Though I urged him not to cross the river,

He did not listen to my admonition.

He waded into the river, and got drowned;

What should I do, now he is gone?

Those orioles singing, fluttering their wings,

Are in the joy of their conjugal companionship;

Lonesome as I am, deprived of my beloved,

With whom should I head toward my home?

You, turtle, who will rule us,

Crawl out, and show your head.

If you don't appear immediately,

We shall cook you up, and eat.

O moon, rise high, rise up high,

And brighten the road he treads.

Aila-lay, alla-lay,

Aila-lay, dalla-lay.

Are you now at a marketplace?

I fear the road may be muddy.

Aila-lay, alla-lay,

Aila-lay, dalla-lay.

Take down your load wherever you can.

Wherever you are, I fear the sun may set soon.

Aila-lay, alla-lay,

Aila-lay, dalla-lay.

Princess Sŏn-hwa secretly

Married nobody knows who.

That young man, Sŏ-dong,

She secretly hugs every night.

Moon, are you now going down

Over yon western hill?

Pray, convey my wish to Buddha

Seated in the palace of eternal peace:

Looking up toward his merciful face,

With my hands held palm to palm,

I pray for the beloved soul of mine

To be born again in the land of eternal peace.

Ah, when it leaves this body here,

Will it attain my wish to be reborn in Nirvana?

Missing the spring gone,

I weep in unbearable grief.

Your unparalleled noble look will not

Please an onlooker's eyes, never again.

Wherever I turn my eyes,

Can I ever see your like again?

My friend and master, my longing for you

Draws me near the bush where you lie.

Near a purple rock by the sea

Let me free my hands leading a cow.