Artist: RM x SUGA (BTS)
Song: Respect (English Translation)
Album: MAP OF THE SOUL: 7
Year: 2020
Lyrics:
Put your hands in the air
(Put your hands in the air)
Just like you don’t care
(Just like you don’t care)
Ayo SUGA, there’s a word that’s been floating around me these days
“Respect”, but these days I’m a little confused about what it means
People keep saying it of someone whatever they do
I don’t know either brotha, Damned if I know
It’s definitely of a higher status than love
Highly ranked, perhaps even the highest of them all
The concept that exists at the top
Isn’t it respect, huh?
“Re-spect”, like the word itself, it’s looking and looking again
If you keep looking at it, you see its flaws
But even so, the fact that I still want to keep looking at it means
It’s necessary, absolute trust in someone
So I simply can’t say this easily
It’s impossible, because of its weight and density
I hope I can say it with confidence one day
With all my sincerity, to myself and to you
Please don’t say ‘respect’ so easily yeah
Because I don’t know either yeah
Because I’m sometimes afraid of myself too
What if they see through to the weak me
(Respect) You say it pretty easily
(Respect) When you don’t even know what it is
(Respect) I hope you look into it again
(Respect) One time
(Respect) Two times
(Respect) I won’t say it so easily
(Respect) Even if I don’t know what it is yet
(Respect) I’ll say it some day
(Respect) One time
(Respect) Oh yeah
What is ‘respect’?
I’m asking because I don’t know, you brat
What could respect be
That everyone keeps talking about ‘respect’
Honestly I don’t get it
Is respecting someone
Really that easy?
I still don’t get it
To be honest, we don’t need respect
When there’s not even respect*
Well, everyone except you knows
That behind your back, they’re shelling pumpkin seeds**
Honestly, I respect you
I don’t expect even a little that you would respect me too
So just skip it
Respect, I respect you
Applause to that friend over there smiling as he curses
(Respect Respect)
I hope your life is full of honour and prosperity
(Respect Respect)
I hope good fortune will forever be with you on your path ahead
(Respect Respect)
Money, honour, keep going, keep going
(Respect, Respect)
Yeah, I guess I respect you
(Respect) You say it pretty easily
(Respect) When you don’t even know what it is
(Respect) I hope you look into it again
(Respect) One time
(Respect) Two times
(Respect) I won’t say it so easily
(Respect) Even if I don’t know what it is yet
(Respect) I’ll say it some day
(Respect) One time
(Respect) Oh yeah
* In Korean, 존경 and 존중 both mean respect. However, 존경 has a meaning of ‘admire’ and ‘esteem’, while 존중 means ‘acknowledge’ or ‘accept’.
** “To shell pumpkin seeds” means “to make fun of someone behind their backs” or “to do something in front, then do the opposite behind”.
Credits to: Aditi&Yein@bts-trans