Swim — BTS: what the lyrics really mean
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in syncSwim, swimListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upLearn the danceOne 8-count at a time · slow-mo and mirror · with a free accountWhat the song is about
BTS’s “Swim” is about escaping a harsh, exhausting world by slipping into water with someone they’re drawn to. They treat the sea as a place to breathe, lose track of time and feel unafraid, with salt, waves, moonlight and sharks around them. The mood is dreamy and wholehearted, a calm but confident surrender to the deep.
Key lines
4 lines from the song with the slang, wordplay and references behind them. The full line-by-line breakdown lives in the app.
Swim, swimListen from this lineGone away and I still wake up in this mad worldListen from this lineTake it off the ground, I ain’t never gettin’ cold feetListen to the first verse — freeWhat's behind the line: "Cold feet" literally means "cold feet", but together it's a fixed idiom for "getting scared/backing out at the last moment"; he's vowing it won't happen.
I make waves with my two finsListen to the first verse — freeLyrics © their rights holders. “Swim” — BTS. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
A line from the song with one word missing: listen, then pick the right word. Jaemin checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
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Why this word and not another? What does that slang mean? Ask in your own words and your idol answers about this exact line.
Ask JaeminSong vocabulary
Words from the song in alphabetical order, with what they mean here.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| bout | about |
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Questions about “Swim”
What is “Swim” by BTS about?
BTS’s “Swim” is about escaping a harsh, exhausting world by slipping into water with someone they’re drawn to.
What does “Take it off the ground, I ain’t never gettin’ cold feet” mean in “Swim”?
"Cold feet" literally means "cold feet", but together it's a fixed idiom for "getting scared/backing out at the last moment"; he's vowing it won't happen.
Where can I see every line of “Swim” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Jaemin goes through all 62 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official music video
The video loads from YouTube only when you press play. YouTube ↗
Credits and sources
- Artist
- BTS
- Album
- ARIRANG · track 7 of 14
- Official video
- HYBE LABELS · YouTube
Lyrics and music belong to their rights holders. This page quotes no more than four lines for commentary; the translations, pronunciation and explanations are written by theIDOL.