“Second Grade” was track 13 on their 2014 Dark and Wild Album. They used the expression “second grade” to describe being in their second year in the music industry after debut. Korean lyrics are from Naver Music.

On their recent 2018 BTS Prom Party, they changed the song into “Fifth Grade” for their 5th year anniversary Festa. Technically, they have just finished their 5th grade and are starting their 6th grade, but whatever. :) Some of the lyrics were changed – especially RM’s part, which I thought was really fun.

Pruduced by: HoBo

Written by: 250, Jinbo, RM, Suga, J-Hope

Common Lyrics in this color (for both Second Grade and Fifth Grade).

Second Grade lyrics in this color.

Fifth Grade lyrics in this color.

I hope this is not too confusing…

Some adaptations were done.

In the blink of an eye, we become second grade / In the blink of an eye, we become fifth grade.

We pull the trigger again, ’cause time is flowing fast.

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

In the blink of an eye, we become second grade / In the blink of an eye, we become fifth grade.

Me, who used to chase dreams, is now setting fire on stage

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

I haven’t changed much baby,

Second grade in pop music industry / Fifth grade in pop music industry

Still 181 (cm) baby, only my heart got taller

In a way, getting 1st score within our grade, baby

Received Rookie award too / Received Billboard

Walking down the hallway, we receive greetings from new juniors too.

I’m kind of starting to get it, doing the rehearsals with ease

I got some 1 year juniors too, and I think I’m going forward a bit too.

Ahhhh shhhhh, ah.. but in front of our eyes,

in Korean, “shhhh” is proununced as “shhhht”, or “shit”…so can mean “shit” or “shhh”

Fifth and sixth year seniors / Drake and Pharrell seniors

(Hello!) And then I really feel it, the “now” that still has a long way to go.

Our teacher, Mr. Public

until last year did not burden us with expectations / starting this year, is totally burdening us with expectations

That we’re just first year rookies, that it’s alright / That they’re proud, that we’re on Billboard, that we’re on the news

Sat us down and taught us how cold the world is with few subjects:

Prejudice, slander, double standards, swearing,

And indifference / Here, have some attention!

Teacher,

Is there Sooneung here too? / Is there still Sooneung?

Sooneung = national standardized exam for university entrance.

If I get #1, am I a successful singer? / Is only #1 a successful singer?

I like that kind of stuff too, but I want to do music

For now, just leave me be to do what I want / Shut your mouth, we’re just Bangtan!

Work it out, work it out, 24 hours

Burn it up, Burn it up, burn up each moment

Put this or that worry behind us

Even after a year has passed, we still live the “today”

In the blink of an eye, we become second grade / In the blink of an eye, we become fifth grade.

We pull the trigger again, ’cause time is flowing fast.

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

In the blink of an eye, we become second grade / In the blink of an eye, we become fifth grade.

Me, who used to chase dreams, is now setting fire on stage

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

Ah, I’m already becoming second grade / Ah, I’m already becoming fifth grade

(Oh no!)

In the blink of an eye, the time passes quickly (Go go)

Study hard and play hard, right?

Just like that, a year went “bye” like magic / Just like that, five years went “bye” like magic

But what do I do? I’m kinda worried

While I won’t have to worry so much about being perfectly tactful

But there are so many subjects I have to take

In the above 2 lines:

The phrase for “being tactful” is written something like “eating the rice of tact”. The Korean word for this “tact” also implies that they’re not given much instruction so they have to figure out subtleties of what they’re supposed to do.

He then says the “table is fully set with subjects he needs to learn.”

This implies that in first year, they had to “eat a lot of rice of tact” so that they leave a good impression. So they were full.

But in the second year, they might not have to eat so much of this “rice of tact” but they still have a full table of things they need to learn to keep them full.

Food related imagery seems to be a recurring thing in BTS songs. (Maybe they’re always hungry)

When it feels like there’s a moment for break, the teacher shoots nagging at us, Bang Bang Bang

“You have to do well on the Sooneug!”

What the Sooneung is Sooneung

Teacher, we’re people too. Accept it accept

Accept = soogeung, which rhymes nicely with Sooneung.

Should I ditch everything and go tease the juniors today?

I’m off to PC cafe, I won’t get any sleep! / I’m off to Festa, I won’t get any sleep!

Work it out, work it out, 24 hours

Burn it up, Burn it up, burn up each moment

Put this or that worry behind us

Even after a year has passed, we still live the “today”

In the blink of an eye, we become second grade / In the blink of an eye, we become fifth grade.

We pull the trigger again, ’cause time is flowing fast.

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

In the blink of an eye, we become second grade / In the blink of an eye, we become fifth grade.

Me, who used to chase dreams, is now setting fire on stage

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

If I give score as a second year rapper / If I give score as a fifth year rapper

Thankfully, we at least defended our position

We’re still neophytes, we continued to run

And just became second year / And just became fifth year

The Gulliver between the ideal and reality

I won’t worry about what others say,

I’m gonna just push forth in whatever way I feel like

The old men wearing prejudice-tinted glasses, line up in front of me.

“Line up in front of me” is something that a teacher says to his students during assembly, etc. This line implies that these prejudiced men should learn from him, as well as line up (get organized/behave).

Looking back on the past, it was totally draining

Literally “it dried all my blood up”

Shut up, I’m now in second grade / Shut up, I’m now in fifth grade

This is new era, new starting point

He uses a word for “starting point” that sounds the same as “fucking point”

Hide well, my slyness in my head might show

“Hide well, hair on your head might show” is what the “it” says in the game hide-and-seek in Korea. The line gives a feel that he is full of slyness and he’s going to soon chase after the others (whether they’re haters, other artists, or the prejudiced old men)

Whether you’re senior or junior or teacher, Get the …… out.

In the blink of an eye, we become second grade / In the blink of an eye, we become fifth grade.

We pull the trigger again, ’cause time is flowing fast.

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

In the blink of an eye, we become second grade / In the blink of an eye, we become fifth grade.

Me, who used to chase dreams, is now setting fire on stage

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it

(Still every day) Bang it bang it, bang it bang it