[Romanized:]
Joheun jip (joheun jip)
Joheun cha (joheun cha)
Geureon ge haengbogil su isseulkka? (isseulkka)
In Seoul (in Seoul)
To the sky (to the sky)
Bumonimeun jeongmal haengbokhaejilkka? (haejilkka)
Kkum eobseojyeotji sumswil teumdo eobsi
Hakgyowa jip animyeon
Pissibangi dain chetbakwi
Gateun sarmdeureul salmyeo
Ildeungeul gangyo
Batneun haksaengeun kkumgwa
Hyeonsil saiui ijunggancheop
Uril gongbuhaneun gigyero
Mandeun geon nugu?
Ildeungi animyeon nagoro gubun
Jitge mandeun geon teure gadun geon
Eoreuniran geol swipge sugeung
Hal subakke dansunhage
Saenggakhaedo yagyukgangsik arae
Chinhan chingudo barpgo ollaseoge
Mandeun ge nugura saenggakhae what?
Eoreundeureun naege malhaji
Himdeun geon jigeumppunirago
Jogeum deo chameurago najunge harago
Everybody say no
Deoneun najungiran mallo andwae
Deoneun namui kkume gatyeo salji ma
We roll (we roll)
We roll (we roll) we roll
Everybody say no
Jeongmal jigeumi animyeon andwae
Ajik amugeotdo haebon ge eobtjanha
We roll (we roll)
We roll (we roll) we roll
Everybody say no
Joheun jip (joheun jip)
Joheun cha (joheun cha)
Geureon ge haengbogil su isseulkka? (isseulkka)
In Seoul (in Seoul)
To the sky (to the sky)
Bumonimeun jeongmal haengbokhaejilkka? (haejilkka)
Nolgo meokgo sipeo
Gyobok jjitgo sipeo
Make money good money
Beolsseo ppittakhan siseon
Magyeonhamppunin tongjang
Nae bulhaengeun handochogwaji
Gongbuhaneun hansum gongjang
Gyesokdoeneun dollyeomakgi
Eoreundeuri haneun gobaek
Neonen cham pyeonhan georae
Bune neomchige haengbokhan georae
Geureom ireokedo bulhaenghan naneun mwonde
Gongbu oeen daehwajujega eobseo
Bakken na gateun aega neomchyeo
Ttokgateun kkokdugaksi insaeng
Dodaeche nuga chaegimjyeojwo?
Eoreundeureun naege malhaji
Himdeun geon jigeumppunirago
Jogeum deo chameurago najunge harago
Everybody say no
Deoneun najungiran mallo andwae
Deoneun namui kkume gatyeo salji ma
We roll (we roll)
We roll (we roll) we roll
Everybody say no
Jeongmal jigeumi animyeon andwae
Ajik amugeotdo haebon ge eobtjanha
We roll (we roll)
We roll (we roll) we roll
Everybody say no
Everybody say no
Everybody say no
Everybody say no
Everybody say no
[Korean:]
좋은 집 (좋은 집)
좋은 차 (좋은 차)
그런 게 행복일 수 있을까? (있을까)
In Seoul (in Seoul)
To the sky (to the sky)
부모님은 정말 행복해질까? (해질까)
꿈 없어졌지 숨쉴 틈도 없이
학교와 집 아니면
피씨방이 다인 쳇바퀴
같은 삶들을 살며
일등을 강요
받는 학생은 꿈과
현실 사이의 이중간첩
우릴 공부하는 기계로
만든 건 누구?
일등이 아니면 낙오로 구분
짓게 만든 건 틀에 가둔 건
어른이란 걸 쉽게 수긍
할 수밖에 단순하게
생각해도 약육강식 아래
친한 친구도 밟고 올라서게
만든 게 누구라 생각해 what?
어른들은 내게 말하지
힘든 건 지금뿐이라고
조금 더 참으라고 나중에 하라고
Everybody say no
더는 나중이란 말로 안돼
더는 남의 꿈에 갇혀 살지 마
We roll (we roll)
We roll (we roll) we roll
Everybody say no
정말 지금이 아니면 안돼
아직 아무것도 해본 게 없잖아
We roll (we roll)
We roll (we roll) we roll
Everybody say no
좋은 집 (좋은 집)
좋은 차 (좋은 차)
그런 게 행복일 수 있을까? (있을까)
In Seoul (in Seoul)
To the sky (to the sky)
부모님은 정말 행복해질까? (해질까)
놀고 먹고 싶어
교복 찢고 싶어
Make money good money
벌써 삐딱한 시선
막연함뿐인 통장
내 불행은 한도초과지
공부하는 한숨 공장
계속되는 돌려막기
어른들이 하는 고백
너넨 참 편한 거래
분에 넘치게 행복한 거래
그럼 이렇게도 불행한 나는 뭔데
공부 외엔 대화주제가 없어
밖엔 나 같은 애가 넘쳐
똑같은 꼭두각시 인생
도대체 누가 책임져줘?
어른들은 내게 말하지
힘든 건 지금뿐이라고
조금 더 참으라고 나중에 하라고
Everybody say no
더는 나중이란 말로 안돼
더는 남의 꿈에 갇혀 살지 마
We roll (we roll)
We roll (we roll) we roll
Everybody say no
정말 지금이 아니면 안돼
아직 아무것도 해본 게 없잖아
We roll (we roll)
We roll (we roll) we roll
Everybody say no
Everybody say no
Everybody say no
Everybody say no
Everybody say no
[English translation:]
A good house
A good car
Will these things bring happiness?
In Seoul
To the sky
Will parents really be happy?
Dreams disappeared
There was no time to rest
It’s a cycle of school
Home or an internet cafe
Everyone lives the same life
Students who are pressured to be number
One live in between dreams and reality
Who is the one who made us into studying machines?
They classify us to either
Being number one or dropping out
They trap us in borders, the adults
There’s no choice but to consent
Even if we think simply
It’s the survival of the fittest
Who do you think is the one who makes us step
On even our close friends to climb up? what?
Adults tell me that hardships
Are only momentary
To endure a little more, to do it later
Everybody say no
It can’t be any later
Don’t be trapped in someone else’s dream
We roll (we roll)
We roll (we roll) we roll
Everybody say no
It has to be now or never
We still haven’t done anything
We roll (we roll)
We roll (we roll) we roll
Everybody say no
A good house
A good car
Will these things bring happiness?
In Seoul
To the sky
Will parents really be happy?
I want to play and eat
I want to tear my uniform
Make money, good money
But they already view me crookedly
My obscure bank account
My unhappiness is past its limit
A factory of sighs while studying
A continuous cycle
The grown-ups confess
That we have it so easy
They say that we are happier than our portion
Then how do you explain my unhappiness?
There’s no conversation topics beside studying
Outside, there are so many kids like me
Living the life of a puppet
Who will take responsibility?
Adults tell me that hardships
Are only momentary
To endure a little more, to do it later
Everybody say no
It can’t be any later
Don’t be trapped in someone else’s dream
We roll (we roll)
We roll (we roll) we roll
Everybody say no
It has to be now or never
We still haven’t done anything
We roll (we roll)
We roll (we roll) we roll
Everybody say no
Everybody say no
Everybody say no
Everybody say no
Everybody say no
Breaking Free from the Cycle: The Message of “N.O”
BTS’s track “N.O” is a powerful anthem that confronts the pressures and expectations placed on young people in society, particularly in South Korea. The lyrics express frustration with a system that values material success—”a good house, a good car”—above true happiness and individuality. The song portrays students as “studying machines,” trapped in a relentless routine where dreams fade and personal desires are sacrificed for the sake of conformity and parental approval. BTS boldly questions the definition of success, urging listeners to reject the idea of living trapped in others’ dreams and to assert their own voices. The repeated chorus, “Everybody say no,” becomes a rallying cry for self-determination and breaking free from societal constraints.
Song Credits
- Artist: BTS
- Songwriters: Pdogg, RM, SUGA, Supreme Boi, Bang Si-hyuk
- Release Year: 2013
- Label: Big Hit Entertainment