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Call My Name: An Analysis
(aka how GOT7 wrote a novel and we didn’t even realize)
— a (longish) thread
@GOT7Official #GOT7
(aka how GOT7 wrote a novel and we didn’t even realize)
— a (longish) thread
@GOT7Official #GOT7
DISCLAIMER: This is just a theory and my own interpretation! Song translations may not be accurate.
Also, I’ll be using heterosexual pronouns to distinguish between the two people in the relationship – I am in no way upholding heteronormative standards. Love has no gender yeehaw
Also, I’ll be using heterosexual pronouns to distinguish between the two people in the relationship – I am in no way upholding heteronormative standards. Love has no gender yeehaw
Throughout Call My Name, light is used as a motif for the state of the relationship in the story. Darkness is a place of loneliness – being separated from the one you love – and light is the opposite. YCMN introduces the notion that the only way to find each other is by calling +
e/o’s names out into the darkness.
Keep both of these things in mind:
- (Calling your lover's name in order to be together)
- [Darkness = loneliness]
(I’ll be using [] and () to to track both)
These two ideas underpin the storyline of the album, and can be found in each song.
Keep both of these things in mind:
- (Calling your lover's name in order to be together)
- [Darkness = loneliness]
(I’ll be using [] and () to to track both)
These two ideas underpin the storyline of the album, and can be found in each song.
✮ TRACK 1. 니가 부르는 나의 이름 (You Calling My Name) ✮
In YCMN, the story begins with the couple breaking up – the guy blames himself for ruining the relationship “I was a fool”. As a result, there is darkness in his world.
In YCMN, the story begins with the couple breaking up – the guy blames himself for ruining the relationship “I was a fool”. As a result, there is darkness in his world.
["Sky without light, black
Everyday is meaningless"]
He struggles to find meaning in his life without her around. She was his light.
["Your Flashlight lights up my mind
Laying on the night sky, your eyes"]
The flashlight is his memory of her, but flashlights are temporary +
Everyday is meaningless"]
He struggles to find meaning in his life without her around. She was his light.
["Your Flashlight lights up my mind
Laying on the night sky, your eyes"]
The flashlight is his memory of her, but flashlights are temporary +
and eventually run out of battery – remembering her is not enough for him. Keep "night sky" in mind.
["The light of the fluttering day
The promise of eternity
They're still in me"]
He’s still hoping they will be together again someday – he’s longing after the light they once +
["The light of the fluttering day
The promise of eternity
They're still in me"]
He’s still hoping they will be together again someday – he’s longing after the light they once +
shared together. Also keep in mind the word “day”.
He then asks her to call out his name:
("Without you
My name lost its meaning
Please call it again")
He only feels complete when she calls out his name – when she reaches out to him.
He then asks her to call out his name:
("Without you
My name lost its meaning
Please call it again")
He only feels complete when she calls out his name – when she reaches out to him.
❂ TRACK 2. PRAY ❂
The story continues in PRAY, where the guy reminisces the relationship. He wants things to go back to the way they once were. He’s literally praying for her to call out his name.
The story continues in PRAY, where the guy reminisces the relationship. He wants things to go back to the way they once were. He’s literally praying for her to call out his name.
[Deeper inside the days of my life
I’m becoming closer with my sky blue dream]
He wants to go back to when his sky was blue instead of black :( He can only dream about the relationship he once had.
("A word you speak
It makes me bloom")
Her words gave him life and purpose.
I’m becoming closer with my sky blue dream]
He wants to go back to when his sky was blue instead of black :( He can only dream about the relationship he once had.
("A word you speak
It makes me bloom")
Her words gave him life and purpose.
("Will you call my name?")
He doesn’t know if she will come back to him, so he keeps on praying.
("Pray to you
Listen to my prayers")
Prayer is a way to open our minds and hearts. Usually when we pray to God it's because we want to grow in our relationship with Him, but +
He doesn’t know if she will come back to him, so he keeps on praying.
("Pray to you
Listen to my prayers")
Prayer is a way to open our minds and hearts. Usually when we pray to God it's because we want to grow in our relationship with Him, but +
since he is praying to her it clearly shows that he wants to strengthen their relationship and restore it to what it once was. He wants to show her his inner thoughts and true feelings, his vulnerabilities. But, like with all prayer, you have to wait for an answer.
✰ TRACK 3. NOW OR NEVER ✰
The story takes a turn and they end up back together. He doesn’t want to waste another moment, hence the ultimatum “now or never”.
The story takes a turn and they end up back together. He doesn’t want to waste another moment, hence the ultimatum “now or never”.
["The moon shines on us
Starlight scatters in the sky"]
Since she came back his night sky is full of light. But it isn’t the sky blue he dreamed of. Is this foreshadowing? Remember how the moon always changes?
Starlight scatters in the sky"]
Since she came back his night sky is full of light. But it isn’t the sky blue he dreamed of. Is this foreshadowing? Remember how the moon always changes?
["The time I spent with you
It's as bright as ever"]
That thought quickly goes away, and things appear to go back to the way they once were.
It's as bright as ever"]
That thought quickly goes away, and things appear to go back to the way they once were.
Also, the idea of (calling your name) isn’t mentioned in this song – they don’t need to call out to each other because they’ve already found each other!! IT’S THE LITTLE DETAILS FOR ME
꙳ TRACK 4. THURSDAY ꙳
Doubts starts to arise in the relationship - he’s confused about whether they’ll stay together or if it was temporary. Their relationship is like Thursday – ambiguous in that it’s not the weekend & it doesn’t feel like a weekday.
Doubts starts to arise in the relationship - he’s confused about whether they’ll stay together or if it was temporary. Their relationship is like Thursday – ambiguous in that it’s not the weekend & it doesn’t feel like a weekday.
["Turn the lights off, turn them on
Turn it off and on again"]
THIS PART MADE ME REALISE THAT LIGHT WAS A MOTIF THOUGHOUT THE WHOLE ALBUM
Switching on and off the lights highlights the instability of the relationship – he’s unsure whether they should continue or not. The act +
Turn it off and on again"]
THIS PART MADE ME REALISE THAT LIGHT WAS A MOTIF THOUGHOUT THE WHOLE ALBUM
Switching on and off the lights highlights the instability of the relationship – he’s unsure whether they should continue or not. The act +
of switching the light on and off is reflective of his confused mind state. It’s also worth noting that this light isn’t natural – it’s artificial, unlike daylight or starlight. This could mean that it's a vain attempt to try recreate what they once had, but it's not the same.
("I want to call you again")
Despite feeling uneasy, he still wants to stay – he still wants to call her name.
("My notebook is full of your words")
He may have written her words down in case he doesn’t hear them from her again.
It could also be him reassuring himself.
Despite feeling uneasy, he still wants to stay – he still wants to call her name.
("My notebook is full of your words")
He may have written her words down in case he doesn’t hear them from her again.
It could also be him reassuring himself.
✧ TRACK 5. RUN AWAY ✧
The guy wants to cling onto what they have together, and uneasiness turns into desperation to the point that he wants to run away with her.
The guy wants to cling onto what they have together, and uneasiness turns into desperation to the point that he wants to run away with her.
(Really wanna, really wanna, really wanna, really wanna talk to you)
This dude is DESPERATE LMAO
("It doesn’t matter if you’re far away,
Your voice calling me again is clear")
He’s ready to accept her no matter how far apart they’ve become – again, he is desperate to make +
This dude is DESPERATE LMAO
("It doesn’t matter if you’re far away,
Your voice calling me again is clear")
He’s ready to accept her no matter how far apart they’ve become – again, he is desperate to make +
things work no matter the circumstances.
["The lights of the city light up
You shine a little more than that"]
He still sees her as his light, his only way to live.
["The lights of the city light up
You shine a little more than that"]
He still sees her as his light, his only way to live.
["Stay up all night facing each other
under the starlight of the night sky
Getting to know each other more
Becoming deeper like that"]
In this part of the story they both open up to each other about how they feel. Like I said before, the night sky they share is not the same as +
under the starlight of the night sky
Getting to know each other more
Becoming deeper like that"]
In this part of the story they both open up to each other about how they feel. Like I said before, the night sky they share is not the same as +
the blue sky he’s been dreaming of. The day/blue sky represents new possibilities and hope. The night, however, is symbolic of secrets and vulnerability. It can also be seen as a state of anticipation for what’s to come - they don't know what will happen to them.
"I want to be trapped forever
so that tomorrow does not come
[Cover each other’s eyes"]
He realises that their relationship will end and he wants to be trapped in this moment, but why are they covering each other’s eyes? It’s because they’ve become each other’s source of +
so that tomorrow does not come
[Cover each other’s eyes"]
He realises that their relationship will end and he wants to be trapped in this moment, but why are they covering each other’s eyes? It’s because they’ve become each other’s source of +
darkness. MINDBLOWING SHIT
("I want to show you
Feelings I can’t express with words
Let's gather them all and fly them up in the sky
So we can see it no matter where we are")
This is key – he isn’t able to reach out to her. He literally can’t express his feeling with words +
("I want to show you
Feelings I can’t express with words
Let's gather them all and fly them up in the sky
So we can see it no matter where we are")
This is key – he isn’t able to reach out to her. He literally can’t express his feeling with words +
even though he desperately wants her to know. He wants the sky to be filled with the words he wants to say, but it may be too late.
("Tell me with a nod, Oui")
By the end of the song they can't even talk to each other – she can’t call out to him anymore. As a last act of desperation, he just asks her to nod at him… he’s looking for any sign at all that they still have a chance.
By the end of the song they can't even talk to each other – she can’t call out to him anymore. As a last act of desperation, he just asks her to nod at him… he’s looking for any sign at all that they still have a chance.
✹ TRACK 6. CRASH AND BURN ✹
This is the final track, and where the story reaches a climax. The guy falls apart when he realises he’s lost her again.
This is the final track, and where the story reaches a climax. The guy falls apart when he realises he’s lost her again.
["You get lost in the long darkness
Turn everything upside down"]
His world is shaken when he loses her again, and he’s back in the same lonely darkness as the beginning.
("There's only a question mark left")
There are no more words left.
Turn everything upside down"]
His world is shaken when he loses her again, and he’s back in the same lonely darkness as the beginning.
("There's only a question mark left")
There are no more words left.
["I know I'm gonna get hurt, but I can't stop now
As time goes by, my thirst grows
Endlessly burning fire
I'm not afraid of the future with you"]
He knows that their relationship will never work and he will only be hurt in the end, but he’s still pushing forward. He describes +
As time goes by, my thirst grows
Endlessly burning fire
I'm not afraid of the future with you"]
He knows that their relationship will never work and he will only be hurt in the end, but he’s still pushing forward. He describes +
his passion as an “endlessly burning fire”, which can be thought of as him wanting to become the light that brings them back together. He has lost all fear, only thinking about getting her back.
TW // death
["I'm burning
Can't stop this
Like a phoenix"]
He can’t control himself. Phoenixes are symbolic of the cycle of time, when they burn up in flames and then die only to be reborn again. This is a never-ending cycle, and is a representation of eternity. The guy is +
["I'm burning
Can't stop this
Like a phoenix"]
He can’t control himself. Phoenixes are symbolic of the cycle of time, when they burn up in flames and then die only to be reborn again. This is a never-ending cycle, and is a representation of eternity. The guy is +
trapped in a system that he cannot escape from, since he sees her as his only way to live.
("This is a question with no answer")
He’s not getting an answer from her, which means she doesn’t want to go back.
("This is a question with no answer")
He’s not getting an answer from her, which means she doesn’t want to go back.
TW // mental illness
("I cry out for you like cr*zy")
He's screaming and shouting, hoping that she can hear him. He’s trying so hard to reach out to her, but in the end he’s the only one trying.
("I cry out for you like cr*zy")
He's screaming and shouting, hoping that she can hear him. He’s trying so hard to reach out to her, but in the end he’s the only one trying.
TW // fire
["I’m dizzy I’m dizzy
But I wanna know
'Til I crash and burn"]
Even his cries don’t help, so what does he resort to? Lighting himself on fire to find his lover in the darkness – this can be literal or figurative. Literal in the sense that he has genuinely gone +
["I’m dizzy I’m dizzy
But I wanna know
'Til I crash and burn"]
Even his cries don’t help, so what does he resort to? Lighting himself on fire to find his lover in the darkness – this can be literal or figurative. Literal in the sense that he has genuinely gone +
ins*ne, or figurative in the sense that he’s mentally pushing himself to the breaking point.
It’s up to interpretation, but I can't believe they actually thought all of this out. The motif of light is so simple yet so nuanced???? It's so cool wtf
GOT7 = intellectuals
GOT7 = intellectuals
Essentially the story is:
- They break up (YCMN)
- He reminisces (PRAY)
- They get back together (NOW OR NEVER)
- He starts to question relationship (THURSDAY)
- He tries to stop breakup but fails (RUN AWAY)
- The guy falls apart without her (CRASH & BURN)
- They break up (YCMN)
- He reminisces (PRAY)
- They get back together (NOW OR NEVER)
- He starts to question relationship (THURSDAY)
- He tries to stop breakup but fails (RUN AWAY)
- The guy falls apart without her (CRASH & BURN)
I hope you guys weren't disappointed with my analysis 
Seeing the album in a different light was eye opening and it really made me appreciate how hard our boys work, not only in their performances but also in the creative process!
Seeing the album in a different light was eye opening and it really made me appreciate how hard our boys work, not only in their performances but also in the creative process!
END OF THREAD ♡
Y'ALL i forgot to add:
i wouldn't be mad if someone
made an au/story from this idea the plot do be kinda juicy doe
i wouldn't be mad if someone
made an au/story from this idea the plot do be kinda juicy doe
