“Umpah Umpah” by ⁠Red Velvet uses the swimming breathing technique as a playful metaphor for learning how to breathe and survive when you are suddenly overwhelmed by falling in love.

Song Credits

  • Artist: Red Velvet
  • Album: The ReVe Festival’ Day 2
  • Released: August 19, 2019
  • Length: 3:40
  • Label: SM Entertainment
  • Lyricist: Jeon Gan-di
  • Composer: Christoffer Lauridsen, Andreas Öberg,Allison Kaplan

Red Velvet “Umpah Umpah” Official MV

Red Velvet “Umpah Umpah” Lyrics

Hangul

Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Umpah umpah umpah umpah

Here we go now!
Umpah-pah
Uh yeah
Uh yeah

경고하는데 조심해야 돼
깊을지도 몰라
여럿 봤는데 못 나오던데
왜? 나도 몰라
내게 묻지 마 얼마나 깊은지
내 눈은 못 보니까
허우적대는 저 다른 애들과
넌 다르길 바래

막 답답하고
숨이 막히고
내게 빠진 거 맞지?
너무 겁먹지 마
난 바로 너야 넌
숨만 쉬어도 내 짝이 될 테니까

Feel the rhythm
몸이 기억하는 대로 좋아
Something unforgettable
바로 지금
맘이 흘러가는 대로 좋아
수평선 위를 나는 거야

Umpah umpah umpah umpah
호흡을 맞추고
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
두 눈을 맞추고
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
너와 나 좋아
Something unforgettable

Let the beat drop
기분 So so hot hot
Uh yeah

(Baby)
Umpah-pah 응? 좀 이상해 (Ding!)
음, 어디 갔어?
자꾸 너 박자를 놓쳐?
경고야 너 또 물먹어 (Oh yeah yeah yeah)
자꾸만 Dumb dumb 잠깐만 Huh
궁금해? 이 빠-빨간 맛 Yah
행복이란 가깝지 Like ice cream cake! (Ice cream cake)

막 정신없고 (막 정신없고)
숨이 막히고 (숨 막히고)
내게 빠진 거 맞지?
너무 겁먹지 마 (난)
난 항상 너야 넌 (너야)
숨만 쉬어도 곧 떠오를 테니까 (널 테니까)

Feel the rhythm
몸이 기억하는 대로 좋아 (Oh yeah)
Something unforgettable (Unforgettable)
바로 지금 (바로 지금)
맘이 흘러가는 대로 좋아
수평선 위를 나는 거야

Umpah umpah umpah umpah
리듬을 맞추고
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
두 발을 맞추고
Umpah umpah umpah umpah (Ooh yeah)
너와 나 좋아
Something unforgettable

태양을 담은 (Oh)
너의 그 눈빛 속 날 봐 (Oh yeah 나를 봐)
잊지 못할 이 순간 좋아

Feel the rhythm (Feel the rhythm)
몸이 기억하는 대로 좋아 (My heart 좋아)
Something unforgettable (Unforgettable)
바로 지금 (바로 지금)
맘이 흘러가 니 몸을 맡겨 내 손을 놓지 마 (Oh)
수평선 위를 나는 거야

Umpah umpah umpah umpah
호흡을 맞추고
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
두 눈을 맞추고 (Oh 너와 나 Ah yeah)
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
이 순간 좋아 (좋아)
Something unforgettable (Unforgettable)

Let the beat drop (That’s right)
기분 So so hot hot (Hot)
Here we go now! (Yeah)
Umpah-pah

Romanized

Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Umpah umpah umpah umpah

Here we go now!
Umpah-pah
Uh yeah
Uh yeah

Gyeonggohaneunde joshimhaeya dwae
Gipeuljido molla
Yeoreot bwanneunde mot naodeonde
Wae? nado molla
Naege mtdji ma eolmana gipeunji
Nae nuneun mot bonikka
Heoujeokdaeneun jeo dareun aedeulgwa
Neon dareugil barae

Mak dapdapago
Sumi makigo
Naege ppajin geo matji?
Neomu geommeokji ma
Nan baro neoya neon
Summan shwieodo nae jjagi dwel tenilkka

Feel the rhythm
Momi gieokaneun daero joa
Something unforgettable
Baro jigeum
Mami heulleoganeun daero joa
Supyeongseon wireul naneun geoya

Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Hoheubeul matchugo
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Du nuneul matchugo
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Neowa na joa
Something unforgettable

Let the beat drop
Gibun So so hot hot
Uh yeah

(Baby)
Umpah-pah eung? jom isanghae (Ding!)
Eum, eodi gasseo?
Jakku neo bakjareul notcheo?
Gyeonggoya neo tto mulmeogeo (Oh yeah yeah yeah)
Jakkuman Dumb dumb jamkkanman Huh
Gunggeumhae? i ppa-ppalgan mat Yah
Haengbogiran gakkapji Like ice cream cake! (Ice cream cake)

Mak jeongshineopgo (mak jeongshineopgo)
Sumi makigo (sum makigo)
Naege ppajin geo matji?
Neomu geopmeokji ma (nan)
Nan hangsang neoya neon (neoya)
Summan shwieodo got tteooreul tenikka (neol tenikka)

Feel the rhythm
Momi gieokaneun daero joa (Oh yeah)
Something unforgettable (Unforgettable)
Baro jigeum (baro jigeum)
Mami heulleoganeun daero joa
Supyeongseon wireul naneun geoya

Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Rideumeul matchugo
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Du bareul matchugo
Umpah umpah umpah umpah (Ooh yeah)
Neowa na joa
Something unforgettable

Taeyangeul dameun (Oh)
Neoye geu nunppit sok nal bwa (Oh yeah nareul bwa)
Itji motal i sungan joa

Feel the rhythm (Feel the rhythm)
Momi gieokaneun daero joa (My heart joa)
Something unforgettable (Unforgettable)
Baro jigeum (baro jigeum)
Mami heulleoga ni momeul matgyeo nae soneul nochi ma (Oh)
Supyeongseon wireul naneun geoya

Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Hoheubeul matchugo
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Du nuneul matchugo (Oh neowa na Ah yeah)
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
I sungan joa (joa)
Something unforgettable (Unforgettable)

Let the beat drop (That’s right)
Gibun So so hot hot (Hot)
Here we go now! (Yeah)
Umpah-pah

Translation

Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Umpah umpah umpah umpah

Here we go now!
Umpah-pah
Uh yeah
Uh yeah

I’m warning you, you should be careful
It might be deep
I’ve seen many, but they all couldn’t come out
Why? I don’t know
Don’t ask me why
My eyes can’t see how deep it is
Hope that you’re different
From them floundering around

Stifling and suffocating
You are falling for me
Aren’t you?
Don’t be too afraid
To me, it sure is you
Just breathe and you’ll be my partner

Feel the rhythm
As your body remembers, I like it
Something unforgettable
Right now
Just follow the heart, I like it
Fly above the horizon

Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Breathe together
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Look each other in the eye
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
You and I, like it
Something unforgettable

Let the beat drop
Feel so so hot hot
Uh yeah

(Baby)
Umpah-pah, huh? It’s a little weird (Ding!)
Um, where are you?
You keep missing the beat?
Warning you drink water again
Keep being dumb dumb, wait
Curious? This r-red flavor
Happiness is nearby like ice cream cake!

Crazy and suffocating
You falling for me
Aren’t you?
Don’t be too afraid
To me, it’s always you
Just breathe and you will float (It will be you)

Feel the rhythm
As your body remembers, I like it
Something unforgettable
Right now
Just follow the heart, I like it
Fly above the horizon

Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Keep the rhythm
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Keep step
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
You and I, like it
Something unforgettable

Look at me
With your eyes capturing the sun
I like this unforgettable moment

Feel the rhythm
As your body remembers, I like it
Something unforgettable
Right now
My heart flows, count on me, don’t lose my hands
Fly above the horizon

Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Breathe together
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
Look each other in the eye (Oh you and I)
Umpah umpah umpah umpah
I like this moment
Something unforgettable

Let the beat drop
Feel so so hot hot
Here we go now!
Umpah-pah

Red Velvet “Umpah Umpah” Meaning

Red Velvet’s “Umpah Umpah” is a playful summer pop song that compares falling in love to learning how to swim. Using the Korean swimming phrase “umpah umpah” (inhale, exhale), the track portrays the exciting yet overwhelming emotions that come with a new romance.

The song’s central metaphor is being submerged in love. Just as a beginner swimmer must learn how to breathe underwater, the lyrics describe someone feeling dizzy, breathless, and overwhelmed by their growing feelings. The members playfully encourage their love interest to stay calm and enjoy the experience instead of panicking.

Ultimately, “Umpah Umpah” is a cheerful song about embracing the thrill of romance and learning to navigate the emotional waves of love with confidence.