The song's title originates from a mountain pass called Arirang, a pass that connects Seoul and the southeastern Gyeongsang Province. Apparently there are many passes in Korea called Arirang, but in the song romantically and nostalgically dubbed "Arirang", the Arirang Pass is where two lovers rendezvous in their dreams. The story is of a virtuous lady killed by an unrequited lover, but as time went on, the tragic story changed to an unrequited lady-love pining after an unfeeling man.
Many variations of the song exist: lyrics or refrains differ in part as well as timing and melody. Names for the differing Arirang songs are usually prefixed by place of origin or some other signifier. The original form of Arirang is "Jeongseon Arirang" from Gangwon Province and which has a traceable history of 600 years. However, the most famous version is "Bonjo Arirang", most commonly just termed "Arirang", which rather recently originated in Seoul. Other forms are "Sin (new) Arirang", which like its name suggests is relatively new, and "Gyeonggi Arirang", which also unsurprisingly was developed in Gyeonggi Province. Several others exist as well.
The following lyrics are taken blatantly from Wikipedia's Arirang:
Lyrics[edit]
The table below gives the refrain (first two lines; the refrain precedes the first verse) and first verse (third and fourth lines) of the standard version of the song in Hangul, romanized Korean, and a literal English translation:
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The standard version of Arirang (Seoul Arirang or Gyeonggi Arirang) has various verses, although other verses are not as frequently sung as the first verse. The lyrics are different from singer to singer:
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Refrain[edit]
In all versions of the song, the refrain and each verse are of equal length. In some versions, such as the standard version and Jindo Arirang, the first refrain precedes the first verse, while in other versions, including Miryang Arirang, the first refrain follows the first verse. Perhaps the easiest way to classify versions—apart from melody, which can vary widely between different versions—is the lyrics of the refrain. In the standard and some other versions, the first line of the refrain is "Arirang, Arirang, arariyo...," while in both the Jindo Arirang and Miryang Arirang (which are otherwise quite different from each other), the first line of the refrain begins with "Ari arirang, seuri seurirang...." ("Arariyo" and "seurirang")
Bonjo Arirang[edit]
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Miryang Arirang[edit]
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Bird Pass or "Saejae" is the summit of a high mountain, rising north of Moonkyung in the ancient highway, linking Seoul with Miryang and Tongnae (Pusan). Its sky-kissing heights are so rugged that in their eyes. This is a love song of a dancing girl from Miryang who was left behind by her lover from Seoul (Hanyang). She is calling him to take her with him to Hanyang. She believed that her own beauty was above all flowers in Hanyang. The words in the first line of the chorus are sounds of bitter sorrow at parting. This song was composed by Kim Dong Jin.
Gangwon Arirang[edit]
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The highland maids would like to make up their hair with castor and camellia oils and go flirting instead working in the soybean fields. The mountain grape moroo and banana-shaped darae were precious foods to mountain folk. The song is sarcastic, but emotional to comfort the fair solitary reapers who go about gathering the wild fruits in the deep mountains of Kangwon-do.
The Singers:
Tonight's concert performance was conducted by 이준호. The six singers were 안숙선 (a very famous traditional music singer), 강효주, 전소연 (a singer from North Korea!), 이춘희, 김용우 (the only male singer and who is becoming quite famous), and 조준희. All the performers were well-trained and professional, but the three I've commented on were of particular interest to the audience.
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| Not sure of everyone's names but left to right: 김용우, 전소연, ?, ?, ?, 안숙선, and then the conductor 이준호. |
안숙선, the oldest singer and steeped in traditional music, moved her body in the characteristic pansori rhythms and flowing body movements with heel gracefully the touching the floor at 90-degree angles before a rhythmic step moved her forward. Her body was the embodiment of art and music.
전소연 was of most particular interest. She glided in with a very erect body and all of her movements and her very stance clearly screamed, "I am not South Korean!" Several others in the foreign community that I was with and I all thought she was from China, especially as her voice was high and would have been thought to be shrill if it were not clear and the sound well-rounded. Her body didn't move when she sang unless to hold her elbows out a bit, very unlike the bowing of the Korean females head in submission or respect and the tucking in of one's elbows or wrists. The KBS International Relations Producer beside me quickly cleared up my confusion and said, "Oh, she sings like a North Korean!" During intermission a glance at the concert printout confirmed that. 전소연 is from the North Korean Hamheung Province, received education in the North Korean capitol of Pyeongyang, and immigrated to South Korea apparently in 2008.
김용우, the male singer who is becoming quite famous, studied traditional singing forms but did not grow up steeped in traditional music. This was evidenced by his great voice but lack of flowing body movements that are inherent of one who just absorbs his or her music atmosphere, the cadence and basically the essence of the music in not only the ears and the heart but throughout the body, which will in turn re-express the music when under the music's flowing influence.
The audience was well-pleased with the beautiful renditions of Arirang and yelled for an encore! The conductor was well-pleased and an chorus from the musicians and choir was given. The six singers were exempt from this encore ... and the selection was a wafting, endearing yet soul-touching.
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