Since Buddha’s birthday was Friday, I decided to post a song that’s got an element of traditional culture to it. This song “The Sun” was written in 1980 by Magma (마그마) and is reminiscent of “Stairway to Heaven” in it in that it begins softly and slowly, but eventually rocks!

In fact, the song is based on a very famous poem that was written during the Japanese occupation of Korea. It was written by 박두진 in 1946 and (might have) even got him thrown in jail at that time (my wife couldn’t remember exactly). The poem is quite symbolic. “The sun” is Korea, and “the moonlight” and “sorrowful valley like tears” implies the Japanese colonization of Korea. So, when the author (and song) say, “Sun Rise!” they mean that “Korea will rise and a new day will dawn!”

This cover of the song also includes some traditional Korean instruments (Samul Nori – 사물놀이) and voices (Pansori – 판소리).

가사 (Lyrics)

어둠 속에 묻혀 있는 고운 해야
아침을 기다리는 앳된 얼굴
어둠이 걷히고 햇볕이 번지면
깃을 치리라

마알간 해야 네가 웃음 지면
홀로라도 나는 좋아라

해야 떠라 해야 떠라
말갛게 해야 솟아라
고운 해야 모든 어둠 먹고
앳된 얼굴 솟아라

눈물 같은 골짜기에
서러운 달밤은 싫어
아무도 없는 뜰에
달밤이 나는 싫어라

해야 떠라 해야 떠라
말갛게 해야 솟아라
고운 해야 모든 어둠 먹고
앳된 얼굴 솟아라

해야 떠라 해야 떠라
말갛게 해야 솟아라
고운 해야 모든 어둠 먹고
앳된 얼굴 솟아라

해야 떠라~~~
해야~

윤도현 버전 (Yoon Do-Hyun Version):

Original recording from Magma:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pucv_XYEu0

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