[Romanized:]
Ah-ah
Yeonseupsaeng
Eojjibomyeon na jacheijiman
Mworago hyeongyonghal su eomneun geureon mal
Eodingae sokajido anko
Geureotago mueongareul hago itjido aneun
Geureon sigi gwadogi
Naega geu yeonseupsaeng sinbuneuro
Salmyeonseo gajang gonyokseureowotdeon geon
Chincheokdeulgwa chingudeurui eonje naolgeonyago
Debwi eonjehal geonyago haneun geureon
Geu jilmun deurieotda
Naneun dabeul hal suga eopseotda
Waenyamyeon nado moreunikka
Nado geu dabeul al su eopseunikka
Jasingamgwa nae daehan hwaksineul gatgo
I gose watjiman
Nareul gidarideon geon jeongmal dareun hyeonsil
Ajikdo 3nyeoni jinan jigeumdo
Naega nagamyeon gayogyereul jeongbokaebeorigetda
Hal su isseul geot gatda ireon hwaksineul chatdagado
Maksang PDnimdeulgwa seonsaengnimdeulkke honnago namyeon
Naega jeongmal amugeotdo anin geot gateun
Jeongmal meonjibakke andoengeot gateun geureon gibun
Kkok machi nae ape pureureun badaga itdagado
Dwireul dorabomyeon hwangnyanghan
Samagi nal gidarineun geot gateun geu gibun
Jeongmal geureon moraesigyegateun gibuneseo
Geu gibun sogeseo
Naneun nae yeonseupsaeng 3nyeoneul bonaetda
Geurigo naneun jigeum debwireul apdugo itda
Nega debwireul hadeorado
Ama dareun badawa dareun samagi nareul gidarigo isseul geosida
Geuchiman jogeumdo duryeopji anta
Bunmyeong jigeum nareul mandeungeon
Jigeum naega bon badawa geu samaginikka
Jeoldae itji aneul geosida
Naega bwatdeon geu badawa geu samageul
Naneun yeonseupsaenginikka
[Korean:]
Ah-ah
연습생
어찌보면 나 자체이지만
뭐라고 형용할 수 없는 그런 말
어딘가에 속하지도 않고
그렇다고 무언가를 하고 있지도 않은
그런 시기 과도기
내가 그 연습생 신분으로
살면서 가장 곤욕스러웠던 건
친척들과 친구들의 언제 나올거냐고
데뷔 언제할 거냐고 하는 그런
그 질문 들이었다
나는 답을 할 수가 없었다
왜냐면 나도 모르니까
나도 그 답을 알 수 없으니까
자신감과 나에 대한 확신을 갖고
이 곳에 왔지만
나를 기다리던 건 정말 다른 현실
아직도 3년이 지난 지금도
내가 나가면 가요계를 정복해버리겠다
할 수 있을 것 같다 이런 확신을 찾다가도
막상 PD님들과 선생님들께 혼나고 나면
내가 정말 아무것도 아닌 것 같은
정말 먼지밖에 안된것 같은 그런 기분
꼭 마치 내 앞에 푸르른 바다가 있다가도
뒤를 돌아보면 황량한
사막이 날 기다리는 것 같은 그 기분
정말 그런 모래시계같은 기분에서
그 기분 속에서
나는 내 연습생 3년을 보냈다
그리고 나는 지금 데뷔를 앞두고 있다
네가 데뷔를 하더라도
아마 다른 바다와 다른 사막이 나를 기다리고 있을 것이다
그치만 조금도 두렵지 않다
분명 지금 나를 만든건
지금 내가 본 바다와 그 사막이니까
절대 잊지 않을 것이다
내가 봤던 그 바다와 그 사막을
나는 연습생이니까
[English translation:]
Ah-ah
Trainee
In many ways, this term defines my existence
But at the same time it is a term that I can never truly explain
A period of time, a state of transition
Where I could neither belong anywhere
Nor do anything
The biggest concerns I had living as a trainee
Were the questions of friends and family
“When are you going to come out?”
“When are you going to debut?”
Questions like these
I couldn’t give them an answer
Because I didn’t know either
Because such answers were unknowable
Though I came here through a certain confidence
And belief in myself
What awaited me was a different kind of reality:
Even now, after three years have passed
Even as I occasionally gain the self-certainty to think things like
“Once I debut, I will conquer the music industry”
Whenever I hear the criticisms of the producers and teachers
I am again overwhelmed by the realization that I am nothing
That I am as inconsequential as a speck of dust
It’s as if though before me lies the bluest ocean
And if I turn to look back
A vast desert awaits me
In this hourglass-like mindset
In this mood
I spent my three years as a trainee
And now, my debut is finally drawing near
Even after I debut
New oceans and new deserts will likely await me
I am not afraid
Because what has made me who I am
Are the oceans and deserts I have witnessed until this moment
I will never forget
The oceans and deserts I have seen
Because I am a trainee
Reflections on the Journey of a Trainee
“Skit: On The Start Line” by BTS offers a raw, introspective glimpse into the emotional landscape of an aspiring artist. Through its spoken-word style, the skit captures the sense of uncertainty and isolation that comes with being a trainee. The narrator describes living in a state of limbo—caught between not quite belonging anywhere and feeling unable to act. Family and friends’ questions about debut create pressure, compounded by the internal struggle of self-doubt and fleeting confidence.
Embracing Uncertainty and Growth
The lyrics use vivid metaphors—oceans and deserts—to illustrate the highs and lows faced on the path to debut. The ocean represents hope and potential, while the desert embodies fear and hardship. Yet, the speaker acknowledges that these experiences have shaped who they are. Even as new challenges loom, courage and resolve emerge from surviving past trials, underlining a message of perseverance and self-discovery.
Song Credits
Artist: BTS
Release Year: 2013
Label: Big Hit Entertainment