JISOO – TEARS. Lyrics Meaning: A Final Toast to Heartbreak
Ever find yourself stuck in that post-breakup loop? You know the one. Where every song on the radio feels like a personal attack, and your default mood is just… blah. You’re tired of being sad, but you can’t seem to shake it off. It feels like you’re hosting a pity party and you’re the only one who showed up. Well, what if there was an anthem for shutting that party down for good? JISOO’s song “TEARS” is exactly that—a beautifully defiant soundtrack for your final, most meaningful cry. Let’s dive into the story she’s telling, because it’s way more than just a sad song.
More Than Just a Sad Song: Unpacking the Story in JISOO’s “TEARS”
Right from the get-go, JISOO sets a very specific scene. She isn’t asking for help or sympathy. In fact, she’s rejecting it.
wirohajin marajwo
Don’t comfort me
ulgo sipjin anheunikka
Because I don’t want to cry
But then she immediately contradicts herself by describing this deep, physical sense of heartbreak. It’s a feeling that’s taken over her entire being.
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haruga tto jinaga
Another day passes
neoro jindonghaneun skin
My skin vibrates with you
nan buseojin violin
I’m a broken violin
Wow. “My skin vibrates with you.” That’s not just a memory; it’s a phantom limb, a constant, physical reminder of someone’s absence. And comparing herself to a “broken violin” is just perfect. A violin is meant to create beautiful music, but when it’s broken, it’s just a hollow, silent object of what it used to be. That’s the emotional space she’s in—feeling shattered and unable to create her own ‘music’ or joy.
The Turning Point: Waterproof Mascara and a Final Pity Party
This is where things get interesting. This is the moment she decides to take control. She’s not just going to let the sadness happen to her; she’s going to orchestrate it.
Newly bought mascara
Now waterproof beonjiji anha
Now it’s waterproof, it won’t smudge
amudo molla
Nobody will know
The waterproof mascara isn’t just a makeup choice; it’s a statement. It’s a preparation for battle. She’s planning to cry. She knows it’s coming, and she’s arming herself so the tears won’t leave a visible trace. She’s decided that this pain will be private and, more importantly, it will be on her terms. She’s tired of the performance of sadness.
jigyeowo geu pity party
I’m sick of that pity party
seulpeumeun ttak yeogikkaji
The sadness ends right here
Only until now
She’s literally saying, “I’m done.” The pity party is officially over after this one last cry. It’s a conscious decision to put a full stop to the grieving process.
A Toast to Freedom: The Meaning of the Chorus
And then comes the chorus, which is just an absolute power move. It reframes the entire act of crying into one of liberation.
This one’s on me, so cheers
oneureun neoreul itgi wihan majimak tears
Today’s the last tears to forget you
buseojyeobeorin nae maeumeul dama right here
I put my shattered heart in them right here
I did everything I could
neo ttaemune heullil nunmul deoneun no more
No more tears to shed because of you
oneuri naui majimak tears
Today is my last tears
“This one’s on me, so cheers.” Chills! She’s treating her final tears like the last round of drinks at a bar. She’s paying the tab, closing it out, and going home. It’s an act of taking full ownership of her emotions. These tears aren’t for him anymore. They are for her. They are the vessel carrying away all the broken pieces of her heart. It’s a funeral and a celebration all at once.
A Final Jab Before Goodbye
In the second verse, she doesn’t just focus on her own healing; she takes a moment to acknowledge the toxicity of the past relationship. It adds a layer of righteous anger to her sadness.
naui mogeul joineun
Choking my neck
dalkomhaetdeon neoran poison
Is the sweet poison that is you
neoran geim sogeseo nan loser
In this game of you, I’m the loser
But that don’t mean you’ve won, you loser
Calling the relationship a “sweet poison” is so relatable. It felt good at the time, but it was slowly destroying her. And that line, “But that don’t mean you’ve won, you loser,” is the perfect, punchy comeback. She might have lost the “game,” but by taking back her power, she’s exposing him as the real loser in the end. It’s a final, satisfying jab before she walks away for good.
The message of this song is incredibly empowering. It teaches us that it’s okay to feel sad and broken after a painful experience. Grieving is a necessary process. However, you have the power to decide when that process is over. You can choose to make your next cry the last one. You can put on your “waterproof mascara,” have that final emotional release, and then close that chapter. Your sadness doesn’t own you; you own it.
Ultimately, “TEARS” is a song about reclaiming your narrative. It’s about transforming an act of vulnerability into a declaration of strength. It’s the moment you stop crying because you miss them and start crying because you’re ready to find yourself again. What an incredible journey to pack into one song. What do you think? Did you get a different meaning from the lyrics? I’d love to hear your take on it!
