FIRST — EVERGLOW: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync그래 마지막 선율geu·rae ma·ji·mak seo·nyulYes, the final melody.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
EVERGLOW's “FIRST” is about helping someone who is frightened of the dark and hiding from it to find her own strength. The singer treats fear as a monster and a black hole that grows inside, then offers her hand, a candle and a key of hope. The mood turns defiant and bright as dawn nears, with a promise to break walls and show unseen things.
Key lines
4 lines from the song in Korean, with how they sound and what they mean. The full line-by-line breakdown lives in the app.
그래 마지막 선율Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): geu·rae ma·ji·mak seo·nyul
Meaning: Yes, the final melody.
Words in this line- 그래geu·raeyes
- 마지막ma·ji·makfinal
- 선율seo·nyulmelody
Word for word: yes final melody
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal version sounds bare because Korean drops the verb "is" and any article, leaving just a noun phrase; 그래 is a casual "yeah/right" agreement word. The line affirms this is the final melody, a wistful closing beat. Key words: 그래 (yeah), 마지막 (last), 선율 (melody).
밤과 아침 경계 그 사이 대충 새벽 다섯 시 반Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): bam·gwa a·chim gyeong·gye geu sa·i dae·chung sae·byeok da·seot si ban
Meaning: Between night and morning, around five-thirty in the morning.
Words in this line- 밤과bam·gwanight and
- 아침a·chimmorning
- 경계gyeong·gyeboundary
- 그geuthat
- 사이sa·ispace between
- 대충dae·chungroughly
- 새벽sae·byeokdawn
- 다섯da·seotfive
- 시sio'clock
- 반banhalf
Word for word: Night and morning boundary that space, roughly dawn five o'clock half.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The time 새벽 다섯 시 반 (five-thirty in the morning) is symbolic — when the world is still asleep but beginning to wake. It's a time of uncertainty, when you're alone with your thoughts. The phrase 경계 그 사이 (between the boundary) emphasizes being caught between two worlds.
내 촛불이 널 새벽의 멜로디 불꽃처럼 터져Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nae chot·ppu·ri neol sae·byeo·gui mel·lo·di bul·kkot·cheo·reom teo·jyeo
Meaning: My candle will light you, the dawn melody bursts like a flame.
Words in this line- 내naemy
- 촛불이chot·ppu·ricandle
- 널neolyou
- 새벽의sae·byeo·guiof dawn
- 멜로디mel·lo·dimelody
- 불꽃처럼bul·kkot·cheo·reomlike a flame
- 터져teo·jyeobursts
Word for word: My candle-fire you, dawn melody flame-like bursts.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The image of 촛불 (candle) is a symbol of hope and light in darkness. The phrase 새벽의 멜로디 (dawn melody) combines sound and light, creating synesthesia. The verb 터져 (bursts) shows this is not a quiet, calm action, but a powerful, energetic explosion of hope.
움츠리지 않아 난 뛰어 넘어Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): um·cheu·ri·ji a·na nan ttwi·eo neo·meo
Meaning: I won't shrink back, I'll leap over
Words in this line- 움츠리지um·cheu·ri·jiwon't shrink
- 않아a·nanot
- 난nanI
- 뛰어ttwi·eoleap
- 넘어neo·meoover
Word for word: Shrink not, I leap over
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '움츠리지 않아' literally 'won't shrink' but is an idiom meaning 'won't retreat' or 'won't lose courage'.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “FIRST” — EVERGLOW. 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. Chaea checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
Try the lessonAsk Chaea about this song
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 ChaeaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 거야 | geo·ya | will |
| 거짓 | geo·jit | lies |
| 거짓에 | geo·ji·se | lies |
| 겁내지 | geom·nae·ji | don't be afraid |
| 과거 | gwa·geo | past |
| 구할 | gu·hal | save |
| 꿈을 | kku·meul | dreams |
| 두렵게 | du·ryeop·kke | scared |
| 말아줘 | ma·ra·jwo | please |
| 바로 | ba·ro | exactly |
| 빛은 | bi·cheun | light |
| 세상 | se·sang | world |
| 속지는 | sok·jji·neun | don't be deceived |
| 손을 | so·neul | hand |
| 어디도 | eo·di·do | nowhere |
| 없단 | eop·ttan | there is none |
| 잡아봐 | ja·ba·bwa | take |
| 함께 | ham·kke | together |
Keep these 18 words
Make a free account and the words from “FIRST” go to your study notebook with spaced review, so they come back right before you forget them.
Create a free accountWith Google, Apple or email · 10 seconds
Questions about “FIRST”
What is “FIRST” by EVERGLOW about?
EVERGLOW's “FIRST” is about helping someone who is frightened of the dark and hiding from it to find her own strength.
What does “그래 마지막 선율” mean in “FIRST”?
Yes, the final melody. The literal version sounds bare because Korean drops the verb "is" and any article, leaving just a noun phrase; 그래 is a casual "yeah/right" agreement word.
What does “밤과 아침 경계 그 사이 대충 새벽 다섯 시 반” mean in “FIRST”?
Between night and morning, around five-thirty in the morning. The time 새벽 다섯 시 반 (five-thirty in the morning) is symbolic — when the world is still asleep but beginning to wake.
How do you pronounce “내 촛불이 널 새벽의 멜로디 불꽃처럼 터져”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “nae chot·ppu·ri neol sae·byeo·gui mel·lo·di bul·kkot·cheo·reom teo·jyeo”: that's how it's actually sung by EVERGLOW, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “FIRST” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Chaea goes through all 50 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
- EVERGLOW
- Official video
- STONE MUSIC · 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.