WOODZ’s “Drowning” is currently making waves on Korean music charts, holding top positions as of May 29, 2025. It ranks #1 on Naver Music and Genie Music, #3 on Melon, and #7 on Bugs. Let’s explore the artist behind this hit and compare different English translations of the song’s poignant lyrics.
Who is WOODZ?
WOODZ, whose birth name is Cho Seungyoun, was born on August 5, 1996. He is a multi-talented South Korean rapper, lyricist, composer, and producer. He debuted in 2014 as the main rapper of the boy group UNIQ. He has also pursued a solo career under the stage name Luizy.
“Drowning” Lyrics: A Comparative Translation
The raw emotion of “Drowning” resonates deeply with listeners. Below, we’ll examine the original Korean lyrics, a user’s direct English translation, Naver Papago’s translation, and a Google Gemini translation, highlighting the nuances and effectiveness of each.
Original Korean Lyrics
미치도록 사랑했던 지겹도록 다투었던 네가 먼저 떠나고 여긴 온종일 비가 왔어 금세 턱 끝까지 차올랐고 숨이 막혀와 내 맘이란 추는 나를 더 깊게 더 깊게 붙잡아 Oh I’m drowning It’s raining all day I can’t breathe Oh oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning You’re taking my life from me 다 알면서 눈 감은 넌 왜 다정한 말로 나를 죽여놓고 날 누이고 너는 떠나갔지 You cut me bad, I’m still waiting for you 너 떠나고 이곳은 잠겨 눈물로 날 너무 사랑했던 넌 어디로 흩어졌는지 내 맘이란 추는 나를 더 깊게 더 깊게 붙잡아 Oh I’m drowning It’s raining all day I can’t breathe Oh oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning You’re taking my life from me 더 깊이 빠져 죽어도 되니까 다시 한번만 돌아와 줄래 더 깊이 빠져 죽어도 되니까 다시 한번만 Oh I’m drowning It’s raining all day I can’t breathe Oh oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning You’re taking my life from me
User’s Direct English Translation
Crazy love Fight all the time you left first it rained all day here It quickly rose to my throat feeling suffocated heart weight hold me deeply and deeply Oh I’m drowning It’s raining all day I can’t breathe Oh oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning You’re taking my life from me closed eyes knowing everything why you killed me with warm word you laid me down and left You cut me bad, I’m still waiting for you flooded with tears after you left even you loved so much where you gone heart weight hold me deeply and deeply Oh I’m drowning It’s raining all day I can’t breathe Oh oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning You’re taking my life from me I can sink even deeper please come back once more I can sink even deeper once more Oh I’m drowning It’s raining all day I can’t breathe Oh oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning Oh I’m drowning You’re taking my life from me
Naver Papago’s Translation
I loved you so much/ I fought so hard/ that you left first// it rained all day here My chin is up to the point of my chin quickly,/ I can’t breathe,/ My heart is holding me deeper/ deeper Oh I’m drowning//It’s raining all day//I can’t breathe Oh oh I’m drowning//Oh I’m drowning//Oh I’m drowning//Oh I’m drowning You’re taking my life from me Why did you close your eyes when you knew everything? You killed me with a kind word/ You lied to me and you left You cut me bad,//I’m still waiting for you After you left, this place was locked into tears/ You who loved me so much/ Where did you scatter My heart holds me deeper and deeper Oh I’m drowning//It’s raining all day//I can’t breathe Oh oh I’m drowning//Oh I’m drowning//Oh I’m drowning//Oh I’m drowning You’re taking my life from me I’m gonna die in a deep dive,/ so come back, please I’m gonna die in a deeper way. // Just one more time Oh I’m drowning//It’s raining all day//I can’t breathe Oh oh I’m drowning//Oh I’m drowning//Oh I’m drowning//Oh I’m drowning You’re taking my life from me
Google Gemini’s Translation
Loved you to madness, Fought until we were sick of it. You left first, And here, it rained all day. It quickly filled up to my chin, I can’t breathe. The weight of my heart pulls me deeper, Deeper, holding me fast. Oh I’m drowning, It’s raining all day, I can’t breathe. Oh oh I’m drowning, Oh I’m drowning, Oh I’m drowning, Oh I’m drowning. You’re taking my life from me. You knew it all but closed your eyes, why? You killed me with your kind words, Laid me down, and then you left. You cut me bad, I’m still waiting for you. After you left, this place is submerged in tears. You, who loved me so much, Where did you scatter? The weight of my heart pulls me deeper, Deeper, holding me fast. Oh I’m drowning, It’s raining all day, I can’t breathe. Oh oh I’m drowning, Oh I’m drowning, Oh I’m drowning, Oh I’m drowning. You’re taking my life from me. I don’t care if I drown even deeper, Just come back one more time. I don’t care if I drown even deeper, Just one more time. Oh I’m drowning, It’s raining all day, I can’t breathe. Oh oh I’m drowning, Oh I’m drowning, Oh I’m drowning, Oh I’m drowning. You’re taking my life from me.
Translation Comparison and Analysis
Comparing the three English translations, Google Gemini’s version stands out for its superior quality and natural flow. It effectively captures the emotional depth and poetic nuance of the original Korean lyrics, making it the most impactful and accurate for English-speaking audiences.
The user’s direct translation provides a good starting point, but it often lacks the idiomatic expressions and natural phrasing that make lyrics resonate. Papago’s translation, while understandable, sometimes presents awkward phrasing and less evocative language, failing to fully convey the song’s underlying despair and longing.
Gemini’s translation, however, skillfully renders complex Korean expressions into eloquent English. Phrases like “Loved you to madness” and “Fought until we were sick of it” perfectly convey the intensity of the original. Furthermore, “The weight of my heart pulls me deeper, Deeper, holding me fast” beautifully translates the metaphor of being dragged down by sorrow.
This comparison underscores the importance of advanced AI in bridging linguistic and cultural gaps in music, allowing the emotional power of songs like WOODZ’s “Drowning” to be fully appreciated by a global audience.
