I don't understand lot of his lyrics or words but his voice touches my soul. His songs have so much sadness that I can't listen too much in one sitting or else it affects my mood. There's genuine beauty and sorrow in his songs and voice which seems to reflect the struggles of the ordinary Korean people.
I have a present for ya.
Since you like him so much I'll translate that Too Painful song more accurately, conveying nuances of word choices. This song is of few words on purpose. There are many words to say the same thing in any language, each carrying different and significant nuaces. He chose these words very carefully, making sure they convey his intent sufficiently. Actually, after actually translating, the subtitles in the video are flat out wrong and garbage. Here. These actually make sense and tells a story.
The Love That Was Too Painful Was Not Love (much better fitting translation. 'The' usage accurately captures that it's about HIS love, not a general statement)
[EDIT - WAIT. Korean language can omit subject pronoun (I, he, she) in a sentence, so it can be flexibly interpreted both ways- personal statement ("the") or general ("a"). English can't do this!]
By Gim Gwang Suhk
After I sent you away, far away
(an indirect way of saying 'breaking up' in Korean, but obviously he chose 'sent' so one can also interpret it literally)
Just like how the little autumn birds part ways
(referring to how birds unceremoniously disappear when winter arrives)
After I did send you away
As I came back and sat down in front of a drink (literally a drinking glass- a shot glass, or a mug, etc)
Tears came out
After I sent you away, completely
As I looked at the setting starlights
All the unspoken words were flowing down (obviously saying he's crying out the unspoken words. I mean crying as in shedding tears, not yelling)
This painful love, can it be erased ('Would I ever erase them' is good too, but then the nominative singular pronoun 'I' is clearly not used when the subtitle did)
As even an any-day rain is a fondest memory (utterly wrong subtitle)
At a scattering street,
as I became a desolate man and hung my head, (hung my head down in shame/sadness, not suicide)
I heard your voice.
(Basically saying "I heard your voice when I became a lonely/desolate man and looked down.
The Love That Was Too Painful
Was Not Love
One day, the shoulders became wet by wind (English doesn't have a verb for 'wet'. Dampen/Moistens/Soaks all don't work because they carry the wetness severity. So his shoulders became wet with wind. There's no water. He's describing a state of wind seeping/saturating his shoulders similar to how water gets something wet)
Skirted past by
When my exhausted hours were hung on the window
I begun to resent you (the 'you' used in this song is a cordial form of you, indicating a certain level of courtesy)
The Love That Was Too Painful
Was Not Love
From now on, let us, as people,
never come to this world as lovers
May bury such words as 'I miss it'.
The unfinished heart
The Love That Was Too Painful
Was Not Love x2
Man the third and fourth verses were tricky as hell to translate. It written in a very specific subtle Korean way that defies the direct English sentence structure. The words are deliberately few, and deliberately specific choice of
verb paradigms and honorifics really sets the mood of the man making a declaration (deeply sorrowful yet respectful, also somber & disillusioned.)
Split window this shizz and listen/watch again. Enjoy!!