"I Long to Go" (Longing for Home) is a profoundly nostalgic and iconic masterpiece
from the monumental repertoire by the legendary South Korean tenor Eom Jeong-haeng, a defining figure in the history of Korean lyrical art songs (Gagok).
Composed by the esteemed maestro Kim Dong-jin and written by the poet Lee Eun-sang,
the song serves as a masterful showcase for Eom Jeong-haeng's signature emotive power and resonant vocal delivery, which flawlessly capture the bittersweet essence of yearning for one's hometown, the beauty of the southern sea, and the deep emotional resonance of the Korean soul.
By blending a sweeping, dramatic melodic progression with deeply poetic and evocative lyrics, this track remains a cornerstone of the Korean classical music scene, representing the collective longing of a generation and the timeless connection to one's roots.
Today, it stands as an immortal treasure, universally recognized as one of the most beloved anthems of nostalgia and national sentiment in the history of Korean lyrical art music.
[가고파]
[I Long to Go Lyrics & English Translation]
내 고향 남쪽 바다
Nae gohyang namjjok bada
My hometown's southern sea
그 파란 물 눈에 보이네
Geu paran mul nune boine
The blue water is visible to my eyes
꿈엔들 잊으리요
Kkumendeul ijeuriyo
How could I forget it even in my dreams
그 잔잔한 고향 바다
Geu janjanhan gohyang bada
That calm hometown sea
지금도 그 물새 날으리
Jigeumdo geu mulsae nareuri
Even now the seabirds must be flying there
가고파라 가고파
Gagopara gagopa
I long to go, I long to go
어릴 제 같이 놀던
Eoril je gachi noldeon
Friends I played with when I was young
그 동무들 그리워라
Geu dongmudeul geuriwora
I miss those friends
어디 간들 잊으리요
Eodi gandeul ijeuriyo
Wherever I go, how could I forget them
그 뛰놀던 고향 동무
Geu ttwineoldeon gohyang dongmu
The hometown friends I used to run and play with
오늘은 다 무얼 하는고
Oneureun da mueol haneungo
What are they all doing today
보고파라 보고파
Bogopara bogopa
I miss them, I miss them
그 물새 그 동무들
Geu mulsae geu dongmudeul
Those seabirds and those friends
고향에 다 있는데
Gohyang-e da inneunde
Are all in my hometown
나는 왜 어이타가
Naneun wae eoitaga
Why did I, for what reason
떠나 살게 되었는고
Tteona salge doeeonneungo
End up living away from there
온갖 것 다 뿌리치고
Ongat geot da ppurichigo
Leaving everything behind
돌아갈까 돌아가
Doragalkka doraga
Shall I return, I shall return
가서 한데 얼려
Gaseo hande eollyeo
To go and mingle together
옛날같이 살고지고
Yetnalgachi salgojigo
And live as we did in the past
내 마음 색동옷 입혀
Nae maeum saekdongot iphyeo
Dressing my heart in colorful traditional clothes
웃고 웃고 지내고저
Utgo utgo jinaegojeo
I wish to spend my days laughing and laughing
그날 그 눈물 없던 때를
Geunal geu nunmul eopdeon ttaereul
Those days when there were no tears
찾아가자 찾아가
Chajagaja chajaga
Let us find them, let us go back
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