IU- Never Ending Story
IU’s “Never Ending Story” is the title track from her third remake album, ‘A Flower Bookmark 3,’ released on May 27, 2025. This song is a reinterpretation of the beloved classic of the same name, originally released by the band Boohwal in 2002, brought to life with IU’s unique sensibility.
아이유 – Never Ending Story
손 닿을 수 없는 저기 어딘가Son daeul su eomneun jeogi eodinga
Somewhere I can’t reach
오늘도 넌 숨 쉬고 있지만Oneuldo neon sum swigo itjiman
You are breathing today as well
너와 머물던 작은 의자 위엔Neowa meomuldeon jageun uija wien
On the small chair where I stayed with you
같은 모습의 바람이 지나네Gateun moseubui barami jinane
The wind with the same shape passes by
너는 떠나며 마치 날 떠나가듯이Neoneun tteonamyeo machi nal tteonagadeusi
You leave as if you are leaving me
멀리 손을 흔들며Meolli soneul heundeulmyeo
Waving from afar, saying you’ll be left as a memory someday
언젠간 추억에 남겨져 갈 거라고Eonjengan chueoge namgyeojyeo gal georago
Waving from afar, saying you’ll be left as a memory someday
그리워하면 언젠간 만나게 되는Geuriwohamyeon eonjengan mannage doeneun
If I long for you, we will meet someday
어느 영화와 같은 일들이 이뤄져 가기를Eoneu yeonghwawa gateun ildeuri irwojyeo gagireul
Hoping that things like in the movies will come true
힘겨워한 날에 너를 지킬 수 없었던Himgyeowohan nare neoreul jikil su eobseotdeon
On a difficult day, I couldn’t protect you
아름다운 시절 속에 머문 그대이기에Areumdaun sijeol soge meomun geudaeigie
Because you are the one who remains in those beautiful days
너는 떠나며 마치 날 떠나가듯이Neoneun tteonamyeo machi nal tteonagadeusi
You leave as if you are leaving me
멀리 손을 흔들며Meolli soneul heundeulmyeo
Waving from afar, saying you’ll be left as a memory someday
언젠간 추억에 남겨져 갈 거라고Eonjengan chueoge namgyeojyeo gal georago
Waving from afar, saying you’ll be left as a memory someday
그리워하면 언젠간 만나게 되는Geuriwohamyeon eonjengan mannage doeneun
If I long for you, we will meet someday
어느 영화와 같은 일들이 이뤄져 가기를Eoneu yeonghwawa gateun ildeuri irwojyeo gagireul
Hoping that things like in the movies will come true
힘겨워한 날에 너를 지킬 수 없었던Himgyeowohan nare neoreul jikil su eobseotdeon
On a difficult day, I couldn’t protect you
아름다운 시절 속에 머문 그대여Areumdaun sijeol soge meomun geudaeyeo
You, who remains in those beautiful days
그리워하면 언젠간 만나게 되는Geuriwohamyeon eonjengan mannage doeneun
If I long for you, we will meet someday
어느 영화와 같은 일들이 이뤄져 가기를Eoneu yeonghwawa gateun ildeuri irwojyeo gagireul
Hoping that things like in the movies will come true
힘겨운 날에 너를 지킬 수 없었던Himgyeoun nare neoreul jikil su eobseotdeon
On a difficult day, I couldn’t protect you
아름다운 시절 속에 머문 그대이기에Areumdaun sijeol soge meomun geudaeigie
Because you are the one who remains in those beautiful days
Song Description and Overview:
- Original Song: “Never Ending Story” is a signature song by the rock band Boohwal, composed and written by Kim Tae-won. With Lee Seung-chul’s vocals, its grand and melancholic atmosphere has long been cherished by many.
- IU’s Reinterpretation: IU has delicately reinterpreted this song with her own emotional touch. Seo Dong-hwan, who composed IU’s “Love wins all,” handled the arrangement. While preserving the grand and lyrical feel of the original, he added new charm to match IU’s dreamy and emotional vocals.
- Album ‘A Flower Bookmark 3’: ‘A Flower Bookmark 3’ is IU’s third remake album, following those released in 2014 and 2017. It aims to reintroduce timeless classics with IU’s distinct style, offering both nostalgia and new emotional experiences to the public. In addition to “Never Ending Story,” the album includes six other tracks: Park Hye-kyung’s “Red Sneakers,” Seo Taiji’s “October 4th,” Roller Coaster’s “Last Scene (Feat. Wonstein),” Shin Joong-hyun’s “Beauty (Feat. Balming Tiger),” and White’s “Dream of a Square.”
- Music Video: The music video for “Never Ending Story” drew significant attention for its homage to the film ‘Christmas in August.’ Actors Heo Nam-jun and IU themselves appeared, conveying cinematic, lyrical emotions. Lee Rae-kyung, who directed IU’s previous music videos like “Through the Night” and “Palette,” was at the helm.
- Public Reception: Upon its release, IU’s “Never Ending Story” topped major music charts, receiving an enthusiastic response. The music video also garnered immense popularity, surpassing 1 million views just 7 hours after its release. This is attributed to the synergy between the original song’s high recognition and IU’s exceptional interpretation.
IU’s “Never Ending Story” maintains the emotion of the original while adding IU’s distinct musical color, resonating deeply with listeners across generations.