엄마 (UMMA) Lyrics (English Translation) – Dok2

엄마 (UMMA) (English Translation) Lyrics Meaning

[Verse 1]
This verse introduces Dok2’s family background, describing his mother as a strong but distant woman from Daegu and his father as a loving man. Despite their love, his parents had a troubled relationship, possibly due to financial struggles and the hardships of life. He reflects on how everyone in the family was too busy surviving to express love properly. This realization now brings him pain, making him regret not appreciating his mother more when he had the chance.

Now, he wants to embrace his mother, but he finds it difficult, perhaps due to their distant relationship or the overwhelming emotions he feels. Even when he holds her hand, it no longer carries the warmth it once did, symbolizing how time and illness have changed everything. He struggles to process the situation, unable to find someone to blame for their struggles and heartbreak. His emotions fluctuate between hope and despair as he prays that his mother won’t be taken from him yet.

As he reflects on time passing, he realizes that he no longer remembers his mother’s younger self, only seeing the tired and weakened woman before him. He clings to a necklace, possibly as a sentimental reminder of her, and desperately prays for a miracle. Just a week ago, things seemed fine, and he had meaningful conversations with his mother—conversations he had delayed for too long. Now, as she grows weaker, he feels powerless, unable to move or change anything. The uncertainty of each night fills him with anxiety.

He also mentions February 14th, Valentine’s Day, which is approaching too quickly, perhaps symbolizing love and loss coming together. Time keeps moving, but he hopes for good news. Without his father, he feels even lonelier, highlighting how much he relies on his parents for emotional support.

[Chorus]
In the chorus, Dok2 acknowledges his mother’s role in shaping him into the successful rapper he is today. He refers to himself as a “certified legend,” showing gratitude for her sacrifices that allowed him to reach his dreams. Even if she can’t hear him, he hopes she is listening from wherever she is, possibly heaven. He wishes for her to feel at peace and sends greetings to their other deceased family members. The line about the puppies being washed could symbolize small, everyday things he remembers about her, showing his longing for even the simplest moments with his mother.

[Verse 2]
Here, Dok2 reflects on his regrets about his relationship with his mother. He mentions buying her an expensive iPhone but realizes that material things are meaningless compared to simply spending time with her. He tried his best to be a good son, but now, in the hospital, he questions whether she truly knew how much he loved her.

He recalls the painful moment when he spent time with her in the ICU, the first time in a long while, and yet, it was under the worst circumstances. The hospital had given up hope, and the family had to make tough decisions regarding her treatment. As her body weakens, her condition worsens rapidly. He describes how one day she could open her eyes, and the next, she couldn’t—her body acting more like a machine than a person. It’s heartbreaking for him to see her like this, knowing how much she worked and struggled for him.

Despite the hardships, his family has always persevered, and he takes pride in being a self-made man, hoping he made his mother proud. He recalls paying off her debts with his rap career, thinking that would be enough, but now he realizes that love and time are far more valuable than money.

He also touches on the media, criticizing how the internet writes stories without knowing the real struggles he and his family face. Meanwhile, his mother, once strong and capable, is now unable to do even the simplest things, and this realization breaks his heart.

[Verse 3]
In this verse, Dok2 reflects on how quickly time has passed and how he never imagined losing his mother so soon. He wonders if his success made things move faster, as if achieving his dreams came at the cost of losing time with her. He holds her hands, which are strangely still warm, and struggles to accept that she is leaving. He always thought she would be by his side forever, but now he regrets not cherishing their moments together more.

He wishes he had held her and cried with her while she was still alive, asked her all the questions he never got answers to, and expressed his love before it was too late. He recalls childhood moments when he always sided with his father during his parents’ fights, influenced by the traditional Gyeongsang-do culture that taught men to be tough and emotionally distant. This makes him feel like he was an unfilial son, despite providing financial support. He realizes that he focused too much on money and not enough on showing love.

As a musician, the sentimental melody of his song reminds him of his regrets. He wonders if his own loneliness made him unintentionally neglect his mother’s emotional needs. Now, as she is about to pass, he feels unprepared to say goodbye. Seeing her body prepared with funeral makeup makes the reality even harder to face. He wants just one more answer from her, just one moment of reassurance before she goes.

The final lines capture the painful moment of receiving a call at 5 a.m., the kind of call that makes the world stop. Despite the relief that she is no longer in pain, the reality of losing her is unbearable. He sits in a hospital room, nothing like the ones in movies, holding her cold hand, saying his final goodbye.

[Chorus]
The chorus repeats, reinforcing his love and gratitude for his mother. He acknowledges that she made him who he is today, and even though she may no longer be physically present, he hopes she is still listening from wherever she is. He wants her to feel at peace and to reunite with their other lost family members. The mention of washing the puppies again adds a sentimental touch, as if he is remembering the little things that made their bond special. It’s his way of holding onto her memory and finding comfort in the thought that she is in a better place.