ZEROBASEONE’s song “CRUSH” is an intense, dramatic track about deep devotion. It symbolizes the members’ unwavering promise to protect their fans (ZEROSE) until the end, even if it means becoming the sharp thorns of a rose and tearing themselves apart to do so.

Song Credits

  • Artist: ZEROBASEONE
  • Album: 𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧
  • Released: November 6, 2023
  • Length: 2:49
  • Label: WAKE ONE
  • Producers: ImsuhoNiko, Chris Wahle, Ryan Lawrie, Ronnie Icon, Nicole Timms, Andreas Öhrn, Adora, Haedo (Papermaker)
  • Lyricist: Melange (Inhouse), Song-yu (Inhouse), Jeong Min-ji (Inhouse), Sunflower, Jo Yoon-kyung, DankeKass

ZEROBASEONE “CRUSH” Official MV

ZEROBASEONE “CRUSH” Lyrics

Hangul

Calling me (Calling me)
내겐 너무 눈부신 (눈부신)
너를 위한 loyalty (Loyalty)
준비됐어 right now
눈부신 your inside
감히 바랄 테니 허락해

(Oh-oh-oh) Break of dawn, dawn, 너만은
(Oh-oh-oh) Never down, down, 지킬게
부서져 밟혀도 it’s okay, here I am
You make me so supernatural

Gosh, woah-woah-woah
너를 꺾을 수 없게 해
Gosh, woah-woah-woah
네게 상처 줄 수 없게

(Crush) Crush me, 날 부숴도 널 지켜
(Crush) Crush me, 무너져도 난 버텨
(Crush) Crush me, 널 위해 서면, woah-woah-woah
더 아파도 너를 향해 crush

습관처럼 너를 찾고 버릇처럼 너만 감싸
축복이라 생각할게 당연한 일인 걸, 이젠 내게
널 향한 devotion, 너라면 난, yes, sir
If you want me, I’ll be there, you’re my destination

(Oh-oh-oh) Break of dawn, dawn, 너만은
(Oh-oh-oh) Never down, down, 지킬게
부서져 밟혀도, it’s okay, here I am
You make me so supernatural

Gosh, woah-woah-woah
너를 꺾을 수 없게 해
Gosh, woah-woah-woah
네게 상처 줄 수 없게

(Crush) Crush me, 날 부숴도 널 지켜
(Crush) Crush me, 무너져도 난 버텨
(Crush) Crush me, 널 위해서면, woah-woah-woah
더 아파도 너를 향해 crush

Crush, crush, crush
너를 본 순간 빠져들어 rush
Hush, hush, mush
너 말곤 전부 사라진 my world

내 모든 시간에, 오직 너만이 가득 차
내 모든 공간에, 오직 너만이 가득 차
용기 내 잡은 네 손 이제 놓지 않아
It’s time for us to fly, 부숴도 (이제 내가 너를 지켜)

(Crush) Crush me, 날 부숴도 널 지켜
(Crush) Crush me, 무너져도 난 버텨
(Crush) Crush me, 널 위해 서면, woah-woah-woah
더 아파도 너를 향해 crush (You’re my savior)

Gosh (You saved me)
Gosh (You set me free)
Gosh, woah-woah-woah
더 아파도 너를 향해 crush

Romanized

Calling me (Calling me)
Naegen neomu nunbusin (nunbusin)
Neoreul wihan loyalty (Loyalty)
Junbidwaesseo right now
Nunbusin your inside
Gamhi baral teni heorakae

(Oh-oh-oh) Break of dawn, dawn, neomaneun
(Oh-oh-oh) Never down, down, jikilge
Buseojyeo balpyeodo it’s okay, here I am
You make me so supernatural

Gosh, woah-woah-woah
Neoreul kkeokkeul su eopge hae
Gosh, woah-woah-woah
Nege sangcheo jul su eopge

(Crush) Crush me, nal buswodo neol jikyeo
(Crush) Crush me, muneojyeodo nan beotyeo
(Crush) Crush me, neol wihae seomyeon, woah-woah-woah
Deo apado neoreul hyanghae crush

Seupgwancheoreom neoreul chatgo beoreutcheoreom neoman gamssa
Chukbogira saenggakalge dangyeonhan irin geol, ijen naege
Neol hyanghan devotion, neoramyeon nan, yes, sir
If you want me, I’ll be there, you’re my destination

(Oh-oh-oh) Break of dawn, dawn, neomaneun
(Oh-oh-oh) Never down, down, jikilge
Buseojyeo balpyeodo, it’s okay, here I am
You make me so supernatural

Gosh, woah-woah-woah
Neoreul kkeokkeul su eopge hae
Gosh, woah-woah-woah
Nege sangcheo jul su eopge

(Crush) Crush me, nal buswodo neol jikyeo
(Crush) Crush me, muneojyeodo nan beotyeo
(Crush) Crush me, neol wihaeseomyeon, woah-woah-woah
Deo apado neoreul hyanghae crush

Crush, crush, crush
Neoreul bon sungan ppajyeodeureo rush
Hush, hush, mush
Neo malgon jeonbu sarajin my world

Nae modeun sigane, ojik neomani gadeuk cha
Nae modeun gonggane, ojik neomani gadeuk cha
Yonggi nae jabeun ne son ije nochi ana
It’s time for us to fly, buswodo (ije naega neoreul jikyeo)

(Crush) Crush me, nal buswodo neol jikyeo
(Crush) Crush me, muneojyeodo nan beotyeo
(Crush) Crush me, neol wihae seomyeon, woah-woah-woah
Deo apado neoreul hyanghae crush (You’re my savior)

Gosh (You saved me)
Gosh (You set me free)
Gosh, woah-woah-woah
Deo apado neoreul hyanghae crush

Translation

Calling me (Calling me)
For me you’re too dazzling (Dazzling)
For you my loyalty (Loyalty)
I’m prepared right now
Dazzling your inside
I will dare to want it, permit me

(Oh-oh-oh) Break of dawn, dawn, only you
(Oh-oh-oh) Never down, down, I’ll protect
Even if I’m crushed down, it’s okay, here I am
You make me so supernatural

Gosh, woah-woah-woah
I won’t let you be broken down
Gosh, woah-woah-woah
No one could ever harm you

(Crush) Crush me, break me, but I’ll protect you
(Crush) Crush me, strike me down, but I’ll stand on
(Crush) Crush me, when I’m there for you, woah-woah-woah
Even if it hurts, on you my crush

Looking for you out of habit, cover for you like usual
I’ll take it a blessing, it’s so natural now for me
For you my devotion, to you I’d say, yes, sir
If you want me, I’ll be there, you’re my destination

(Oh-oh-oh) Break of dawn, dawn, only you
(Oh-oh-oh) Never down, down, I’ll protect
Even if I’m crushed down, it’s okay, here I am
You make me so supernatural

Gosh, woah-woah-woah
I won’t let you be broken down
Gosh, woah-woah-woah
No one could ever harm you

(Crush) Crush me, break me, but I’ll protect you
(Crush) Crush me, strike me down, but I’ll stand on
(Crush) Crush me, when I’m there for you, woah-woah-woah
Even if it hurts, on you my crush

Crush, crush, crush
The moment I saw you, I fell in rush
Hush, hush, mush
Everything is gone but you my world

Every moment of my life is filled with only you
Every corner of my room is filled with only you
I’ll never let go of your hand from now on
It’s time for us to fly (I’ll watch over you now)

(Crush) Crush me, break me, but I’ll protect you
(Crush) Crush me, strike me down, but I’ll stand on
(Crush) Crush me, when I’m there for you, woah-woah-woah
Even if it hurts, on you my crush (You’re my savior)

Gosh (You saved me)
Gosh (You set me free)
Gosh, woah-woah-woah
Even if it hurts, on you my crush

ZEROBASEONE “CRUSH” Meaning

“CRUSH” by ZEROBASEONE is a powerful and emotional track about unconditional devotion, protection, and enduring pain for the people they love. The song’s Korean title, 가시 (“Thorn”), adds deeper symbolism by portraying the members as protective thorns willing to hurt themselves to keep others safe.

A central theme of the song is sacrificial loyalty. Rather than avoiding pain, the lyrics express a determination to move forward through suffering if it means protecting their fans, ZEROSE. Lines about “crushing” toward someone despite the pain emphasize unstoppable dedication and emotional resilience.

The “thorn” metaphor is especially important to the song’s meaning. Traditionally, thorns protect a rose, and in “CRUSH,” the members choose to become those thorns themselves. This symbolizes shielding loved ones from harm even at personal cost, turning pain into an act of love and protection.

Compared to the group’s brighter debut era with In Bloom, “CRUSH” introduces a darker, stronger, and more dramatic image. The fast-paced drum and bass production, combined with intense choreography and emotional lyrics, creates a “knight-like” atmosphere centered on courage, devotion, and unwavering commitment.