Underwater by Baekhyun Lyrics Meaning – Diving into the Depths of Heartache and Hope
Lyrics
귀찮게 또 울린 phone
잠깐 airplane mode
불 꺼진 방에 홀로 눈 감은 채
어둠뿐인 정적 아래 가라앉게 돼
네가 없인 모든 게 멈춰버렸으면 해
네가 떠난 여긴 (eh) 빛을 잃은 듯이 (yeah)
그늘이 져 매일 늘 따듯했던 품
그 온길 모를 땐 차가움도 모른 채
잘 버텼는데
난 다시 혼자가 돼 이렇게
네 사랑은 최소한의 숨
내 두 손을 잡아 올린 끈
바다 가운데 표류하던 날
살게 했던 heaven
너와 내가 끊어진 뒤에
눈을 뜨니 짙은 어둠에
점점 더 휩쓸려가
잠겨버리는 맘 underwater
어느새 (ho!) 유리창 틈에
밤을 밀어내듯 해가 비쳐올 때
시간은 또 새로워진 하루 속에
떠밀어 나를 (yeah yeah)
자연스레 세상은 (eh) 제자리를 찾는데
전부였던 우리 (eh) 눈부셨던 밤이 (yeah)
선명해 여전히 (여전히) 늘 나만 보던 눈
사랑을 모를 땐 이 맘도 모른 채
잘 견뎠는데
난 이제 까만 밤이 위험해
네 사랑은 최소한의 숨
내 두 손을 잡아 올린 끈
바다 가운데 표류하던 날
살게 했던 heaven
너와 내가 끊어진 뒤에
눈을 뜨니 짙은 어둠에
점점 더 휩쓸려가
잠겨버리는 맘 underwater
불을 켜봐도 답답해 답답해
Ooh whoa, ooh whoa
Ooh TV를 켜도 적막해 적막해
Ooh whoa 온몸에 힘이 빠져가
네 사랑은 최소한의 숨
내 두 손을 잡아 올린 끈
바다 가운데 표류하던 날
살게 했던 heaven
네 손을 놓쳐버린 뒤에
방향마저 잃어버린 채
어디로 갈지 몰라
잠겨버리는 밤 underwater
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Sinking deep at night
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Underwater
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Sinking deep at night
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Underwater
In the realm of music, certain songs capture the emotional intensity of human experience, turning simple notes into profound narratives. Baekhyun’s ‘Underwater’ is one such auditory masterpiece, submerging listeners into the depths of introspection with its haunting melodies and poignant lyrics.
The song, with its fluid transitions and ethereal ambiance, acts as a conduit for the listener’s own feelings, as Baekhyun’s delicate vocal delivery explores the struggle of moving through sorrow towards redemption. The artistry within the composition and lyricism constructs a bridge between the tangible and the ineffable, inviting an exploration of its layered meanings.
Immersion in Silence: A Solitary Confinement
‘Underwater’ opens with a relatable modern-day scenario – the incessant ring of a phone and the urge to disconnect. Baekhyun’s decision to switch to airplane mode is symbolic of the greater desire to become unreachable, to retreat into a personal, undisturbed sanctuary. The darkness that envelops him in a lightless room is the perfect breeding ground for reflection and the inevitable sinking into the quietude of his thoughts.
As the lines progress, listeners find themselves enveloped in an atmosphere where solitude breeds a poignant mix of calm and unrest. Baekhyun’s embrace of silence and darkness represents a moment of reckoning, allowing emotive contemplation that is both intimate and universally understood.
Echoes of a Sunken Love: The Underlying Trauma
The narrative of ‘Underwater’ doesn’t merely skim the surface of a breakup; it plunges headfirst into the aftermath of lost love. Baekhyun likens his former lover’s affection to the ‘minimum breath’ necessary for survival, painting a vivid picture of dependence and the life-affirming force of love. With the severance of the relationship depicted as the loss of this life-giving breath, the metaphorical depths of the ocean become a stand-in for the profound sense of disorientation and despair.
The allegory extends with the imagery of being adrift in the heart of the sea, previously kept afloat by the heaven of the relationship. The rupture has led to a thick darkness, representing the encroaching desolation that threatens to consume him, plunging his heart ‘underwater’—a powerful visual of emotional inundation.
The Tyranny of Time and Memory
In his solitude, Baekhyun confronts the paradox of time. Morning light pushing away the night suggests a new beginning, but for those trapped in emotional turmoil, it can also cruelly reinforce the continuity of heartache. As time inexorably marches forward, the world moves on, but the singer remains haunted by the vibrant memories of a love that was once his universe.
The stark contrast between the bright past and the ‘dangerous black night’ of the present illustrates the singer’s vulnerability without his beloved. With the separation, nights are no longer a canvas for shared dreams but are transformed into a perilous landscape where the absence of his loved is most acute.
The Cry from the Deep: Memorable Lines that Resonate
Baekhyun delivers lines that stick with the listener long after the song ends, a testament to the songwriter’s empathy and profound lyrical ability. The repeated line ‘네 사랑은 최소한의 숨’ (Your love is the minimum breath) emphasizes not only the necessity of the lost love for survival but also encases the raw vulnerability that comes with acknowledging one’s reliance on another.
Similarly, the imagery of ‘잠겨버리는 맘 underwater’ (A heart sinking underwater) conjures the physical sensation of being submerged, reflecting the weight of emotions as tangible as the waters that both conceal and nurture.
The Unseen Struggle: The Hidden Meaning of ‘Underwater’
While ‘Underwater’ can be interpreted as a narrative on love lost, there’s a deeper resonance that lies beneath. It’s an echo of the human condition, the individual odyssey each of us faces when grappling with the existential dread that accompanies significant change or loss. The song reveals that there’s a universal quality to our personal underwater experiences—our private battles with the currents of change.
Baekhyun’s resolution to turn on the lights, to push through the oppressive quietness, speaks to a larger story of resilience. It’s about finding ways to navigate in the figurative darkness when the beacons that once guided us are gone. ‘Underwater’ is an anthem for those who are learning to breathe again in the depths, for those who confront the night head-on, and against all odds, seek the surface.
