I Thought I Was a Star, 原来 I am a Firefly with Bulb Butts
241112
Ooh my first thought post.
A silly and inspiring song by an unknown singer just 역주행 on the Korean music charts.
The acoustic song (spotify) “I am a Firefly” punched me with its lyrics in the midst of trendy uptempo idol songs on Melon Top 100 playlist yesterday.
I’ve never heard this very organic-sounding song before, and the singer, Hwang Karam is unknown. What happened was his cover became popular among school children after his video singing with elementary school kids went viral. The original singer and songwriter, LUNCH 중식이, released it in 2020. Spotify. I always feel 반가워 with a 역주행 song.
I think this song captures a profound truth about perceived identity and the human spirit.
A firefly believes it’s a cosmic star, not just an earthly bug with bulbs for butts. It flies higher and higher to join its fellow stars, until it eventually confronts the truth after meeting failures. The irony lies in how this very ignorance of its limits had driven the firefly to reach further than it otherwise might not have dared to.
After the initial shock, the firefly embraces its true identity, finding liberation in this acceptance. Even if it isn’t grand on the universal scale, the firefly shines. And in that acceptance, there’s both resilience and a unique kind of strength—a recognition that, though we may be a small fly, we can still fly high, dazzle, and illuminate the world around us in our own way.
There’s also some clever wordplay with homophones similar sound words 별 (star), 벌레 (bug), 반딧볼 (firefly), 개똥벌레 (firefly). 개 dog, 똥 poo, are not pretty words which feels even more ego-crushing.
I thought I was a shining star,
never doubted it even once.
I didn’t know I was just a bug,
but it’s alright because I’m still dazzling.
I thought I was a star fallen from the sky,
a tiny star that grants wishes.
I didn’t know I was a firefly,
but it’s okay, I’ll keep shining.
I thought I was a shining star,
never doubted it even once.
I didn’t know I was just a bug,
but it’s alright because I’m still dazzling.
The fingernail I searched for so long
floated up to the sky, turning into a crescent moon,
too far to reach, impossible to retrieve.
Who hung it up there? Who hung it up there?
Stars from the universe flew down
and became fireflies in the night sky,
just like how I met you, as if it were destined.
I was born anew, I was born anew.
I thought I was a shining star,
never doubted it even once.
I didn’t know I was just a bug,
but it’s alright because I’m still dazzling.
I thought I was a star fallen from the sky,
a tiny star that grants wishes.
I didn’t know I was a firefly,
but it’s okay, I’ll keep shining.
나는 내가 빛나는 별인 줄 알았어요
한 번도 의심한 적 없었죠
몰랐어요 난 내가 벌레라는 것을
그래도 괜찮아 난 눈부시니까
하늘에서 떨어진 별인 줄 알았어요
소원을 들어주는 작은 별
몰랐어요 난 내가 개똥벌레라는 것을
그래도 괜찮아 나는 빛날 테니까
나는 내가 빛나는 별인 줄 알았어요
한 번도 의심한 적 없었죠
몰랐어요 난 내가 벌레라는 것을
그래도 괜찮아 난 눈부시니까
한참 동안 찾았던 내 손톱
하늘로 올라가 초승달 돼 버렸지
주워 담을 수도 없게 너무 멀리 갔죠
누가 저기 걸어놨어 누가 저기 걸어놨어
우주에서 무주에서 날아온
밤하늘의 별들이 반딧불이 돼 버렸지
내가 널 만난 것처럼 마치 약속한 것처럼
나는 다시 태어났지 나는 다시 태어났지
나는 내가 빛나는 별인 줄 알았어요
한 번도 의심한 적 없었죠
몰랐어요 난 내가 벌레라는 것을
그래도 괜찮아 난 눈부시니까
하늘에서 떨어진 별인 줄 알았어요
소원을 들어주는 작은 별
몰랐어요 난 내가 개똥벌레란 것을
그래도 괜찮아 나는 빛날 테니까
