Learn Korean With Stray Kids with these 15 Song Recommendations (Full Translations Included!)

Stray Kids
LF Content Team | Updated on 2 February 2023
Learning Korean with Stray Kids's music is fun, engaging, and includes a cultural aspect that is often missing from other language learning methods. It is also great way to supplement your learning and stay motivated to keep learning Korean!
Below are 15 song recommendations by Stray Kids to get you started! Alongside each recommendation, you will find a snippet of the lyric translations with links to the full lyric translations and lessons for each of the songs!
CONTENTS SUMMARY
MANIAC
눈은 날 못 속여 ho
본체는 풀렸네
정신을 간신히 잡지
눈 한번 깜빡이고
Eyes can't fool me, ho
Your true self's escaped
We barely hold onto our minds
With a single blink of an eye

Stray Kids crank up the volume on individuality in their electrifying track “MANIAC.” The lyrics paint a world where everyone is busy wearing a “normal” mask, flashing copy-and-paste smiles, and tiptoeing through rules that feel like a ticking time bomb. The members compare these forced facades to locked boxes and fragile dolls, warning that sooner or later the screws will pop out and the hidden “freaky monster” inside each person will burst free. With playful shouts of “Ping-ping dorabeorigetji!” (spinning round and round), they hint that embracing your quirks might look crazy from the outside, yet it is the only way to feel truly alive.

“MANIAC” is a rallying cry to break the cosplay of normality and celebrate every offbeat thought, odd habit, and untamed emotion. Stray Kids mix Frankenstein imagery, glitchy wordplay, and thunderous beats to remind listeners that being different is not a flaw but a superpower. Rather than “holding on” to a picture-perfect persona, the song urges you to pop the lock, own your eccentricities, and march proudly with the rest of the “bijeongsangtuseongi jipdan” — the extraordinary misfits who refuse to blend in.

Silent Cry
넌 그저 그렇게 아무렇지 않게
웃고 있는데 들리는 네 말에
You always say 'I'm okay'
하지만 다 보여
You just act like nothing happened
You're smiling, yet the words I hear
You always say "I'm okay"
But I can see everything

Silent Cry invites you into the hidden world of a friend who keeps smiling while quietly drowning inside. Stray Kids paint a picture of someone who says “I’m okay” yet sits alone in an empty room where even the air feels heavy. Beneath the bright grin lie whispers of loneliness, muted sighs, and rain-soaked thoughts no one else seems to hear.

The song flips that hush into a promise of rescue: “Let me hear your silent cry.” Instead of forcing cheerfulness, the narrator offers an umbrella when the storm hits, a hand to catch the tears, and a voice to say those comforting words for you. It is a moving reminder that real strength can be a shared weakness, and that friendship means listening to the feelings that never make a sound.

CASE 143
Sageon balsaeng itji mothal sageon
Chimyeongjeogin maeryeoge holladang ppajyeo
Jakku nareul jageukaneun neon
Chulcheoga eomneun munjeya pureoya hal sukjeya
An unforgettable incident went down
I'm totally sucked into your lethal charm
You keep stirring me up
A problem with no exit, homework I gotta solve

CASE 143 turns a simple love confession into a playful detective story. Stray Kids treat their sudden crush like a mysterious case file they have to crack, labeling it “143” – the old pager code for “I love you.” From the very first line, they admit that this unexpected incident has them completely hooked, as if the suspect (their love interest) keeps leaving clues they cannot ignore. The members describe racing thoughts, a fast-beating heart, and emotion overload, asking themselves again and again: “Why do I keep getting attracted?” Their feelings feel almost illogical, impossible to explain, yet impossible to escape.

The chorus spells it out: “One-four-three, I love you.” Despite all the investigation, the answer is simple. The song bounces between confident pick-up lines (“Can I be your boyfriend?”) and frantic self-questioning, mirroring how love can swing from brave to bewildered in seconds. Funky synths and chanting hooks make the confession sound like a high-energy chase scene, but at its heart lies a universal message: sometimes emotions don’t follow rules or logic, and that’s okay. Stray Kids invite listeners to join their playful case and crack their own love codes with equal excitement and honesty.

Red Lights
벗어나기 위해 몸부림쳐 봐야
There's no answer
해와 잠들 때까지 더
I really wanna know yeah
I thrash around to get away
...
Until I fall asleep with the sun
...

“Red Lights” plunges listeners into the head-spinning rush of a love that feels more like an addiction than a romance. The singer gasps for air without the other person, confessing I cannot breathe without you, and every attempt to break free only tightens the grip. Those flashing red lights are warnings blaring in his mind, but instead of stopping, he speeds straight through them, driven by feverish desire. The imagery of sleepless nights, frantic movement, and darkened rooms paints a picture of someone trapped in a loop of longing where even closing his eyes triggers vivid danger signals.

Yet beneath the danger is a raw plea: Make you feel my love. He knows the relationship is toxic, maybe even doomed, but surrender feels easier than escape. “Red Lights” turns the universal struggle between heart and reason into a cinematic thriller, wrapping Stray Kids’ edgy sound around the adrenaline-charged confession that some passions are so intense they blur every boundary between pleasure and pain.

Chk Chk Boom
위에서 춤춰, 내 plan대로 keep going
Sick of this life, it's regular
승리를 너무 과식했지, 배불러
산책도 할 겸, 허리띠 매 둘러
Dance on top, keep going by my plan
...
I binged on wins, I'm stuffed
I buckled up my belt, planning to take a walk

“Chk Chk Boom” is Stray Kids pumping pure adrenaline into your headphones. The thumping boom-boom, chk-chk, boom mimics the click of a trigger and the blast that follows, setting the scene for a high-octane mission. The members talk about lining up their targets, pulling the trigger with confidence, and loading every victory into a metaphorical truck, inviting listeners to jump in for the ride. Bored with an ordinary life, they vow to break gravity’s pull, snipe their goals one by one, and leave anything less than perfection behind.

Beneath the explosive sound lies a message of fearless ambition and unshakable self-belief. Shouting “Vamos” and “Lobos,” they cast themselves as a hungry wolf pack that never stops hunting. Clichés get shattered, chaos becomes fuel, and each step forward is another loud boom that proves they are still the same unfiltered Stray Kids—only leveled up. The takeaway is simple: pull your own trigger, drown out doubt with roaring beats, and turn every dream into a direct hit.

LALALALA (LALALA)
Welcome to 극락 락
날벼락
도시의 락
즐기면 그만
Welcome to paradise rock
Thunderbolt
City rock
Just enjoy it

LALALALA is Stray Kids’ high-voltage invitation to a limitless party. From the opening line “Welcome to geungnak” (a Buddhist word for paradise), the lyrics fling us into a neon playground where worries melt and pure rhythm rules. The group paints a picture of a buzzing city night, crammed with pounding drums, jangling guitars, and friends who shout the chorus in unison. Every shout of “La-la-la” is a reminder to ditch overthinking, breathe in fresh air, and dive headfirst into joy.

At its core, the song is a manifesto of fearless fun: lock your doubts, unlock your passion, and let the beat take control. Stray Kids blur the line between rock concert, street festival, and late-night dance battle, urging listeners to move until sunrise and trust the “rhythm of the world” to guide them. Whether you’re cramming for exams or stuck in a routine, LALALALA blasts open an escape hatch filled with relentless energy, self-expression, and a promise that happiness is louder when everyone sings together.

Truman (HAN & Felix) (Truman)
I sketch visions of my future
But sometimes the wrong shades slip in the picture
Feel like a failure, a loser
But my God reminds me, I'm human
I sketch visions of my future
But sometimes the wrong shades slip into the picture
Feel like a failure, a loser
But my God reminds me I'm human

Truman (HAN & Felix) plays out like a turbo-charged pep talk. The song borrows its title from The Truman Show, flipping the movie’s message on its head: instead of living inside a fake set, HAN and Felix plant their flag in reality. They admit to sketching imperfect futures and battling self-doubt, yet they refuse to let those “wrong shades” ruin the picture. The hook “living real, like Truman, I’m the true man” becomes a mantra for owning your flaws, keeping your head high, and celebrating the fact that being a “born freak” is exactly what makes you special.

Once that self-belief is locked in, the duo hits beast mode. Rapid-fire boasts about speeding through life in a Benz, stacking trophies with help from STAY, and munching haters like Pac-Man all serve one purpose: to show how unstoppable you can be when you make your own rules. Mixing English, Korean, and gaming references, the track shouts out anyone who dares to dream big, work hard, and stay unapologetically different. In short, HAN and Felix invite you to crank the volume, trust your unique path, and race ahead as both the “first and the last” to do it your way.

BLEEP
I was born to take off
You know my life is tied up
더 길게 뻗어갈 곡선
부딪혀 얻어낸 beautiful pain, yeah
I was born to take off
You know my life is tied up
A curve that'll stretch out even longer
Beautiful pain earned from collisions, yeah

Turn up the volume and buckle in. From its very first beat, “BLEEP” explodes with Stray Kids’ trademark confidence. The members paint themselves as rockets made to take off, charging forward on a long, upward curve. Every bruise or “beautiful pain” gained along the way becomes proof of growth. The boys juggle heavy loads of ambition and pride yet never flinch; if anyone feels uncomfortable watching that hustle, the problem lies with the onlooker, not the dreamer.

Negativity? Simply hit the “bleep” button. The chorus is a playful shout-along that treats criticism like background static. Whether it is rumors, lazy gossip, or harsh judgment, Stray Kids flip on their personal “noise cancellation” and keep having fun. Flames of doubt get hosed down “like a firetruck,” and even the ashes taste sweet. The song is an anthem of self-belief: filter out the noise, savor the grind, and let silence from the haters become music to your ears.

CREED
We're always the same, no change 같은 생각이 역시
쉽고 빠른 건 악마가 만든 향기로운 꽃
하던 대로 하지, 믿는 그대로 직진
We just 최고 속력 speed up
We're always the same, no change, the same mind too
The easy, fast path is a fragrant flower made by the devil
We keep doing it our way, charge straight ahead with what we believe
We just hit top speed, speed up

CREED by Stray Kids is a high-octane self-anthem that shouts, “We build our own legend!” From the very first skrt, the members breathe life into their words, boasting that they climb from the dirt to dizzying heights entirely on their own timing. They refuse to waste even a single second, treating every moment as precious as diamonds. The song’s pulse mirrors their hustle: raw, fearless, and packed with bite, proving they back up every bark with real action.

At its core, the track is about loyalty to a personal code—or creed. Stray Kids reject easy shortcuts, calling them “fragrant flowers made by the devil,” and instead carve out their own road, parkour-style, over any obstacle. Authenticity beats flashy façades; the group would rather show unfiltered effort than empty swagger. Their creed keeps them breathing, keeps their pens flowing with future achievements, and fuels their maximum speed toward greatness. Listeners are invited to do the same: trust your voice, stick to your principles, and race ahead on the path you create.

Phoenix
I know it's not over
고통을 집어삼켜 whoa
나를 깨워
지나간 날들에 빠져, 뒤덮이고
I know it's not over
Swallow the pain, whoa
Wake me up
Drown in past days, buried

Feel the heat of survival and self-belief. In “Phoenix,” Stray Kids turn the legendary firebird into a musical rally cry for anyone who has ever been knocked down. The lyrics open with pain and doubt, yet the members quickly swallow the hurt, wake themselves up, and refuse to stay buried in yesterday’s ashes. Every “Rebirth, rebirth” acts like a spark, reminding listeners that scars are not shackles but fuel for a spectacular comeback.

The chorus spreads its wings wide. When Stray Kids shout “We’re gonna rise up again,” they invite us to glide alongside them, feel the air of possibility, and light up the night with our own flames. The song’s rapid rap lines paint images of dancing through storms, blooming after being trampled, and sprinting through endless fire without fear. In the end, “Phoenix” is an anthem of relentless resilience: no matter how fierce the blaze, we can always emerge brighter, stronger, and ready to soar higher than before.

In My Head
Hey, you, lying in your bed
Staring at the ceiling, yeah, I thought that you were dead
What's going on in your head? Yeah
Today, you think there'll be a change
Hey, you, lying in your bed
Staring at the ceiling, yeah, I thought that you were dead
What's going on in your head? Yeah
Today, you think there'll be a change

In My Head captures the moment when your thoughts turn into a noisy roommate you cannot quiet.

Through vivid images of lying in bed, explosive time-bomb emotions, and pounding headaches, Stray Kids paint a picture of someone trapped in a never-ending loop of worry and confusion. The lyrics swing between English and Korean to emphasize how universal this mental tug-of-war feels: one minute you recall the warmth of love, the next you are questioning why nothing seems to change. This song is not just about feeling sad – it is about the frustration of knowing you have tried everything yet still waking up to the same “뭣 같은 일상” (“this messed-up daily life”). By the end, the repeated chorus turns into a rallying cry, inviting listeners to recognize their own mental clutter and shout back, “I’m messed up in my head, but I am still here.”

Packed with raw honesty, genre-blending beats, and the group’s signature high-energy delivery, In My Head offers comfort to anyone who has ever felt stuck inside their own thoughts. Instead of providing a tidy solution, Stray Kids remind us that admitting the chaos is the first brave step toward change.

Half Time (HALF Time)
전반전, 아직까진 전반전, 끝이 보여? 건방져
시작이 반이니, 이제 시작이지 대장정
울리는 whistle 다 멈칫할 때 hustle
발휘하지, 허를 찌를 기술
First half, still the first half, see the end? Cocky
Start is half the battle, so now the long journey starts
When the whistle rings and everyone freezes, hustle
I pull off a move that hits their blind spot

Half Time turns the soccer field into a huge metaphor for Stray Kids’ artistic journey. With whistles blowing, quick footwork, and surprise plays, the members declare that everything so far has only been the first half. They are still bursting with energy, perfecting new “tactics,” and refusing to be rattled by slips or tackles. Every obstacle is just another drill that sharpens their skills, and the crowd’s roar fuels them to push even harder.

Behind the sports imagery lies a powerful message of confidence and perseverance. The song celebrates being at one’s prime time while recognizing that the real game has barely begun. Stray Kids invite listeners to shake off doubt, break old patterns, and keep moving toward victory, knowing that the comeback after halftime is going to be bigger, louder, and more spectacular than anything the world has seen so far.

Thunderous
소리를 지르는 내가
창빈이란다, 내 자리는 내가 취한다
태도는 터프하게 트랙 위를
폭주하는 기관차
I, who scream
I'm Changbin, and I take my own pkace
With a tough attitude on the track
A raging locomotive

Thunderous crackles with the sound of unapologetic self-confidence. Stray Kids compare their voices to claps of thunder, announcing that they will keep being loud, original, and a little “dirty” no matter how many doubters complain about the noise. Lines about fiery rain and lightning paint them as a storm rolling in, shaking up anyone who tries to silence or tame them. Rather than bow to social rules or gossip, they turn every sneer into a cymbal crash, proving that their raw energy is exactly what makes them powerful.

Underneath the swagger sits an encouraging message for listeners: don’t water yourself down for comfort’s sake. Whether people call you too much, too weird, or too noisy, own the very traits that set you apart. Like thunder, your true voice can be startling at first—but it also lights up the whole sky.

JJAM
재미 좀 볼 때 발라 버려 honey jam, ayy
Finger lickin', yeah 실컷 찍어라 직캠
다채로움을 모아 새로 조화롭게
자, 찬란한 목소리, 현란한 춤사위 모여 같이 jam, jam
When you're looking for some fun, smear that honey jam, ayy
Finger lickin', yeah film fancams all you want
Gather every color and blend it anew in harmony
Come on, blazing voices, flashy dance moves, gather and jam, jam

“JJAM” bursts open like a jar of peanut-butter-and-jelly joy. Stray Kids flip the Korean slang “no jam” (meaning “boring”) on its head, inviting everyone to make their own jam by diving into irresistible bass lines, flashy dance moves, and playful word-play. The chorus’s sticky refrain celebrates togetherness: when each person adds their unique flavor, the crew’s groove becomes sweet, thick, and impossible to shake off.

Beyond the party vibe, the lyrics carry a friendly challenge: drop your worries, slow traffic, and second-guessing, then mix your colors into a brand-new harmony. “JJAM” is a musical playground where confidence and spontaneity spread like jam on toast, proving that fun gets louder—and tastier—when we stick together.

Blind Spot (BLIND SPOT)
Eoduun bam sorichineun nal
Amudo nae moseup mollado gwaenchana
Binnaneun dochak jijeom dwi mollak
Haet-tteon moseubeun sumgyeo
I yell into the dark night
It's alright that nobody knows me
I took a step back from the shining finish line
I hide the way I used to be

Blind Spot is Stray Kids’ anthem for anyone who feels overlooked while chasing a dream. The lyrics paint a picture of long, dark nights filled with sweat, mistakes and self-doubt that the outside world never sees. People usually applaud the final triumph, but this song zooms in on the hidden grind—the blind spot—and urges listeners to keep pushing even when no one is watching. Every unseen effort is compared to a secret light being forged in the dark, ready to burst out and silence the skeptics.

The repeated line “Shining, we are the champions” flips the script: the moment you recognize your own progress, you have already started winning. Stray Kids cheer you on to stomp over fear, protect your self-belief, and meet them “outside the blind spot” where all the quiet perseverance finally glows. It is an energizing reminder that true greatness is born in private struggles, not in public applause.

We have more songs with translations on our website and mobile app. You can find the links to the website and our mobile app below. We hope you enjoy learning Korean with music!