Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: k-pop
Song Meaning of “Flashback” by After School
“Flashback” by After School is about being on the brink of change and looking back on one’s past life with a certain nostalgia and longing. The chorus, translated from Korean to English, reflects this sentiment:
“Once again, I can’t go back
I don’t want to let go of the past
It’s hard to remember it all
I’m missing a piece of time that I want to keep”.
This chorus speaks to the main theme of the song- as life cannot be reversed and the future comes with many unknowns, it is natural to reach back to the past and miss what once was. The suspense of the pre-chorus introduces the idea that even though the past can be remembered with fondness, the present- the moment of change- cannot be avoided:
“The long second
I’m standing on the border
It’s on the tip of my tongue
The next moment
It’s a color that changes”.
The verses recall memories with the lines,
“You and I in the same path
The scenery on both sides
The disappearance is slow
Is it the darkness that comes,
Or will it get bright?”
The protagonist is reflecting on their time together as they prepare to move forward. The darkness and brightness mentioned symbolize the unknown and uncertain future outside of the safety and clarity of the past.