⋆ Beomgyu, Taehyun & Hueningkai Sub-unit
⋆ Genre [Source: Naver/BigHit]: Rock
⋆ Producing Credits: Krupa, Steve Manovski
⋆ Writing/Composing Credits: Jordan Shaw, Alexander Shilov, Steve Manovski, "hitman" bang, Chester Krupa Carbone, Hwang Yoo Bin, TAEHYUN, danke, Ellie Suh (153/Joombas), SOOBIN, Na Jung Ah (153/Joombas)
ABOUT/MEANING: 'Quarter Life' captures the boys' introspection and uncertainty as they navigate the struggles of early adulthood, searching for direction in an overwhelming world. Caught in a seemingly endless tunnel, they grapple with frustration, loneliness, and the pressure of expectations, questioning whether a way forward even exists. Yet, despite the weight of the unknown, they refuse to give in to despair. Instead, they embrace uncertainty, pushing forward with the hope that even in the darkest moments, the path ahead will reveal itself. Their journey through this quarter-life crisis becomes a testament to resilience—a reflection of their determination to persevere, knowing that just beyond today’s struggles, a brighter tomorrow awaits. [Please note that this is our interpretation of the song's meaning, based on the ongoing narrative of TXT's discography and insights from the members and official press releases. It's perfectly fine to have a different interpretation—after all, that's the beauty of music ♡]
LYRICS - ENGLISH TRANSLATION (translations by @translatingTXT)
A quarter-life
It's the phrase someone uses to call my age
The long, long tunnel that I've walked about a quarter of
It's such a long, long tunnel
They say these are the good times
They say my beautiful youth is only now
But it's just hard, I ain't happy at all
I ain't happy at all
I wonder if there's an end to this dark tunnel
Even if I shout, there's only an echo
Where am I supposed to go?
Amid unsolicited advice with no answers
Lonely, I'm left all alone
It feels like I'm walking in place, quarter-life crisis
In this life I've been thrown into without any exits
I can't see the end of this path
Every day is so suffocating
It feels like I'm walking in place, quarter life crisis
Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Quarter-life crisis
A 'quarter-life crisis' is defined by psychologist Alex Fowke as "a period of insecurity, doubt, and disappointment over the direction and quality of one's life, typically when they're in their mid-twenties."
Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Quarter-life crisis
Don't wanna say
No matter how hard it gets, I don't wanna say
That this life is ruined, I fucked it up
Won't say "I fucked it up," no
The version of 'Quarter Life' released on most streaming platforms replaces "fucked" with "messed."
This moment might be the darkest period, we don't know
Let's not stop now
I don't know where we're supposed to go
But we'll keep walking forward
It might be a bit dark right now
But we'll pull through as if we're wandering, quarter-life crisis
Don't look back, there's no turning back
Becoming an adult might just be
An answer sheet with no right answer
But we'll pull through as if we're wandering, quarter-life crisis
Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Quarter life crisis
Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Quarter life crisis
Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Quarter life crisis
Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
But we'll pull through as if we're wandering, quarter-life crisis
I don't know where we're supposed to go
But we'll keep walking forward
It might be a bit dark right now
But we'll pull through as if we're wandering, quarter-life crisis
Helpful Context (Album Summary): "Close your eyes, Wendy. Leave tomorrow behind. Take my hand, and let’s go to a place where we will never grow old, with no worries." These words from 'The Name Chapter' concept trailer once embodied the allure of eternal youth - a fantasy of escaping time. But 'Minisode 3: TOMORROW' marks a turning point in the boys’* journey, shifting from running away from the inevitable to embracing what lies ahead. Bridging 'The Name Chapters' and 'The Star Chapters,' the album explores their emotional and personal growth after resisting the temptation of Neverland (TEMPTATION) and taking a leap into the unknown (FREEFALL). Now, standing at the threshold of 'tomorrow,' they no longer seek to evade it but instead welcome it. The album tells the story of a boy who, remembering a past promise, embarks on a journey to find 'you'*: the one with whom he made that promise. Believing that 'tomorrow' holds hope and salvation, he faces the challenges of today with confidence that the future can bring something better. Inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s 'The Little Prince,' the album explores the emotional landscape of waiting for a brighter tomorrow while navigating the struggles of the present. It serves as a testament to youth’s unwavering optimism and the belief that, despite uncertainty, tomorrow is worth facing. [*Within TXT's discography-based narrative, the term 'boys' or 'boy' represents the TXT members while also serving as generalized protagonists to convey the broader experiences of youth. While 'you' is intentionally kept broad, allowing for various interpretations of the relationship whether it be platonic, romantic, fan-artist, or another dynamic.]
Helpful Context (Album Series Summary): In between each series of chapters in TXT's discography, 'minisodes' are released. Minisodes serve as transitional bridges, between chapters, guiding the listener from one era to the next while introducing new themes and emotional turning points.
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