My Love By My Side

I watched a program in KBS channel a few weeks ago featuring singers performing the Immortal Songs of Kim Hyun Sik. And for some reason, I felt sad and I felt like crying as I watched Lim Jeong Hee's performance on her version of "My Love By My Side".




I was drawn by the melody of the song (which is logical since I can't understand the lyrics since it's in Korean). So I asked my good Korean friend/work counterpart DK oppa for some background on the song and of course if he is familiar with the song. And it was confirmed that it's a sad song. The original singer Kim Hyun Sik died last 1990 at a very young age of 32. The song "My Love By My Side" is a single on his last album that he created and was released after his death. My good friend found some English translations to the song,  but he said that he thinks that the translation cannot match the sadness and the emotions that was poured by the singer on the song.


Saying goodbye you went away, you took my dream away.
Should I get down on my knees now begging you to stay.
Why you had to go away, you didn’t let me know.
Won’t you please come back to me, I am waiting for you.
When you said goodbye to me, the world just turned its back.
Should I get down on my keens begging you to stay with me.
Why you had to go away, you didn’t let me know.
Everything is strange to me, Oh I am falling down.
You know the walls are closing in, this broken piece of my heart.
Won’t you hear me now and remember all my pain.
Oh you are my love, please come back to me.
You’re the only one for me, should I leave and let you go.
And when I was down, you turned your back on me.
Tell me how I should live, won’t you please come back to me. !!
Tell me how I should live, won’t you please come back to me. !!
Tell me how I should live, won’t you please come back to me. !!

I even searched for the lyrics.


My Love By My Side
Kim Hyun Sik


na-e　mo-dun　sa-rang-i
ddeo-na-ga-nun　na-ri
dang-si-ne　gu　oo-sum　dwi-e-seo
ham-ke　ha-nun-de


cheo-ri　eom-nun　yog-si-me
gu　ma-nun　mi-ryeo-ne
dang-si-ni　innun　geon
a-nin-ji　a-ni-get-ji-yo


si-ga-nun　meo-reo-ji-mu-ro　hyang-hae-ga-nun-de
yag-sog　haet-deon
gu-dae-ma-nun　ol　jool　mo-ru-go
ae-sseo　oo-sum　ji-u-myeo
do-ra-o-nun　gi-run
oe　gu-ri-do　nat-sseol-go　meol-gi-man　han-ji


jeo　yeo-rin　ga-ji　sa-i-ro
hon-ja-in　na-rul　nu-kil-ddae
i-reo-ke　a-pun
gu-dae　gi-eo-gi　nal-ka


nae-sa-rang　gu-dae　naegyeo-te　it-sseo-jwo
i　se-sang　ha-na　bboo-nin
o-jig　gu-dae-ma-ni
him-gyeo-oon　na-re
neo　ma-jeo　ddeo-na-myeon
bi-tul-geo-rin　nae-ga
an-gil　go-sun　eo-di-e


jeo　yeo-rin　ga-ji　sa-i-ro
hon-ja-in　na-rul　nu-kil-ddae
i-reo-ke　a-pun
gu-dae　gi-eo-gi　nal-ka


nae-sa-rang　gu-dae　naegyeo-te　it-sseo-jwo
i　se-sang　ha-na　bboo-nin
o-jig　gu-dae-ma-ni
him-gyeo-oon　na-re　neo　ma-jeo　ddeo-na-myeon
bi-tul-geo-rin　nae-ga
an-gil　go-sun　eo-di-e
bi-tul-geo-rin　nae-ga
an-gil　go-sun　eo-di-e
bi-tul-geo-rin　nae-ga
an-gil　go-sun　eo-di-e




Here is the original version. According to several articles, he was already having some difficulties in singing when he recorded this song. That's maybe you can hear the huskiness in his voice and it seems like he is in pain.



The man died but his music lives forever.