to manifest..
if he continues to desperately drink up the sea then is this place really what he had dreamt of? or is reality different, is this just another desert?
if he continues to desperately drink up the sea then is this place really what he had dreamt of? or is reality different, is this just another desert?
3. Confusion
Hoseok’s verse expands on this confusion
just like Namjoon he can no longer differentiate between the sandstorms & the waves. he can no longer see a difference between the sea & desert, the hope & despair, the real & the fake.
#BeyondTheLyric
Hoseok’s verse expands on this confusion
just like Namjoon he can no longer differentiate between the sandstorms & the waves. he can no longer see a difference between the sea & desert, the hope & despair, the real & the fake.
#BeyondTheLyric
doubts begin to manifest in their minds.. how can 7 guys who have been through so much truly escape the desert? do those hardships ever stop even when you reach the sea? no, I don’t think so.
to me, this part speaks on pre debut bts & post debut bts
to me, this part speaks on pre debut bts & post debut bts
“friends & family asked when in the world I'm going to debut. Whenever they did, I grew scared. I really wondered if BTS was really training to never exist.” [Hoseok, BTS trans]
#BeyondTheLyric
#BeyondTheLyric
bts’ biggest dream was to just debut. they believed their dreams would come true if they achieved that much - it was their sea. they’d worked so hard, waited for so long but they didn’t realise the difficulties that would come after.
#BeyondTheLyric
#BeyondTheLyric
“when I would only see an insurmountable wall in front of me. that feeling that I could keep trying and trying but nothing would work? the wall of reality was higher than I thought. But I didn’t think of giving up.” [Jimin, DICON]
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![“when I would only see an insurmountable wall in front of me. that feeling that I could keep trying and trying but nothing would work? the wall of reality was higher than I thought. But I didn’t think of giving up.” [Jimin, DICON] #BeyondTheLyric](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EF1YB8pWkAAUo98.jpg "“when I would only see an insurmountable wall in front of me. that feeling that I could keep trying and trying but nothing would work? the wall of reality was higher than I thought. But I didn’t think of giving up.” [Jimin, DICON] #BeyondTheLyric")
#BeyondTheLyric
4. Namib Desert
Jimins quote swiftly brings me onto the second half of Hoseok’s verse.
here Hoseok switches, he begins to speak of hope again & shrugs off his doubts, confusion and fears. his positivity radiates off with each line
#BeyondTheLyric
Jimins quote swiftly brings me onto the second half of Hoseok’s verse.
here Hoseok switches, he begins to speak of hope again & shrugs off his doubts, confusion and fears. his positivity radiates off with each line
#BeyondTheLyric
& i think theres more to it than just that
to me, the ‘you’ Hoseok refers to is himself. he recognises that hes the only one he can rely on to overcome these trials. he has to make himself believe those words & in many ways it sounds like hes psyching himself up
#BeyondTheLyric
to me, the ‘you’ Hoseok refers to is himself. he recognises that hes the only one he can rely on to overcome these trials. he has to make himself believe those words & in many ways it sounds like hes psyching himself up
#BeyondTheLyric
not only that but his positivity is spoken in a soft chant, as if he’s reminding himself to look for the sea even within the desert.
perhaps a form of survival within that despair? perhaps a new found determination? either way, he pushes forward
#BeyondTheLyric
perhaps a form of survival within that despair? perhaps a new found determination? either way, he pushes forward
#BeyondTheLyric
this positivity in many ways propels BTS to continue. no matter how much the seawater or desert dries out their mouths & forces them to swallow dryly they choose to make the most of where they are now.
#BeyondTheLyric
#BeyondTheLyric
“It was decided that the 7 of us would be the members. From that moment, we just looked forward & ran. Trusting in each other, relying on each other. We dripped blood & sweat together. We encouraged each other, saying ‘Whatever the results are, let’s have a go’.”
[Hoseok, Dicon]
![“It was decided that the 7 of us would be the members. From that moment, we just looked forward & ran. Trusting in each other, relying on each other. We dripped blood & sweat together. We encouraged each other, saying ‘Whatever the results are, let’s have a go’.”[Hoseok, Dicon]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EF1nvVAWkAAC6JC.jpg "“It was decided that the 7 of us would be the members. From that moment, we just looked forward & ran. Trusting in each other, relying on each other. We dripped blood & sweat together. We encouraged each other, saying ‘Whatever the results are, let’s have a go’.”[Hoseok, Dicon]")
[Hoseok, Dicon]
Most interesting part to me is his mention of the Namib Desert.
‘Namib’ comes from Khoekhoegowab origin meaning ‘vast place’ & the Namib is a coastal desert
thus sea meets desert, hope meets despair, future meets past & in the vast nothingness, they stand together between both
‘Namib’ comes from Khoekhoegowab origin meaning ‘vast place’ & the Namib is a coastal desert
thus sea meets desert, hope meets despair, future meets past & in the vast nothingness, they stand together between both
5. Hope & Trials
this chorus is beautifully placed in the song.
it’s transitions from Hoseok’s message of the sea (hope) & desert (despair) merging into one is emphasised by the breathy desperation in vocal lines delivery.
this chorus is beautifully placed in the song.
it’s transitions from Hoseok’s message of the sea (hope) & desert (despair) merging into one is emphasised by the breathy desperation in vocal lines delivery.
in the end, just like we see with the Namib desert, hope & hardship will always meet.
Muish points out “wherever there’s hope there’s a trial” is a quote from Haruki Murakami’s book, IQ84.
< Murakami is an author Namjoon has often read & recommended >
Muish points out “wherever there’s hope there’s a trial” is a quote from Haruki Murakami’s book, IQ84.
< Murakami is an author Namjoon has often read & recommended >
Again, I have to reiterate that the placement of the chorus is perfection because there is no success without hardship & from their journey predebut, BTS will have to remember that as another desert awaits them - which brings us smoothly onto Yoongi’s verse
#BeyondTheLyric
#BeyondTheLyric
6. Sea became the desert.
Yoongi realises that although debuting was their dream, its not what they thought it’d be.
the music industry was cruel & unwelcoming. very quickly they found themselves in the desert once again
#BeyondTheLyric
Yoongi realises that although debuting was their dream, its not what they thought it’d be.
the music industry was cruel & unwelcoming. very quickly they found themselves in the desert once again
#BeyondTheLyric
BTS were from a very small record label (BigHit) that had little power in the industry. the ‘big 3’ record labels “YG, JYP and SM - that control the Korean music industry” [Billboard, A.J] continually pushed BTS aside
#BeyondTheLyric
![BTS were from a very small record label (BigHit) that had little power in the industry. the ‘big 3’ record labels “YG, JYP and SM - that control the Korean music industry” [Billboard, A.J] continually pushed BTS aside #BeyondTheLyric](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EF165sJXkAIccTX.jpg "BTS were from a very small record label (BigHit) that had little power in the industry. the ‘big 3’ record labels “YG, JYP and SM - that control the Korean music industry” [Billboard, A.J] continually pushed BTS aside #BeyondTheLyric")
#BeyondTheLyric
filling up tv, radio, award shows etc with their own artists was the norm. BTS were known as nothing more than boys from a small record label, ridiculed & bullied for not having enough money, enough status or enough fame
In that way, Yoongi learns that the Sea did not exist.
In that way, Yoongi learns that the Sea did not exist.
7. Bulletproof.
BTS were cut out during broadcasts multiple times. you’d think this would’ve only happened when they’d debuted but sadly no, even years on their countless hours of practise & hard work would go wasted due to an unfair & biased industry
#BeyondTheLyric
BTS were cut out during broadcasts multiple times. you’d think this would’ve only happened when they’d debuted but sadly no, even years on their countless hours of practise & hard work would go wasted due to an unfair & biased industry
#BeyondTheLyric
“There were times we couldn’t do the full song. And it was times like those I would be devastated. I practised even more desperately. I thought that if we had the skill, we wouldn’t be pushed aside.” [Jin, Dicon]
BTS were desperate to show their worth & even filling in for a cancelled spot was enough at this point
they realised just how alone theyd become in this vastness, with no one to believe in them but each other & their CEO, Bang PD
Now BTS had to make it on their own
[MAMA 2018]
they realised just how alone theyd become in this vastness, with no one to believe in them but each other & their CEO, Bang PD
Now BTS had to make it on their own
[MAMA 2018]
8. What a relief, that we are seven.
during their earlier years, BTS had very little to their name. their small dorm was cramped and at times they’d be squashed in small room trying to sleep
#BeyondTheLyric
during their earlier years, BTS had very little to their name. their small dorm was cramped and at times they’d be squashed in small room trying to sleep
#BeyondTheLyric
they didn’t have much else to rely on but each other. here Yoongi talks about the faith they had to have each night that tomorrow would be a better day. the need to be positive, to survive, connecting back to Hoseok’s verse
[BTS sleeping on the floor together in small room]
[BTS sleeping on the floor together in small room]
9. Survive.
A mirage is an optical phenomenon, it looks real, sometimes like water on a desert surface, but when you walk closer, there is nothing there.
Yoongi tries to grasp on to the water/sea that he can see. He tries to desperately grasp onto some hope.
#BeyondTheLyric
A mirage is an optical phenomenon, it looks real, sometimes like water on a desert surface, but when you walk closer, there is nothing there.
Yoongi tries to grasp on to the water/sea that he can see. He tries to desperately grasp onto some hope.
#BeyondTheLyric
How many times have they fallen for the same illusion? How many times did they reach out in hope, only to fall into despair again? When it got too much & the desert consumed them, how many times did they want to give up?
#BeyondThdLyric
#BeyondThdLyric
“The cheapest meal around the company was about 6000W. With monthly living expenses of about 300,000W, it wasn’t doable. I did part-time work of MIDI lessons and deliveries side by side. And then, I had an accident on the road. My shoulder was badly hurt-
{
The Last - Agust D}
{
The Last - Agust D}
“-I thought about giving up and going down [home]… but the members stopped me. And the company waited for me.” [Yoongi, Dicon]
#BeyondTheLyric
#BeyondTheLyric
After suffering for so long, Yoongi prays that their endless desert will have an end to it. He hopes that not just him, but every single one of them can survive the trials they are facing and continue into tomorrow so that they can finally see brighter days
#BeyondTheLyric
#BeyondTheLyric
10. Success & Anxiety
The mirage he so desperately chasing after was finally in his hands. BTS, who has worked so hard for so long had finally achieved those dreams & the desert that was filled with despair is now filled with their blood, sweat & tears.
The mirage he so desperately chasing after was finally in his hands. BTS, who has worked so hard for so long had finally achieved those dreams & the desert that was filled with despair is now filled with their blood, sweat & tears.
Yoongi speaks of the fear he has. to go so high up can only mean you’ll fall so far down. Just after this album was released, BTS had another hugely successful year, achieving & doing things far beyond their dreams
#BeyondTheLyric
#BeyondTheLyric
However Yoongi reveals it wasn’t smooth sailing. After he was told theyd get to perform at the AMAs, he was ecstatic but after the performance was over, he recalls crying in the shower stating that achieving something so far beyond their dreams was frightening due to the pressure
They know too well where they were before their blood, sweat & tears turned the desert into a sea. They know too well the trials they’ve faced & to finally find the sea doesn’t mean they will forget those hardships.
Their roots, their beginning, its all clear in their minds
Their roots, their beginning, its all clear in their minds
11. Determination
This is one of my favourite parts. Yoongi’s conversation with hoseok and namjoon here is basically a conversation between himself and that tiny voice in his head.
#BeyondTheLyric
This is one of my favourite parts. Yoongi’s conversation with hoseok and namjoon here is basically a conversation between himself and that tiny voice in his head.
#BeyondTheLyric
Namjoon & Hoseok try to be the voice of reason but when Yoongi mentions his past, his trials & despair, the voices no longer disagree with him.
What does Namjoon mean by ‘we have to cry more’? Remember that the desert only became the sea with their blood sweat & tears.
What does Namjoon mean by ‘we have to cry more’? Remember that the desert only became the sea with their blood sweat & tears.
If Yoongi wants to remain there, within his sea, then he has to keep crying to fill it up. he has to keep putting his blood sweat & tears into it. A necessary requirement for he who no longer wishes to be in the desert. Because if he stops, the sea will dry up
#BeyondTheLyric
#BeyondTheLyric
I love the conversational element here with other members because this isn’t just Yoongis journey being described, its all of BTS’. So they make that vow to keep moving forward together, they continue to fill up the sea with their hard work together.
#BeyondTheLyric
#BeyondTheLyric
The fear & panic within his voice really sticks out to me.
they’ve been running so hard for so long that stopping scares them.
this is something Namjoon & Jimin have often discussed, stating that taking breaks/not making music now makes them feel uneasy/scared
#BeyondTheLyric
they’ve been running so hard for so long that stopping scares them.
this is something Namjoon & Jimin have often discussed, stating that taking breaks/not making music now makes them feel uneasy/scared
#BeyondTheLyric
12. The Cycle.
Namjoon states that whether it’s the oceans, the dessert or the world. In the end, they do become the same thing
Oceans - 70% of earth
Desert - 33% of landmass
The world being a combination of both - everything links together.
Namjoon states that whether it’s the oceans, the dessert or the world. In the end, they do become the same thing
Oceans - 70% of earth
Desert - 33% of landmass
The world being a combination of both - everything links together.
They can not find hope without feeling despair, they can not move into the future without their past.
No matter how big they become, hardships will always come their way. But its okay because to have one, they must accept the other, they have to.
#BeyondTheLyric
No matter how big they become, hardships will always come their way. But its okay because to have one, they must accept the other, they have to.
#BeyondTheLyric
13. Necessity.
These last two lines are beautifully sang by Taehyung.
When I first heard this, a quote by George Bernard Shaw immediately came to mind,
“He who has never hoped, can never despair”
These last two lines are beautifully sang by Taehyung.
When I first heard this, a quote by George Bernard Shaw immediately came to mind,
“He who has never hoped, can never despair”
the two meet in necessity, they are joined at their core.
The absence of sea is desert, the absence of hope is despair & thus to have never hoped means you can never despair.
but despair is a necessity for these trials they will face & a necessity for them to overcome together
The absence of sea is desert, the absence of hope is despair & thus to have never hoped means you can never despair.
but despair is a necessity for these trials they will face & a necessity for them to overcome together
Conclusion:“To BTS & in particular their leader RM, the sea is a perpetual theme[..]the sea is the past of where deserts exist now. The message of finding hope in hardship is common, but it is amazing to find such a profound message of enlightenment in an kpop idols lyrics.”
“I first talked about fears, happiness, the sea & the desert on our first album, they were the hidden tracks. a skit called ‘On The Start Line’ & a track called ‘Path’. 4yrs passed & im talking about how we dealt with it, what is the sea & desert inside of us & whats the future”
Namjoon explained that the track was also kept hidden because unless you’re a fan, its be hard to understand.
“otherwise, you’d like be, ‘Why are they feeling so confused about things? They're good. They're No.1 somewhere, they have so much stuff, why are they worried?-
“otherwise, you’d like be, ‘Why are they feeling so confused about things? They're good. They're No.1 somewhere, they have so much stuff, why are they worried?-
-people always talk about that.”
but to BTS this track is very close to their heart.
It comes back to their roots, and brings them fill circle in a time when they were embarking on a life changing year.
but to BTS this track is very close to their heart.
It comes back to their roots, and brings them fill circle in a time when they were embarking on a life changing year.
Although this song is incredibly personal to BTS, the philosophical message behind it can resonate with any audience. Which is why I think this track is also written for you, the listener, so that in understanding it’s message, you can also overcome hardships in your own way.
—————— END ———————
Credit & References:- Lyric Vid: https://bit.ly/2nWhwLF
- Dazed: https://bit.ly/2nJ5N36
- Skit H&F: https://bit.ly/2owmIps
- BTS: The Review: https://amzn.to/2YsXip2
- Doolset Lyric Trans: https://bit.ly/2owsXcS
- Muish Lyric Trans: https://bit.ly/2mV80rw
- BTS-trans: https://bit.ly/2prCSkB
- Dicon: https://bit.ly/2HFBKxV
- RM book: https://bit.ly/2nV6SVj
- BB: https://bit.ly/2nJ6Qjz
- MAMA 2018: https://bit.ly/2oBk01O
- V filming: https://bit.ly/2mVhDqa
- The Last: https://bit.ly/2OQJRLF
- BTStage: https://bit.ly/2ouhk6d
- Dicon: https://bit.ly/2HFBKxV
- RM book: https://bit.ly/2nV6SVj
- BB: https://bit.ly/2nJ6Qjz
- MAMA 2018: https://bit.ly/2oBk01O
- V filming: https://bit.ly/2mVhDqa
- The Last: https://bit.ly/2OQJRLF
- BTStage: https://bit.ly/2ouhk6d
Thank you for reading till this far. im so sorry the thread ended up being so long..
I’ve seen a lot of you say it’s made you look up more lyrics & that makes me beyond happy. I hope it can inspire those who haven’t checked out BTS’ lyrics to do.
Again, sorry it’s so long
I’ve seen a lot of you say it’s made you look up more lyrics & that makes me beyond happy. I hope it can inspire those who haven’t checked out BTS’ lyrics to do.
Again, sorry it’s so long
I’m sure someone has a much better insight into this so please don’t hesitate to correct me if I’m wrong anywhere or add your own interpretations where you like
I love seeing you guys join in with #BeyondTheLyric so thank you so much for doing so.. https://curiouscat.me/AesopsFableFly
I love seeing you guys join in with #BeyondTheLyric so thank you so much for doing so.. https://curiouscat.me/AesopsFableFly
