In life, things can
get better and things can get worse, but things are not always good or always
bad. Everything will eventually come to the middle point where it started
before; the regression to the mean. At some point in life, some people take a
look back on their life so far, reflecting how their life has changed, maybe
for better or perhaps for worse, but one thing for sure is that they realize
something: they are longing for how things used to be. However, they also
understand that even though life is hard in the moment, even though they are
struggling so much currently, it all will lead them toward brighter days to
come. There will come a day when two separated lovers meet again. There will
come a day when the cruel distance won’t matter at all. There will come a day
when they can hold hands again and lean their head on each other’s shoulders.
There will come a day when tears turn into warm smile. There will come a day
when pain turns into laughter of joy. There will come a day when the longing
feeling is being fulfilled.
“You said you had to
leave, you said you had no choice, while holding your hand, I was only crying.
You said someday you would surely come back to me, then you said, when that
time comes, we will be able to laugh together again.” –Park Yong Ha, Like the First Day (처음 그 날 처럼)
“Like the First Day (처음 그 날 처럼)” is a Korean song performed by the late actor and singer, Park Yong
Ha. It was released as the original soundtrack for the 2003 Korean hit drama
series aired by SBS television
station, “All In”, starring Lee Byung Hun and Song Hye Kyo. At that time, he
sang the song under the pseudonym ‘Who’, but it was later revealed that it was
actually Park who was behind the mysterious voice who sang the song. The drama
series “All In” was a big success, making the song very popular too. Kim
Dongjun, the main vocalist of idol group, ZE:A, performed “Like the First Day (처음 그 날 처럼)” on the “Drama Soundtrack Special” episode of music television program
Immortal Songs 2: Singing the Legend.
The episode was broadcasted by KBS
television station on September 3rd 2016 and by KBS World channel on September 17th 2016. His theatrical
performance and the dramatic rendition of the song have Kim the highest point
on that episode, making him the final winner of the “Drama Soundtrack Special”
episode. “Like the First Day (처음 그 날 처럼)” conveys the warm sentiment of someone who has to be separated from
their loved ones during a hard time of their life, but making a promise to come
back, as they leave at the moment for the sake of better days to come in the
future.
 |
| "All In SBS Drama Original Soundtrack" album cover | source: www.maniadb.com |
At some point in
life, some people have to face a separation with their loved ones. And at that
moment, it seems like there is no other thing they can do about it; that this
is what the destiny has on their plate right now, that this is the only way
they must take, that this is the only decision they can make. In front of a
separation like that, they can only cry while holding onto the last time they
might have with each other. “You said you
had to leave, you said you had no choice, while holding your hand, I was only
crying. You said someday you would surely come back to me, then you said, when
that time comes, we will be able to laugh together again.” And the
aftermath of the separation is always the hardest part. Apparently tears keep
falling down. And it gets worse on the hollow nights. And our fears get bigger
and deeper. “If I close my eyes, I
thought I would lose you, so I couldn’t fall asleep during the sorrowful
nights. Because even if I could see you in my dream, tears would fall and I’m
afraid, so I couldn’t open my eyes.”
At some point in
life, some people have to wait. And it kills them. It’s tearing them apart.
It’s so painful that it’s hard for them to breathe. However, the pain and
sorrow brought by the long waiting only makes them realize that the love is
there. It only makes them understand that the love they feel is getting bigger
and deeper as the time goes by in the long waiting. It makes them believe that
the long waiting is indeed worth it, because they know that it is love which
gives them the strength to wait. “Although
the long waiting gave me love, for you, it seems that it only gave you pain,
please forgive me for being like this, this foolish person like me.” And
the love is sincere and genuine. Therefore they are able to wait and give more
love at the same time. Though they feel like a fool for being like that, for
being too in love like that, for waiting in such patience and perseverance like
that, they never mind. And they cannot say anything but apologize toward their
loved ones, for they know the long waiting brings pain too toward that person,
just the same.
And the reason why
they have faith to keep waiting in the separation is because they know that
someday there will come a day when the waiting and the separation is over. It’s
a promise that has been made and they will surely keep the promise alive. It’s
a purpose that has been made and they will surely give their best effort to
make it comes to life. It’s a destination that has been set and they will
surely try everything to make it comes to fruitition. “Someday, when comes the day when I meet you again, I will hold you in
my arms and tell you. You were the only reason I continue to live, that without
you, I won’t exist. Someday, when comes the day when this difficult road comes
to an end, the day when I can close my eyes next to you. Please remember that
you were my last love, just like the first day.” For they know that the
person is the reason for their existence. For they know that the person is the
love of their life. For they know that the hard times will pass. For they know
that the good times will come. For they know that they will eventually be
together.
 |
| The late Park Yong Ha | source: m.mk.co.kr |
 |
| Dongjun performed "Like the First Day" on IS2 | source: KBS |
Things will be
alright. And some people recite that sentence over and over again like a mantra
in order to make them feel better, because at some point in life, things get so
hard to bear. These too shall pass. And some people whisper that sentence all
over again like a spell in order to relieve their sadness, because at some
point in life, things are so painful to take. There are times when the longing
feeling is killing them inside. There are times when the nights are sorrowful.
There are times when the days are devastating. There are times when they feel
helpless. And even during those times, from deep inside their heart they know
that better days will come; that nothing lasts forever, and so their hard
times. There will come a day when they can hold their loved ones in their arms
and tell that person that they love with all their heart. There will come a day
when they can rest their head on their loved one’s arms and close their eyes in
peace. There will come a day that is just like the first day; a day when they
can love together and nothing comes in between.
“Someday, when comes
the day when I meet you again, I will hold you in my arms and tell you. You
were the only reason I continue to live, that without you, I won’t exist.
Someday, when comes the day when this difficult road comes to an end, the day
when I can close my eyes next to you. Please remember that you were my last
love, just like the first day.” –Park Yong Ha, Like the First Day (처음 그 날 처럼)
가야한다고 어쩔 수 없다고 너의 손 잡은채 나는 울고만 있었지
(Gayahandago eojeol su eobtago neoeui son
jabeunchae naneun ulgoman isseotji)
((You said you had to
leave, you said you had no choice, while holding your hand, I was only crying))
언젠가는 꼭 돌아올거라고 그땐 우린 서로 웃을 수 있을거라고
(Eonjenganeun ggok doraolgeorago keuddaen urin
seoro useul su isseulgeorago)
((You said someday you
would surely come back to me, then you said, when that time comes, we will be
able to laugh together again))
긴 기다림은 내겐 사랑을 주지만 너에겐 아픔만 남긴 것 같아 이런 날 용서해 바보같은 날
(Gin gidarimeun naegen sarangeul jujiman
neoegen apeuman namgin geot gatta ireon nal yongseohae babogatteun nal)
((Although the long
waiting gave me love, for you, it seems that it only gave you pain, please
forgive me for being like this, this foolish person like me))
언젠가 널 다시 만날 그 날이 오면 너를 내품에 안고 말할꺼야
(Eonjenga neol dasi mannal geu nari omyeon
neoreul nae pume ango marhalggeoya)
((Someday, when comes the
day when I meet you again, I will hold you in my arms and tell you))
너만이 내가 살아온 이유였다고 너없인 나도 없다고
(Neomani naega saraon iyuyeotago neo eobsin
nado eobtago)
((You were the only
reason I continue to live, that without you, I won’t exist))
언젠가 힘든 이 길이 끝이 나는 날 그대 곁에서 내가 눈 감는 날
(Eonjenga himdeuni giri ggeutti naneun nal
geudae gyeotteseo naega nun gamneun nal)
((Someday, when comes
the day when this difficult road comes to an end, the day when I can close my
eyes next to you))
기억해 나의 사랑은 니가 마지막이였단걸 처음 그 날 처럼
(Gieokhae naeui sarangeun niga
majimakiyeotangeol cheoeum geu nal cheoreom)
((Please remember that
you were my last love, just like the first day))
눈을 감으면 잊어져 버릴까 슬픈 밤에도 쉽게 잠들 수 없었지
(Nuneul gameumyeon ijeojyeo beorilgga seulpeun
bamedo suibge jamdeun su eobseotji)
((If I close my eyes,
I thought I would lose you, so I couldn’t fall asleep during the sorrowful
nights))
꿈에서라도 널 보게 된다면 눈물 흐를까봐 눈을 뜰 수가 없었어
(Ggumeseorado neol boge doindamyeon nunmul
heureulggabwa nuneul ddeul suga eobseosseo)
((Because even if I could
see you in my dream, tears would fall and I’m afraid, so I couldn’t open my
eyes))
긴 기다림은 내겐 사랑을 주지만 너에겐 아픔만 남긴 것 같아 이런 날 용서해 바보같은 날
(Gin gidarimeun naegen sarangeul jujiman neoegen
apeuman namgin geot gatta ireon nal yongseohae babogatteun nal)
((Although the long
waiting gave me love, for you, it seems that it only gave you pain, please forgive
me for being like this, this foolish person like me))
언젠가 널 다시 만날 그 날이 오면 너를 내 품에 안고 말할꺼야
(Eonjenga neol dasi mannal geu nari omyeon
neoreul nae pume ango marhalggeoya)
((Someday, when comes
the day when I meet you again, I will hold you in my arms and tell you))
너만이 내가 살아온 이유였다고 너없인 나도 없다고
(Neomani naega saraon iyuyeotago neo eobsin
nado eobtago)
((You were the only
reason I continue to live, that without you, I won’t exist))
언젠가 힘든 이 길이 끝이 나는 날 그대 곁에서 내가 눈 감는 날
(Eonjenga himdeuni giri ggeutti naneun nal
geudae gyeotteseo naeganun gamneun nal
((Someday, when comes
the day when this difficult road comes to an end, the day when I can close my
eyes next to you))
기억해 나의 사랑은 니가 마지막이였단걸 처음 그 날 처럼
(Gieokhae naeui sarangeun niga
majimakiyeotangeol cheoeum geu nal cheoreom)
((Please remember that
you were my last love, just like the first day))
