- For other music titled 'Evergreen', see Evergreen.
"Evergreen" (상록수, 常綠樹, Sangnoksu) or "Evergreen Tree" [1] or "Green Pine Trees" or "Like the Lush Pines in the Barren Field" or "Like the Pine Needles in Wild Grassland" (거치른 들판에 푸르른 솔잎처럼, Geochireun deulpane pureureun soripcheoreom, Kŏch'irŭn tŭlp'ane p'urŭrŭn soripch'ŏrŏm) is a song by Yang Hee Eun, released as a track of her studio album Geochireun deulpane pureureun soripcheoreom / Gomujullori / Neulgeun guninui norae / Cheollitgil (거치른 들판에 푸르른 솔잎처럼 / 고무줄놀이 / 늙은 군인의 노래 / 천릿길, Like green pine needles on a rough field / Rubber band play / An old soldier's song / A journey of a thousand miles, Kŏch'irŭn tŭlp'ane p'urŭrŭn soripch'ŏrŏm / Komujullori / Nŭlgŭn kuninŭi norae / Ch'ŏllitkil) on 1979.
The name of the album's lyricist and composer is Kim A Young, but at the time, Kim Min Ki was unable to legally engage in activities, so he borrowed the name of a classmate at Seoul College of Art. [2]
After this song, released in 1979, became a hit, Kim Min Ki also sang it about 14 years later.
Lyrics[]
저 들에 푸르른 솔잎을 보라
돌보는 사람도 하나 없는데
비바람 맞고 눈보라 쳐도
온 누리 끝까지 맘껏 푸르다
서럽고 쓰리던 지난날들도
다시는 다시는 오지 말라고
땀 흘리리라 깨우치리라
거칠은 들판에 솔잎 되리라
우리들 가진 것 비록 적어도
손에 손 맞잡고 눈물 흘리니
우리 나갈 길 멀고 험해도
깨치고 나아가 끝내 이기리라
우리 가진 것 비록 적어도
손에 손 맞잡고 눈물 흘리니니
우리 나갈 길 멀고 험해도
깨치고 나아가 끝내 이기리라
Jeo deure pureureun solipeul bora
Dolboneun saramdo hana eomneunde
Bibaram matgo nunbora chyeodo
On nuri kkeutkkaji mamkkeon pureuda
Seoreopgo sseurideon jinannaldeuldo
Dasineun dasineun oji mallago
Ttam heullirira kkaeuchirira
Geochireun deulpane sorim doerira
Urideul gajin geon birong jeogeodo
Sone son matjapgo nunmul heullini
Uri nagal gil meolgo heomhaedo
Kkaechigo naaga kkeunnae igirira
Uri gajin geon birong jeogeodo
Sone son matjapgo nunmul heullinini
Uri nagal gil meolgo heomhaedo
Kkaechigo naaga kkeunnae igirira
Look at the lush pine trees in the field
Out there with no one looking after them
Facing wind and rain, taking snowstorms
They are thriving green all over the world
The old times of sorrow and hardship
We pray not again, we pray never again
We will toil, we will enlighten ourselves
To be the evergreen in the barren field
Though we have little in our possession
Holding hands in hands we shed a tear
Long and hard though our road may be
We'll lead ourselves to prevail in the end
Though we have little in our possession
Holding hands in hands we shed a tear
Long and hard though our road may be
We'll lead ourselves to prevail in the end
Como ese hermoso pino en los campos
Sin nadie que le proteja
Frente al viento y la lluvia y las terribles tormentas
Más frondoso de lo que nadie pueda imaginar
El dolor del pasado amargo
En el pasado quedará
Cuando por nuestro esfuerzo nos alcemos
Como agujas de pino en un campo yermo
Aunquelo que tengamos sea poco
Compartiremos nuestras lágrimas de la mano
Puede que nos espere un largo y tumultuoso camino
Dispuestos, todos juntos, lo superaremos
Aunquelo que tengamos sea poco
Compartiremos nuestras lágrimas de la mano
Puede que nos espere un largo y tumultuoso camino
Dispuestos, todos juntos, lo superaremos
Covered versions[]
This song was covered by various singers:
- Kim Kwang Seok (sang on 1994) [5]
- Roh Moo Hyun (sang on 2002) [6]
- Cho Myeong Seop (sang on 2020) [7]
Trivia[]
- This song was once banned in South Korea. [8] In 1980s, it was designated as a banned song by the Performance Ethics Committee (currently the Korea Media Rating Board). It was lifted in 1987.
- It was originally a song written by Kim Min Ki, who was active in the labor movement, as a congratulatory anthem to be sung at workers' joint weddings, but as it could not pass the censorship of the Chun Doo-hwan dictatorial government and was banned, it became a protest song of struggle along with Morning Dew and Small Pond during the democratization movement. [9]
- In 1998, when golfer Pak Se Ri won the U.S. Women's Open, it received attention again when it was used as background music for a public service advertisement for South Korea's 50th anniversary that used a scene of her taking off her socks, jumping into the water, and dramatically swinging. In particular, this advertisement gave hope to the people who were going through difficult times due to the asian financial crisis, and was deeply imprinted on them. For this reason, many people think of this advertisement when they think of this song. [10][11]
- It was newly arranged to overcome COVID-19 in 2020 and released on the 60th anniversary of the April 19 Revolution. Ali, Ailee, Kim Jo Han, Hong Jin Young, Baek Ji Young, Kyuhyun, Lee Eun Mi, Kim Feel, Yoon Do Hyun, Tomorrow by Together, etc. participated. [12]
References[]
- ↑ 70s-80s iconic singer-composer Kim Min-ki dies. KoreaTimes (July 22, 2024).
- ↑ ［대중음악 100대 명반］67위 양희은 '양희은 고운노래 모음' (ko). Kyunghyang Shinmun (April 24, 2008).
- ↑ Evergreen (상록수) - Korean song. Tony's Web.
- ↑ 다시 부르는 상록수 2020 (Spanish) (Korean). YouTube (April 21, 2020).
- ↑ 가을 밤, 감성에 젖기 좋은 시간. 김광석의 무대 모음 #2 ｜ #오빠뱅크 ｜ KBS 방송 (Korean). YouTube (October 19, 2023).
- ↑ 상록수 - 노무현 대통령 + 양희은 (Korean). YouTube (May 20, 2017).
- ↑ Cho Myeongseop(조명섭) - Evergreen Tree(상록수) ［Immortal Songs 2 / 2020.06.20］ (Korean). KBS WORLD TV (June 20, 2020).
- ↑ Made in Korea: Studies in Popular Music. Routledge (September 13, 2016).
- ↑ Minjung Kayo: Imagining Democracy through Song in South Korea. Cambridge University Press (February 10, 2023).
- ↑ 1998 공익광고Se Ri Pak.mp4 (Korean). YouTube (October 18, 2010).
- ↑ Se Ri Pak ends transcendent LPGA career with emotional farewell fit for queen. Golfweek (October 13, 2016).
- ↑ ［상록수 2020］ 코로나19와 싸우고 있는 전세계 의료진에게 (Korean). YouTube (April 19, 2020).