The lyrics of BTS Life Goes On arrived like a sonic embrace during one of the hardest moments we’ve ever lived through collectively. Released in November 2020, together with the album BE, this song appeared right when the world was still trying to figure out how to get out of bed without falling apart. And, as always, BTS did what they do best: turning turmoil into comfort.
While many of us were counting the days at home, they delivered a gentle melody, with verses that feel as if they were written straight from the heart. The lyrics of BTS Life Goes On speak about uncertainty, but also about moving forward, even when everything around seems frozen in time.
Here, we’re going to dive into that universe that only BTS can create. You’ll find the full lyrics of BTS Life Goes On — in Korean, with translation and pronunciation — plus an in-depth analysis of what lies behind the song. We’ll also talk about the context of its release and, of course, the music video directed by Jungkook himself — because he never misses a chance to be multifaceted, right?
Life Goes On isn’t just another BTS track. It’s that subtle reminder that even on cloudy days, there’s music that feels like home. It’s about seven boys from Seoul taking all the mess that the pandemic caused and transforming it into art. And us, on the other side of the world, listening and thinking: they get me.
Come along and see it all.
Complete Lyrics of BTS Life Goes On + Translation
I remember, oh, ayy-yeah-yeah-yeah
I remember, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
💚
어느 날 세상이 멈췄어, 아무런 예고도 하나 없이
One day, the world stopped, without any warning
봄은 기다림을 몰라서, 눈치 없이 와버렸어
Spring didn’t know how to wait, so it came without hesitation
발자국이 지워진 거리, 여기 넘어져 있는 나
Footprints erased from the streets, here I am fallen down
혼자 가네 시간이, 미안해 말도 없이, yeah
Time keeps moving on its own, sorry, without a word, yeah
💚
오늘도 비가 내릴 것 같아
It feels like it’s going to rain again today
흠뻑 젖어버렸네, 아직도 멈추질 않아
Soaked to the skin, it still won’t stop
저 먹구름보다 빨리 달려가
I tried to run faster than those dark clouds
그럼 될 줄 알았는데, 나 겨우 사람인가 봐
I thought it would work, but I guess I’m only human after all
💚
몹시 아프네, 세상이란 놈이 준 감기
It hurts so much, this cold the world gave me
덕분에 눌러보는 먼지 쌓인 되감기
Thanks to it, I press rewind covered in dust
넘어진 채 청하는 엇박자의 춤
A dance offbeat, requested while I’m still down
겨울이 오면 내쉬자 더 뜨거운 숨
When winter comes, let’s exhale an even warmer breath
💚
끝이 보이지 않아, 출구가 있긴 할까?
I can’t see the end, is there even an exit?
발이 떼지질 않아, 않아, oh
My feet refuse to move, they won’t, oh
잠시 두 눈을 감아, 여기 내 손을 잡아
Close your eyes for a moment, hold my hand here
저 미래로 달아나자
Let’s run away toward that future
💚
Like an echo in the forest
하루가 돌아오겠지
Another day will surely return
아무 일도 없단 듯이
As if nothing ever happened
Yeah, life goes on
💚
Like an arrow in the blue sky
또 하루 더 날아가지
Another day flies by again
On my pillow, on my table
Yeah, life goes on like this again
💚
이 음악을 빌려 너에게 나 전할게 (ayy)
I’ll borrow this music and deliver it to you (ayy)
사람들은 말해 세상이 다 변했대 (yo)
People say the whole world has changed (yo)
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
다행히도 우리 사이는 아직 여태 안 변했네
Thankfully, our relationship hasn’t changed at all
💚
늘 하던 시작과 끝 “안녕”이란 말로
With the usual beginning and end, the words “hello” and “goodbye”
오늘과 내일을 또 함께 이어보자고
Let’s connect today and tomorrow once again together
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ah
멈춰있지만 어둠에 숨지 마, 빛은 또 떠오르니깐
Though we’re stopped, don’t hide in the darkness, because the light will rise again
💚
끝이 보이지 않아, 출구가 있긴 할까?
I can’t see the end, is there even an exit?
발이 떼지질 않아, 않아, oh
My feet refuse to move, they won’t, oh
잠시 두 눈을 감아, 여기 내 손을 잡아
Close your eyes for a moment, hold my hand here
저 미래로 달아나자
Let’s run away toward that future
💚
Like an echo in the forest
하루가 돌아오겠지
Another day will surely return
아무 일도 없단 듯이
As if nothing ever happened
Yeah, life goes on
💚
Like an arrow in the blue sky
또 하루 더 날아가지 (날아가지)
Another day flies by again (flies by)
On my pillow, on my table
Yeah, life goes on like this again
💚
I remember, oh, ayy-yeah-yeah-yeah
I remember, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
I remember, oh, ayy-yeah-yeah-yeah
I remember, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
The Birth of BTS Life Goes On Lyrics Amid the Pandemic
The lyrics of BTS Life Goes On appeared at a time when everyone was feeling lost — including BTS themselves. Released on November 20, 2020 as the title track of the album BE, the song was born from the members’ real experiences during the pandemic. When the world suddenly froze and the much-anticipated Map of the Soul Tour was postponed indefinitely, the seven members found themselves in an unprecedented situation: stuck at home, far from the stage and from ARMY.
It was then, in the middle of silence and longing, that they decided to turn it all into music. No following pre-set formulas. Unlike their previous works, BE was a project in which they were involved in everything — from the songwriting to the album’s visuals. The lyrics of BTS Life Goes On became a way to let it all out, to express feelings that no one quite knew how to put into words.
j-hope shared in an interview with Weverse Magazine how this process began:
“We started this album by gathering together and asking what kind of story we wanted to tell. The final result of that conversation was: ‘Well, hey, we still have to live with this situation; we can’t give up.’ And from there, Life Goes On was born, and then we began working on the stories each of us wanted to tell. I think it sounds more raw, since we tried to capture the emotions we felt living through the pandemic.”
Big Hit Entertainment (today HYBE) announced the album on September 27, 2020 with a simple yet powerful message: “Even in the face of this new normal, our life goes on.” And that phrase became the heart not only of the song, but of the entire concept behind BE.
BTS Life Goes On Lyrics: An Anthem of Hope in Difficult Times
What makes Life Goes On so special is exactly this: it doesn’t try to pretend everything is fine. There’s no forced optimism, no ready-made phrases to cheer people up. The song acknowledges pain, exhaustion, and uncertainty… and yet, in a voice that feels almost whispered, it reminds us that, despite it all, life goes on.
The lyrics of BTS Life Goes On carry a truth that speaks directly to anyone who has gone through hard times — or simply tried to keep their head above water amid the turmoil. It’s a message of resilience that doesn’t shout, but rather comforts.
And there’s more: releasing a song sung almost entirely in Korean as the lead single — right after the worldwide explosion of Dynamite (performed fully in English) — was a bold statement. BTS chose to keep expressing themselves their own way, in their own language, showing that real feelings can cross any language barrier.
For fans, Life Goes On wasn’t just a beautiful track on streaming platforms — it felt like a hug. In a period when concerts were suspended and interaction with the group only happened through screens, the song and its music video brought the members closer. They showed BTS’s most human side and helped many people feel a little less alone.
Production and Composition of Life Goes On
Life Goes On is the kind of song that could only have come from the hands (and hearts) of BTS. A true collective creation, the track was written by j-hope, RM, and SUGA, along with producers Antonina Armato, Chris James, Ruuth, and their eternal battle partner Pdogg — who has been with the group since the very beginning, back at their debut.
The lyrics of BTS Life Goes On came to life with a sound that breaks away from the upbeat standard many expect from a hit. Instead, it leans into a softer, almost confessional vibe. At its core: a warm acoustic guitar that embraces you from the very first seconds. Then, subtle electronic beats and a minimalist atmosphere join in, leaving space for what truly matters: the voices and the message.
The vocal arrangements are a highlight on their own. The chorus is stitched together with harmonies that feel like a choir of friends standing by your side, no matter what. Each member delivers a unique piece of their vocal identity — from V’s deep and resonant tones to Jimin’s soft, high notes. The result is a mix that comforts, moves, and of course, gives you chills.
Many compared the lyrics of BTS Life Goes On to Spring Day, another classic that speaks about longing and the passage of time. But while Spring Day plays more with metaphors and symbolism, Life Goes On goes straight to the point, speaking openly about the pandemic’s impact — without detours, but with deep sensitivity.
It’s that kind of song that seems simple at first listen… but says so much more than it appears to.
Analysis of BTS Life Goes On Lyrics by Sections
Before diving into the verses of BTS Life Goes On, it’s worth remembering that any music analysis takes into account context, semantics, poetic choices, and even the historical moment in which the song was released. But above all, it’s important to emphasize: only the artist truly knows what they meant. What we do here is an affective reading — we talk about what the song evokes in us, what it stirs in each listener (and that can be different for everyone), and how these verses connect with such deeply human and universal feelings.
When everything stopped, but spring didn’t
“One day, the world stopped, without any warning
Spring didn’t know how to wait, so it came without hesitation”
Right in the opening lines, BTS manages to capture — with almost surgical delicacy — that feeling everyone had at the beginning of the pandemic: the shock, the emptiness, the sense that someone pressed pause without asking anyone.
Meanwhile, spring — which, let’s be honest, doesn’t bother to wait — shows up in full bloom, as if nothing were happening. The contrast is powerful and symbolic: while our lives were forced to stop, nature kept moving forward, indifferent to what we were feeling. Spring arrived unknowingly, unaware of the turmoil. It’s almost ironic, isn’t it? Life around us went on, while ours was stuck in standby mode.
Time doesn’t stop (and doesn’t apologize either)
“Footprints erased from the streets, here I am fallen down
Time keeps moving on its own, sorry, without a word, yeah”
The imagery here is so vivid it feels like a movie scene. The “footprints disappeared” takes us straight to empty streets, closed shops, and silent cities — a reality the whole world experienced. And in the middle of that emptiness, someone is “fallen.” Not literally, perhaps, but emotionally? Absolutely.
Time then becomes almost like a character. It “keeps moving on its own”, not stopping, not apologizing. It’s both cruel and true: even when it felt like we were living the same day over and over again, the months kept passing. That sense of distorted time — days that never seemed to end, yet years that flew by — is something many people still carry today.
When the rain doesn’t stop (and doesn’t give a break)
“It feels like it’s going to rain again today
Soaked to the skin, it still won’t stop”
Using rain as a metaphor for ongoing struggles, BTS expresses the emotional fatigue of facing endless challenges. Being “soaked” suggests someone who has endured so much they no longer have any way to shield themselves — as if the umbrella had flown away long ago. It’s a poetic (and very real) way of describing the feeling of overload that so many faced during the pandemic.
The persistence of the rain that “still hasn’t stopped” reinforces this sense of an unending crisis, where each new day seemed to bring more uncertainty than solutions. An honest expression of emotional exhaustion that anyone who lived through that period can relate to.
The world’s cold and the rewind button
“It hurts so much, this cold the world gave me
Thanks to it, I press rewind covered in dust”
Here, BTS turns the pandemic into a “cold” — not in the literal sense, of course, but as a metaphor for its impact. A simple yet powerful choice: it’s a pain that affects not only the body but also the mind and the heart.
The image of the “dusty rewind button” hits right in the nostalgia. It’s that wish to rewind the tape and go back to when everything felt simpler, lighter. And the fact that the button is covered in dust says a lot: it’s not something we use often, only when we’re truly at the limit — and 2020 was exactly that for so many.
(And for younger generations: yes, the rewind button was a real thing on VHS tapes and cassette players. If you’ve never had to wait five minutes for a tape to rewind before pressing play again… consider yourself lucky, but also slightly robbed of a life experience.) 😅
When you can’t see the way out
“I can’t see the end, is there even an exit?
My feet refuse to move, they won’t, oh
Close your eyes for a moment, hold my hand here
Let’s run away toward that future”
This pre-chorus almost literally translates what so many people felt during the pandemic: that mixture of fear, doubt, and emotional paralysis. The question about whether an exit even exists isn’t just rhetorical — it reflects the real thoughts of those trying to figure out if all of this would ever end.
The phrase “my feet can’t move” carries enormous weight. It’s the kind of paralysis that’s not only physical, but also mental and emotional. Yet, in the middle of that fog of uncertainty, BTS extends a hand: “hold my hand” and “let’s run toward the future” aren’t magical promises, but sincere invitations to solidarity. We don’t know what lies ahead, but we can go together.
Life goes on — even when everything stopped
Like an echo in the forest
Another day will surely return
As if nothing ever happened
Yeah, life goes on”
The chorus brings metaphors that are both powerful and comforting. The echo in the forest is the perfect image of repetition: the sound goes out, comes back, weakens… but it still exists. Just like the days that, even when identical, keep arriving. Even in the midst of chaos.
The idea that “the day will return as it always does” may sound a bit indifferent, almost cold — as if the world doesn’t care about our suffering. But there’s something beautiful in that too: time moves forward, and that also means it can bring new things. Pain isn’t eternal. Life goes on. Strange, incomplete, but still moving — and somehow, we move with it.
Time as an arrow — and life between pillows and tables
“Like an arrow in the blue sky
Another day flies by again
On my pillow, on my table
Yeah, life goes on like this again”
This part of the chorus delivers a powerful image: time as an arrow. Fast, direct, impossible to hold. It’s interesting because it directly contrasts with the feeling of stagnation so many experienced during the pandemic. Even when everything seemed frozen, the days were still passing. The arrow kept its course.
The reference to the pillow and the table is subtle yet deeply emotional. They’re simple objects, but they became the center of our domestic universe. It was there that life went on — between laptop meetings, solitary meals, and restless attempts at sleep amid anxiety. A small observation, but filled with meaning.
The message that crosses the distance
“I’ll borrow this music and deliver it to you (ayy)
People say the whole world has changed (yo)
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Thankfully, our relationship hasn’t changed at all”
In this passage, BTS does what they do best: connect with those on the other side of the music. When they say they’ll use the song to send a message, it feels as if they’re breaking the barrier between artist and fan — as if they were speaking directly to each of us.
The line about the world having changed echoes everything we lived through: the before and after, a world turned upside down. But the most beautiful point comes right after: “fortunately, between us, nothing has changed.” Amid so much transformation, the bond between BTS and ARMY remained strong. And that, in itself, is a comfort.
Hello, goodbye, and the cycle that keeps us going
“With the usual beginning and end, the words “hello” and “goodbye”
Let’s connect today and tomorrow once again together”
This part carries a simple yet meaningful charm. The word “annyeong” in Korean is used both for “hello” and “goodbye,” and within it lies the idea of continuity — that one moment leads into the next, just like the days that come and go. BTS finds something comforting in this greeting: a small daily ritual that, even in turbulent times, stays the same.
Connecting today with tomorrow is more than just a pretty phrase. It’s a gesture of hope. Even if everything feels disconnected, it’s possible to create a thread between the present and what’s ahead — and most importantly, to do it together. Not as those who have all the answers, but as those who extend a hand.
Don’t hide — the light will return
“Though we’re stopped, don’t hide in the darkness, because the light will rise again”
This line could easily be the soul of the song. Acknowledging that we are “standing still” matters — because validating pain is also a form of care. No pretending everything is fine. But what follows is a whisper of courage: don’t hide in the dark.
The light will return. We can’t predict when or how, but it will. It’s the natural cycle of things. And this message, though simple, is powerful precisely because it doesn’t promise immediate happy endings. It only promises that, even in pause, life continues somewhere — and eventually, it shines again.
I remember, you do too
“I remember, oh
I remember, oh”
The repetition of “I remember” at both the beginning and end of the song creates a kind of emotional frame — a circular structure that reinforces the idea of continuity. Remembering, in this case, is more than nostalgia: it’s a thread that ties the present to the past, a way of keeping our story alive even when everything around us seems to have changed.
Curiously, BTS never specifies what exactly is being remembered. And that’s what makes the line so powerful. It leaves space for each listener to fill in the meaning with their own memories — happy, longing, painful, or hopeful. It’s a simple line, yet it allows for deep, intimate identification.
In the end, the lyrics of BTS Life Goes On deliver something rare: a balance between the pain of the present and the possibility of tomorrow. It’s not that packaged kind of hope that demands you smile at all costs. It’s a hope that comes from acceptance — from understanding that life continues, messy and uncertain. And somehow, we continue with it.
The Visual Aesthetics and Symbolism of BTS Life Goes On Music Video: A Silent Hug in Motion
The Life Goes On music video is unlike anything we were used to seeing from BTS. Forget the grand sets, flawless choreographies, and futuristic visuals. Here, the proposal is completely different: to show life as it was really happening — simple, still, quiet… yet full of meaning.
And who directed all of this? None other than Jungkook, the group’s multitasking maknae. With a camera in hand (and a lot of sensitivity in his gaze), he invited ARMY into the members’ everyday lives. It’s not acting. It’s not fiction. It feels almost like an affective documentary of their routine during isolation — and it’s precisely that closeness that makes it so touching.
The aesthetics follow this intimate vibe as well: soft tones, natural light, nighttime scenes with that familiar feeling of home, blankets, and silence. Instead of elaborate costumes or epic sets, the backdrop feels like the members’ real dorm. The dining table. The sofa. The moment when one collapses in the bedroom while another makes coffee. Small things that, during the pandemic, became immense.
There are also those scenes that say everything without a single word. Like when RM stops and stares at a dusty bicycle. It’s just a bicycle, right? But in that moment, it becomes a symbol of everything that was put on hold. The paused plans. The paths we stopped walking. And the dust there… almost a physical reminder that time had passed, even when it felt frozen.
Another striking moment (in the best way) is when V is driving with the others in the car, passing by the Seoul Olympic Stadium. That place was supposed to be the starting point of the Map of the Soul Tour, which never happened. And there he is, looking at the empty stands as if longing for something that never even had the chance to exist. It makes your chest tighten, even if you’ve never stepped into a stadium.
And when the video shifts to black and white in the final scene, with them singing on an empty stage? That’s it. You realize it’s more than a performance: it’s memory, dream, and pent-up desire. It’s not happening in the present, but it’s still alive — like everything BTS carries with (and for) their fans.
Life Goes On is about this. About what stayed behind, what was missing, what still beats within us. A music video that could easily be a video diary of 2020 — but with an impeccable soundtrack and Jungkook’s personal touch behind the lens.
Jungkook’s Sensitive Direction in BTS Life Goes On MV (and the Inside Perspective)
The choice to have Jungkook direct the Life Goes On music video wasn’t just symbolic — it was spot on. Who better than someone inside the group to tell this story? He lived through it all, together with the other six, and managed to translate into images what words alone might not capture. The result: a music video that feels like a filmed diary, filled with silence, longing, and a delicacy that only he could portray.
During the press conference on the day BE was released, Jungkook explained that he wanted to show “the sadness and longing” they felt for not being able to go on tour, and most of all, for being away from ARMY. A simple statement, yet it says everything. Because the lyrics of BTS Life Goes On are not just about the pandemic — they are also about absence, waiting, and connection.
Watch the conference video here (with Portuguese subtitles available on YouTube).
The way the video was filmed also reinforces this idea. No overproduced cuts or meticulously staged takes. Here, everything feels more natural, as if someone were just there with a camera in hand, simply recording life as it happened. There’s a kind of intentional imperfection — and that’s exactly what makes us feel even closer.
This “almost documentary” style speaks directly to the central message of the song: in chaotic times, it’s the simple things that keep us grounded. Coffee on the table, a blanket tossed on the sofa, sunlight streaming through the window — small details that gained new meaning when the world came to a halt.
And of course, the impact was immediate. The MV reached more than 71.6 million views within the first 24 hours. In just two days, it had already surpassed 100 million, becoming BTS’s 27th music video to reach that milestone. Today, it has over 574 million views. This isn’t just a statistic — it’s proof that the lyrics of BTS Life Goes On and their visual representation touched people deeply. Because at that moment, everyone needed a little comfort — and BTS delivered.
The Alternative Versions of BTS Life Goes On MV: Expanding the Story
After releasing the main Life Goes On MV, BTS didn’t stop there — they gifted ARMY with three alternative versions, each highlighting a different side of the song. It was like watching the same feeling told from new angles — and, in the process, feeling even more of what they wanted to convey.
1 — On My Pillow (November 21, 2020)
Here, the bedroom scene gets more attention. The members appear lying on two beds, singing together, taking pictures of each other, laughing softly. It feels almost as if we had stepped into their rest time — and the intimacy of this version reinforces the warm, comforting atmosphere that is also present in the lyrics of BTS Life Goes On.
Watch the Life Goes On: On My Pillow version here:
2 — In The Forest (November 25, 2020)
The setting changes completely: now it’s a green lawn, clear skies, and a forest in the background. The shift from an indoor to an outdoor space brings an immediate sense of breath and freedom. It feels like opening the window after being closed inside for too long. In this context, the song sounds even more like a reminder that there is life and light outside.
Watch the Life Goes On: In The Forest version here:
3 — Like An Arrow (November 29, 2020)
This final version is the most different of them all: black-and-white photos and behind-the-scenes clips from the other versions. The result feels fragmented, almost like flashes of memory — a faithful portrait of the discontinuous experience so many went through during the pandemic.
Watch the Life Goes On: Like An Arrow version here:
EXTRA: In The Forest – BTS FESTA 2024 (June 8, 2024)
Released during BTS FESTA 2024, while most of the members were still serving in the military, this special version was filmed in a true “selfie style.” No elaborate production — just them, the camera, and their hearts in hand, singing Life Goes On in a simple and direct way. And it was more than enough to comfort those who were missing them dearly — and, let’s be honest, to bring tears to anyone who swore they would “stay strong.”
Watch the Life Goes On BTS FESTA 2024 version here:
These extra versions weren’t just a gift for fans. They expanded the central message of the song, showing that the lyrics of BTS Life Goes On can gain new layers depending on the setting and atmosphere in which they’re sung. Whether in the coziness of a bedroom, the vastness of an open field, or in black-and-white memory, the essence remains the same: life goes on.
Below, you can watch some memorable performances of Life Goes On:
Life Goes On at Good Morning America:
Life Goes On at MTV Unplugged
Life Goes On at Late Late Show with James Corden
Life Goes On at MAMA 2021
This one was especially moving: SUGA couldn’t perform live as he was recovering from shoulder surgery. Yet, as always, he wasn’t replaced — he appeared through a hologram performance. Because in BTS, every single member matters.
Life Goes On with ARMYs singing along at Let’s BTS (KBS World)
And here, the Episode with the MV Shoot Sketch of Life Goes On
Just Like Life Goes On, Life Moves Forward — and So Does Music
Life Goes On isn’t just a song born during the pandemic — it’s almost an audio record of what we lived through. BTS took that mix of fear, pause, and hope that everyone felt and transformed it into something that embraces the listener. Without forced optimism, without masking the pain, but reminding us that somehow, life keeps moving… even when we feel stuck.
With its sincere lyrics, a music video that feels like a diary filmed by Jungkook, and the historic achievement of being the first predominantly Korean song to debut at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, the lyrics of BTS Life Goes On proved that music is that safe place where we can meet, even when we can’t see each other.
And time has passed, but the feeling remains the same: every time this song starts, it’s like returning to that moment when we were all trying to make sense of the world — yet, somehow, holding on to each other. Because, in the end, that’s what it is: life goes on. And we go with it.
Now it’s your turn: what does Life Goes On make you feel or remember? We’d love to read your story in the comments.
