“Rum Pum Pum Pum” is the title and rhythmic catchphrase of the 2013 hit song by the K-pop group f(x). Metaphorically, it describes the sudden, painful, and disruptive experience of a “first love,” comparing it to the delayed and aching emergence of a wisdom tooth.

Song Credits

  • Artist: f(x)
  • Album: Pink Tape
  • Released: July 29, 2013
  • Length: 3:18
  • Label: SM Entertainment
  • Lyrics: Jeon Gan-di
  • Composers: Erik Lewander, Sten Iggy Strange Dahl, Ylva Anna Birgitta Dimberg, Anne Judith Wik

f(x) “Rum Pum Pum Pum” Official MV

f(x) “Rum Pum Pum Pum” Lyrics

Hangul

안녕 한 번쯤은 날 들어 봤겠지
너의 사랑니 (ah)
이미 어릴 때 모두 겪었다
생각하겠지 (ah)

Attention boys 나는 좀 다를 걸
다른 애들을 다 밀어내고 자리를 잡지
맘 속 깊은 곳에 (pa rum pum pum pum)
아주 은밀하게 (pa rum pum pum pum)

네 맘 벽을 뚫고 자라난다
(네 맘 벽을 뚫고 자라난다)
특별한 경험 rum pum pum pum
(특별한 경험 rum pum pum pum)
머리가 깨질 듯이 아파온다
(머리가 깨질 듯이 아파온다)
새로운 경험
Rum pum pum pum

아야! 머리가 아플 걸 잠도 오지 않을 걸
넌 쉽게 날 잊지 못할 걸
어느 날 깜짝 나타난
진짜 네 첫사랑 (rum pum pum pum)

이거 어쩌나 곧게 자란 아일
기대했겠지 (ah)
삐딱하게 서서 널 괴롭히겠지
내가 좀 쉽진 않지 (ah)

이렇더라 저렇다 말들만 많지만
겪어보기 전엔 알 수가 없죠
힘들게 날 뽑아낸다고 한대도
평생 그 자릴 비워두겠지
(아마 난 아닐 걸)
Yeah 아마 맞을 걸 이젠 둘만의
비밀을 만들어줄게 쉿! 둘만의 쉬잇

아야! 머리가 아플 걸 잠도 오지 않을 걸
넌 쉽게 날 잊지 못할 걸
어느 날 깜짝 나타난
짜릿한 첫사랑 (rum pum pum pum)

네 마음 벽을 뚫고 자라난다
벽을 뚫고 자라난다
벽을 뚫고 자라난다
벽을 뚫고 자라난다
머리가 깨질 듯이 아파온다
깨질 듯이 아파온다
깨질 듯이 아파온다
깨질 듯이 아파온다
아주 깨질 듯이

아야! 머리가 아플 걸 (너는 머리 아플 걸)
잠도 오지 않을 걸 (잠도 오지 않을 걸)
넌 쉽게 날 잊지 못할 걸 (나를 잊지 못할 걸)
어느 날 깜짝 나타난
진짜 네 첫사랑 (rum pum pum pum)

진짜 네 첫사랑 특별한 경험
Rum pum pum pum
짜릿한 첫사랑 새로운 경험
Rum pum pum pum
진짜 네 첫사랑 특별한 경험
Rum pum pum pum
짜릿한 첫사랑 새로운 경험
Rum pum pum pum

Romanized

Annyeong han beonjjeumeun nal deureobwatgetji
Neoui sarangni (ah)
Imi eoril ddae modu gyeokkeotda
Saenggakhagetji (ah)

Attention boys nan jom dareul geol
Dareun aedeureun da mireonaego jarireul jabji
Mam sok gipeun gose (pa rum pum pum pum)
Aju eunmilhage (pa rum pum pum pum)

Ne mam byeogeul ddulhgo jarananda
(Ne mam byeogeul ddulhgo jarananda)
Teukbyeolhan gyeongheom rum pum pum pum
(Teukbyeolhan gyeongheom rum pum pum pum)
Meoriga ggaejil deusi apaonda
(Meoriga ggaejil deusi apaonda)
Saeroun gyeongheom
Rum pum pum pum (aya!)

Aya! meoriga apeul geol jamdo oji anheul geol
Neon swibge nal ijji mothal geol
Eoneu nal ggamjjak natanan
Jinjja ne cheossarang (rum pum pum pum)

Igeol eojjeona godge jaran ail
Gidaehaetgetji (ah)
Biddeokhage seoseo jjuk goerobhigetji
Naega jom swibjin anhji (ah)

Ireohdeora jeoreohdeora maldeulman manhjiman
Gyeokkeobogi jeonen al suga eobtjyo
Himdeulge nal ppobanaendago handaedo
Pyeongsaeng geu jaril biweodugetji
(Ama nan anil geol)
Yeah ama majeul geol ije dulmanui
Bimil mandeureojulge swit! dulmanui swit

Aya! meoriga apeul geol jamdo oji anheul geol
Neon swibge nal ijji mothal geol
Eoneu nal ggamjjak natanan
Jjarithan cheossarang (rum pum pum pum)

Ne mam byeogeul ddulhgo jarananda
Byeogeul ddulhgo jarananda
Byeogeul ddulhgo jarananda
Byeogeul ddulhgo jarananda
Meoriga ggaejil deusi apaonda
Ggaejil deusi apaonda
Ggaejil deusi apaonda
Ggaejil deusi apaonda
Aju ggaejil deusi

Aya! meoriga apeul geol (neoneun meori apeul geol)
Jamdo oji anheul geol (jamdo oji anheul geol)
Neon swibge nal itji mothalgeol (nareul itji mothal geol)
Eoneu nal ggamjjak natanan
Jinjja ne cheossarang (rum pum pum pum)

Jinjja ne cheotsarang teukbyeolhan gyeongham
Rum pum pum pum
Jjarithan cheotsarang saeroun gyeongham
Rum pum pum pum
Jinjja ne cheotsarang teukbyeolhan gyeongham
Rum pum pum pum
Jjarithan cheotsarang saeroun gyeongham
Rum pum pum pum

Translation

Hello, you probably heard of me at least once
Your wisdom tooth (ah)
You probably think you experienced it all
When you were young (ah)

Attention boys! I’m a bit different
I pushed aside all the others and took my place
Deep in your heart (pa rum pum pum pum)
Very secretly (pa rum pum pum pum)

I will pierce through your heart’s wall and grow
(I will pierce through your heart’s wall and grow)
A special experience rum pum pum pum
(A special experience rum pum pum pum)
It will hurt as if your head will shatter
(It will hurt as if your head will shatter)
A new experience
Rum pum pum pum

Ouch! your head will hurt, you won’t be able to sleep
You won’t forget me easily, your true first love
That appeared
All of a sudden (rum pum pum pum)

What to do? you probably expected one
Who grew up straight (ah)
But I’ll be crooked and torture you
I’m not easy (ah)

It was like this or like that, there is so much talk
But you can never know until you experience it
Even if you struggle to pull me out
That spot will be empty forever
(It’s probably not me)
Yeah, it probably is, now I’ll make
Our own little secret, shh! our own little secret, shh

Ouch! your head will hurt, you won’t be able to sleep
You won’t forget me easily, your true first love
That appeared
All of a sudden (rum pum pum pum)

I’ll pierce through your heart’s wall and grow
I’ll pierce through your heart’s wall and grow
I’ll pierce through your heart’s wall and grow
I’ll pierce through your heart’s wall and grow
It will hurt as if your head will shatter
It will hurt as if it will shatter
It will hurt as if it will shatter
It will hurt as if it will shatter
As if it will shatter

Ouch! your head will hurt (your head will hurt)
You won’t be able to sleep (won’t be able to sleep)
You won’t forget me easily (you won’t forget me)
Your true first wisdom tooth
That appeared all of a sudden (rum pum pum pum)

Your true first love, a special experience
Rum pum pum pum
Your electrifying first love, a new experience
Rum pum pum pum
Your true first love, a special experience
Rum pum pum pum
Your electrifying first love, a new experience
Rum pum pum pum

f(x) “Rum Pum Pum Pum” Meaning

“Rum Pum Pum Pum” by f(x) is a clever and playful song that compares the experience of first love to the arrival of a wisdom tooth. The track explores how an unexpected crush can suddenly enter your life, causing excitement, confusion, and emotional growing pains.

The song’s central metaphor comes from the Korean title, which translates to “First Wisdom Tooth.” Just as a wisdom tooth appears unexpectedly and can cause discomfort, first love arrives without warning and completely disrupts a person’s emotions. The lyrics portray this new feeling as both thrilling and overwhelming.

The phrase “Rum Pum Pum Pum” represents the pounding heartbeat that accompanies falling in love for the first time. It also mirrors the song’s marching-band-inspired rhythm, emphasizing how these feelings continuously demand attention and become impossible to ignore.

Overall, “Rum Pum Pum Pum” is a fun yet insightful take on first love. By comparing romance to a wisdom tooth, f(x) captures the excitement, awkwardness, and lasting impact of a first crush, reminding listeners that love often arrives unexpectedly and changes everything.