The following are the lyrics with translation of the song titled “Ssuktaemŏri” (쑥대머리 “Hair disheveled like mugwort”) a musical-style adaptation of the same titled song from the pansori classic, Song of Chunhyang (春香歌 춘향가 Ch’unghyangga).
This version of “Ssuktaemŏri” was composed by Ozzy Chong (O Chi-ch’ong 오지총)
and first recorded and performed by Park Ae-ri (박애리). It appears to have first been composed for the fusion musical “Kiss The Chunhyang (키스 더 춘향) for which a recording was released in 2012 (link to recorded version by Park Ae-ri on YouTube here).
The song is now often performed by other pansori and musical trained singers.
Among them, in 2015 YoonA Lee (이윤아) gained popular recognition after she performed a shortened version on the television game show, “I Can See Your Voice” (너의 목소리가 보여).
Below I provide the lyrics first of the shortened version matching YoonA Lee’s performance, and then the full-length version with a performance by Jeong Sori (정소리).
Short version from television performance by YoonA Lee 이유나
쑥대머리 鬼神形容(귀신형용) 寂寞獄房(적막옥방)의 찬 자리여
ssuk-tae-mŏ-ri kwi-sin-hŏ-yong chŏng-mak-ok-pang ŭi ch’an cha-ri-yŏ
Hair disheveled like mugwort, looking like a demon, in this cold forlorn cold prison
생각나는 것은 님뿐이라
saeng-gak-na-nŭn kŏs-ŭn nim ppun-i-ra
But thinking only of my love.
보고지고 보고지고 보고지고
po-go-ji-go po-go-ji-go po-go-ji-go
I miss [you], I miss [you] I miss [you]!…
무덤 앞에 섯난 돌은 望夫石(망부석)이 될 것이요
mu-dŏm ap’-e sŏn-nan tol ŭn mang-bu-sŏk i toel kos-i-yo
The stone in front of my grave will become a mangbusŏk (Waiting for One’s Husband Stone)
무덤 근처 선 나무는 相思木(상사목)이 될 것이니
mu-dŏm kŭn-ch’ŏ sŏn na-mu nŭn sang-sa-mok i toel kŏs-i-ni
The trees near the grave will become sangsamok (trees thinking of each other)
生前死後(생전사후) 이 寃痛(원통)을 알아줄 이가
saeng-jŏn-sa-hu i wŏn-t’ong ŭl ar-a-jul i ka
This regret [extending] before birth and after death,
뉘 있으란 말이냐
nwi iss-ŭ-ran mar-i-nya
Who will know of it?!
쑥대머리
ssuk-tae-mŏ-ri
Hair disheveled like mugwort!
Full-length version
쑥대머리 鬼神形容(귀신형용) 寂寞獄房(적막옥방)의 찬 자리여
ssuk-tae-mŏ-ri kwi-sin-hŏ-yong chŏng-mak-ok-pang ŭi ch’an cha-ri-yŏ
Hair disheveled like mugwort, looking like a demon, in this cold forlorn cold prison
생각나는 것은 님뿐이라
saeng-gak-na-nŭn kŏs-ŭn nim ppun-i-ra
But thinking only of my love.
보고지고 보고지고 보고지고
po-go-ji-go po-go-ji-go po-go-ji-go
I miss [you], I miss [you] I [miss]!
손가락 피를 내어 事情(사정)으로 님을 찾아볼까
son-ga-rak p’i rŭl nae-ŏ sa-jŏng ŭ-ro nim ŭl ch’aj-a-bol-kka
Shall I squeeze blood from my finger to visit you through a [letter explaining] events?
肝腸(간장)의 썩은 눈물로 님의 畵像(화상)을 그려볼까
kan-jang ŭi ssŏg-ŭn nun-mul-lo nim ŭi hwa-sang ŭl kŭ-ryŏ-bol-kka
Shall I draw a portrait with tears from my rotting innards?
桂宮姮娥(계궁항아) 秋月(추월)같이 번듯이 솟아서 비추고저
kye-gung-hang-a ch’u-wŏl ka-ch’i pŏn-dŭs-i sos-a-sŏ pi-ch’u-go-jŏ
Like Cháng’é {Lady in the Moon} of the Cinnamon Palace, the autumn moon rises and shines down.
輾轉反側 (전전반측) 잠 못 이뤄 胡蝶夢(호접몽)을 어이 꿀 수 있나
chŏn-jŏn-ban-ch’ŭk cham mot i-rwŏ ho-jŏb-mong ŭl ŏ-i kkul su in-na
Tossing and turning, unable to sleep; how could I ever have a [pleasant] dream [such as Zhangzi dreaming] of being a butterfly?!
내가 만일 님 못 본채 獄中孤魂(옥중고혼)이 되거들면
nae-ga man-il nim mot pon-ch’ae ok-chung-go-hon i toe-gŏ-dŭl-myŏn
If I should become a lonely ghost in prison without having been able to see my love [again]
무덤 앞에 섯난 돌은 望夫石(망부석)이 될 것이요
mu-dŏm ap’-e sŏn-nan tol ŭn mang-bu-sŏk i toel kos-i-yo
The stone in front of my grave will become a mangbusŏk (Waiting for One’s Husband Stone)
무덤 근처 선 나무는 相思木(상사목)이 될 것이니
mu-dŏm kŭn-ch’ŏ sŏn na-mu nŭn sang-sa-mok i toel kŏs-i-ni
The trees near the grave will become sangsamok (trees thinking of each other)
生前死後(생전사후) 이 寃痛(원통)을 알아줄 이가
saeng-jŏn-sa-hu i wŏn-t’ong ŭl ar-a-jul i ka
This regret [extending] before birth and after death,
뉘 있으란 말이냐
nwi iss-ŭ-ran mar-i-nya
Who will know of it?!
쑥대머리
ssuk-tae-mŏ-ri
Hair disheveled like mugwort!
쑥대머리 鬼神形容(귀신형용) 寂寞獄房(적막옥방)의 찬 자리여
ssuk-tae-mŏ-ri kwi-sin-hŏ-yong chŏng-mak-ok-pang ŭi ch’an cha-ri-yŏ
Hair disheveled like mugwort, looking like a demon, in this cold forlorn cold prison
생각나는 것은 님뿐이라
saeng-gak-na-nŭn kŏs-ŭn nim ppun-i-ra
But thinking only of my love.
보고지고 보고지고 보고지고
po-go-ji-go po-go-ji-go po-go-ji-go
I miss [you], I miss [you] I [miss]!
쑥대머리
ssuk-tae-mŏ-ri
Hair disheveled like mugwort!
Koreanology 