You Better Know by Red Velvet Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Anthemic Hymn of Self-Empowerment
Lyrics
잠을 깨우고
세상은 분주하게 너를 맞을 준비해
눈부시도록
커다란 벽 앞에
홀로 멈춰 선 채
상처로 닫혀버린 네 눈빛
처음의 설레임
빛나던 이끌림
지금은 어디쯤에 있는지
네 심장을 뛰게 했던
소중한 꿈이 널 부를 때
포근하게 널 감싸줄
나의 이 노랠 들어줄래
You better know
눈부신 빛을 따라 하루를 그려
You better know
이런 널 기다려온 세상이 있어
So are you ready or not
이 순간을 놓치지 마
시간이 흘러가잖아
Tick tock tick tock
You better know
언제나 너의 곁에 내가 있을게
서투른 아이처럼 헤매는 건 당연해
이 낯선 길에 (낯선 길에)
느리게 피어난 저 들꽃처럼 천천히
쉬어가도 돼
지쳐있던 너의 맘을
달래줄 바람 필요할 때
향기롭게 불어오는
나의 이 노랠 들어줄래
You better know
눈부신 빛을 따라 하루를 그려
You better know
이런 널 기다려온 세상이 있어
So are you ready or not
이 순간을 놓치지 마
시간이 흘러가잖아
Tick tock tick tock
You better know
언제나 너의 곁에 내가 있을게
You better know
You better know
You better know
So are you ready or not
기다려온 시간들이
너에게 다가오잖아
Tick tock tick tock
So are you ready or not
제자리에 머물지 마
더 큰 꿈들을 그려봐
Tick tock tick tock
You better know
눈부신 빛을 따라 하루를 그려
You better know
이런 널 기다려온 세상이 있어
So are you ready or not
이 순간을 놓치지 마
시간이 흘러가잖아
Tick tock tick tock
You better know
언제나 너의 곁에 내가 있을게
You better know
You better know
You better know
You better
In the pantheon of K-pop anthems, Red Velvet’s ‘You Better Know’ is a shining beacon of inspiration and self-discovery. More than just another catchy tune, these lyrics are a gentle, yet powerful embrace for anyone standing at the crossroads of their own journey.
It’s a soaring flight through the spectrum of youthful hope and the relentless chase of dreams. This track from the group’s 2017 ‘The Red Summer’ EP does more than make one’s heart race; it invites an intimate dialogue with the self, coaxing the listener to not only chase the light but also acknowledge the shadows that make the shine all so significant.
The Dawning of Self-Awareness: A New Day Begins
As the lyrics metaphorically move from the ‘dark night’ to a ‘dawn holding light’, it’s an invocation for listeners to awaken, both literally and figuratively. Red Velvet constructs a narrative of rebirth, of shaking off the weight of yesterday’s sorrows and stepping into a world eagerly awaiting one’s potential.
The imagery speaks directly to the journey from uncertainty and loneliness, represented by ‘the big wall’ and the singer’s ‘closed eyes due to hurt,’ towards a place of excitement and forward momentum. It is about the rediscovery of the initial thrills and attractions that once propelled us.
An Ode to the Wounded Heart: The Embrace of the Ballad
In the tender offering of their song, Red Velvet extends a comforting hand to the wounded spirit. The group understands that healing is not instantaneous but rather an orchestration of time, patience, and nurturing melodies designed to ‘warmly wrap around’ the listener.
This section of the song is not just about solace; it’s an invitation to reconnect with one’s ‘precious dream’ that once made the heart race, suggesting that dreams have a voice and call out to be lived.
A Rallying Call to Action: The Anthem’s Crescendo
The recurrent phrases ‘You better know’ and ‘So are you ready or not’ aren’t mere rhetorical questions; they’re a vehemence stirring within the chest. Red Velvet urges listeners to grasp the day, follow the brilliant light, and meet a world that has been waiting for them.
They drive home the idea that time is ticking—’Tick tock tick tock’—and the moment to act is now. This sense of urgency is balanced with the reassurance that, regardless of where one is in their journey, support is close at hand.
The Hidden Meaning: A Carpe Diem Wrapped in Melody
While the song bounces on a poppy beat and harmonized vocals, the undertone is philosophical. ‘You Better Know’ is a modern-day carpe diem, a K-pop layered memento mori. It’s a nuanced reminder that life’s impermanence is exactly why every moment holds infinite value.
By intersecting time’s unstoppable march with the call to dream bigger and embrace the moment, Red Velvet captures a universal truth. This song is a conversation with time itself, and a recognition that the present is all we truly have.
Memorable Lines that Echo Through Time
The simplicity in the lines ‘You better know, dazzling light follows to draw a day,’ speaks volumes about mindfulness and living purposefully. It’s here that the song moves from being more than just an aesthetically pleasing work to a piece of philosophical discourse.
The repetition of ‘You better know’ throughout the track serves as the heartbeat of the song, an earworm with depth, a constant reminder that every day is another chance to reignite the faded lights within ourselves and pursue what sets our souls ablaze.
