Red Lights — Stray Kids: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync벗어나기 위해 몸부림쳐 봐야 there's no answerbeo·seo·na·gi wi·hae mom·bu·rim·chyeo bwa·ya there's no answerNo matter how I struggle to break free, there's no answerListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
“Red Lights” by Stray Kids is about an obsessive attraction that keeps them awake and out of control. They ask the person they love to come near and hold them, even as the two push and pull, with talk of hatred and impatience. Darkness, sleepless nights and flashes of red whenever they close their eyes keep the mood feverish and tense from start to finish.
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.
벗어나기 위해 몸부림쳐 봐야 there's no answerListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): beo·seo·na·gi wi·hae mom·bu·rim·chyeo bwa·ya there's no answer
Meaning: No matter how I struggle to break free, there's no answer
Words in this line- 벗어나기beo·seo·na·gito escape
- 위해wi·haein order to
- 몸부림쳐mom·bu·rim·chyeostruggle
- 봐야bwa·yaeven if I try
Word for word: In order to escape, even trying struggling, there's no answer
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 몸부림쳐 means «thrash about» and 봐야 means «by trying», but together they say «no matter how much I struggle, it's useless». 위해 «for the sake of» links the goal to the action, which English handles with «to».
알잖아 널 가만히 둘 수 없는 걸Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): al·ja·na neol ga·man·hi dul ssu eom·neun geol
Meaning: You know I can't leave you alone
Words in this line- 알잖아al·ja·nayou know
- 널neolyou
- 가만히ga·man·hiquietly
- 둘dulto leave
- 수ssuway
- 없는eom·neunlacking
- 걸geolfact that
Word for word: You-know you quietly leave way-not-having fact
Why it doesn't translate word for word: -잖아 is not a question but a «you know this» reminder; the final 걸 adds a feeling of «that's just how it is». Individual words don't carry this tone.
도망치기 위해 몸부림쳐 봤자 set the mic upListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): do·mang·chi·gi wi·hae mom·bu·rim·chyeo bwat·jja set the mic up
Meaning: However hard you struggle to escape, it's pointless — set the mic up
Words in this line- 도망치기do·mang·chi·giescaping
- 위해wi·haein order to
- 몸부림쳐mom·bu·rim·chyeostruggle
- 봤자bwat·jjaeven if, no use
Word for word: For escaping struggle even-if-tried, set the mic up
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 몸부림쳐 means 'thrash about' and the tail 봤자 means 'even if you try, it's useless'. Together: 'no matter how you struggle, it's futile'. 'Set the mic up' is a call to get ready to perform.
I'm going crazy now 걷잡을 수 없이 난Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): I'm going crazy now geot·jja·beul ssu eop·ssi nan
Meaning: I'm going crazy, I can't hold myself back anymore
Words in this line- 걷잡을geot·jja·beulto rein in
- 수ssuway, ability
- 없이eop·ssiwithout
- 난nanI (topic)
Word for word: I'm going crazy now, without a way to catch hold I
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 걷잡을 수 없이 is built from 걷잡다 'to catch or rein in', 수 'a way, ability' and 없이 'without'. Word by word it sounds like a clumsy puzzle, but together it means 'uncontrollably'. The final 난 is 'I' plus a topic marker, which English has no need for.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Red Lights” — Stray Kids. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 달이 | da·ri | the moon |
| 더이상 | deo·i·sang | anymore |
| 도저히 | do·jeo·hi | no way |
| 뒤덮인 | dwi·deo·pin | covered |
| 때까지 | ttae·kka·ji | until |
| 밤을 | ba·meul | night |
| 버틸 | beo·til | endure |
| 어둠이 | eo·du·mi | darkness |
| 어쩔 | eo·jjeol | what to do |
| 이미 | i·mi | already |
| 잠들 | jam·deul | fall asleep |
| 지새운다 | ji·sae·un·da | stay up until dawn |
| 해와 | hae·wa | with the sun |
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Questions about “Red Lights”
What is “Red Lights” by Stray Kids about?
“Red Lights” by Stray Kids is about an obsessive attraction that keeps them awake and out of control.
What does “벗어나기 위해 몸부림쳐 봐야 there's no answer” mean in “Red Lights”?
No matter how I struggle to break free, there's no answer. 몸부림쳐 means «thrash about» and 봐야 means «by trying», but together they say «no matter how much I struggle, it's useless».
What does “알잖아 널 가만히 둘 수 없는 걸” mean in “Red Lights”?
You know I can't leave you alone. -잖아 is not a question but a «you know this» reminder; the final 걸 adds a feeling of «that's just how it is».
How do you pronounce “도망치기 위해 몸부림쳐 봤자 set the mic up”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “do·mang·chi·gi wi·hae mom·bu·rim·chyeo bwat·jja set the mic up”: that's how it's actually sung by Stray Kids, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Red Lights” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Hyunwoo goes through all 44 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
- Stray Kids
- Official video
- Stray Kids · 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.