To Heaven
“Whenever
the rain falls, I’m bothered by the thought that it might be you who’s hiding
behind the clouds and crying. Please don’t do this to me, you know that I won’t
forget you easily just because I can’t see you.” –Jo Sung Mo, To Heaven [translated lyrics]
On
its 161st episode, the South Korean entertainment music program, “Immortal
Songs 2: Singing the Legend”, was having the famous composer and music
producer, Lee Kyung Sup, as the legend. Many hit songs that had been penned by
Lee were performed on that episode. The episode was broadcasted by KBS
television station on August 16th 2014, and later was aired on KBS World
channel on September 6th 2014. Among the songs that were performed was a song
that Lee gave to one of his successful singers, Jo Sung Mo, titled “To Heaven”.
On the 90s, Lee and Jo were famous as the Golden Duo, because every of Jo’s
albums that Lee had produced were million-sellers, including Jo’s debut album
which contained his debut song that was released on 1998, “To Heaven”. This
ballad song was composed and produced by Lee. It became a hit and sold 1.5
million copies. On “Immortal Songs 2”, this song was performed by female
soloist, Choi Sung Hee, who’s well known with her stage name, Bada.
![]() |
"21 - To Heaven" album cover by Jo Sung Mo - source: www.maniadb.com |
Losing
someone whom we used to love and who used to be beside us is always painful.
Hence, there’s nothing could beat the pain that comes from losing that person
because of death. “To Heaven” tells about someone’s wailing because of being
separated by death with his/her beloved one. The first phase that everybody
faces after being left is denial. It’s natural for us to deny the reality, that
that person don’t go too far and will come back soon. It’s natural for us to
keep feeling that person’s presence around us, even after we realize that
he/she really has gone away for good. “Are
you all right? How are you doing? You don’t cry everyday because I’m not there,
do you? You used to come to my dream every day and talk to me, why do I not see
you anymore? Did something happen? Did you already go far away from me? Because
you want to see whether I’m doing fine even without you, you’re just joking
around with me, aren’t you?” It’s natural for us to keep remembering about
that person, and that no one else could replace that person, and that his/her
place will always be something that we keep and cherish inside. “If you withdraw from me because I’m
struggling without you, even if you want me to meet another person and to fill
your place that you left, that space can be only filled with despair.”
The
worst part of being left because of death is the fact that we can no longer see
them –even from a far away–, hold them, hear their voice, watch their smile.
The hardest part of being left because of death is the fact that we can no
longer talk to them –even when we miss them the most–, know how they’re doing,
know whether they’re happy or sad. Do they also long for us as much as we long
for them? Do they also think of us as much we always think of them? Because for
us, the one who’s being left, it’s not that easy to erase the presence of
someone we truly love even after that person has left the world forever.
Because for us, the one who’s being left, it’s not that simple to forget the
memories about someone we truly care even after that person is not around in
this world anymore. It’s getting worse and harder when the rain falls; the
solemn and solitude feelings. “Whenever
the rain falls, I’m bothered by the thought that it might be you who’s hiding
behind the clouds and crying. Please don’t do this to me, you know that I won’t
forget you easily just because I can’t see you.” In the end, we can only
hope that the person would rest in peace. Because after all, we’re all going to
die anyway. So, sooner or later, that day will come; the day when we reunite
with that person in heaven. And in the afterlife, there’s no death that could
separate us with that person anymore. “Don’t
be sorry even if you’re gone far away, because your presence will fill the
inside of me as always. It won’t take too long until that day comes, when we
can meet again and never be apart. Until then, please just wait for a while for
me.”
![]() |
Bada when performed "To Heaven" on the 161st episode of "Immortal Songs 2" |
“To
Heaven”’s music video was starring the famous actor and actress, Lee Byung Hun
and Kim Ha Neul. It also became a hit with the heartwrenching storyline that
went well with the song’s lyrics. “To Heaven” was originally to be sang by
another singer but it became a debut song for Jo Sung Mo, who was a trainee
back then. It received many awards such as the Grand Prize at the 9th Seoul
Music Awards, along with the Best
Music Video Award, and New Artist
Award. On “Immortal Songs 2”, Bada sung with sincerity, as a cry for the
long-gone-friend of her that she terribly missed. The song was reborn with her
sincere voice and emotions, that went well with the saxophone sound and
heartbreaking melody. Even the legend, Lee Kyung Sup, stated that he got the
chills when Bada’s beautiful vocie merged with her emotions. Even the original
singer, Jo, stated that Bada’s emotion had surpassed his own while singing this
song. As the sincerity can be felt, we are reminded once again how powerful is
this legendary song.
“Don’t
be sorry even if you’re gone far away, because your presence will fill the
inside of me as always. It won’t take too long until that day comes, when we
can meet again and never be apart.” –Jo Sung Mo, To Heaven [translated lyrics]
“Gwaenchaneungeoni
eotteoge jinaeneungeoya na eobdago tto ulgo geureojin anni
(Are
you all right? How are you doing? You don’t cry everyday because I’m not there,
do you?)
Maeil kkumsoke chadjawa
jaejaldaedeon neo yojeumeun wae boijil anneungeoni
(You
used to come to my dream every day and talk to me, why do I not see you
anymore?)
Hoksi museun irirado
saenggyeotni naege ol su eobseul mankeum deo meolligatni
(Did
something happen? Did you already go far away from me?)
Niga eobsido na jal
jinae boyeo gwaenhi neo simsulnaseo jangnan chingeoji
(Because
you want to see whether I’m doing fine even without you, you’re just joking
around with me, aren’t you?)
Birado naerimyeon
gureum dwie sumeoseo niga ulgo itneun geon aninji geokjeongman haneun naege
(Whenever
the rain falls, I’m bothered by the thought that it might be you who’s hiding
behind the clouds and crying)
Jebal ireojima bol su
eobdago swibge neol idjeul su itneun naega aningeol jal aljana
(Please
don’t do this to me, you know that I won’t forget you easily just because I
can’t see you)
Hoksi niga eobseo himi
deulkkabwa niga anin dareun sarang mannal su itge
(If
you withdraw from me because I’m struggling without you, even if you want me to
meet another person
Neoui jaril biwodun
geotsiramyeon geu jarin jeolmangbakke chaeul su eobseo
(And
to fill your place that you left, that space can be only filled with despair)
Mianhae hajima meolli
tteonagateodo yejeoncheoreom ni moseub geudaero nae ane gadeukhande
(Don’t
be sorry even if you’re gone far away, because your presence will fill the
inside of me as always)
Geuri oraegeollijin
aneulgeoya ibyeoli eobneun geugotse uri dasi mannal geunalri
(It
won’t take too long until that day comes, when we can meet again and never be
apart)
Geuttaekkaji jogeumman
nal gidaryeo jwo
(Until
then, please just wait for a while for me)”
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