English Lyrics to ‘Fortunate’ by Lee Juck (이적)

One of singer-songwriter Lee Juck’s (이적) most famous songs, Fortunate (다행이다 or ‘Dahaengida’) was released in his third album Songs Made of Wood (나무로 만든 노래) in 2007. Lee Juck has since performed the song live in countless TV appearances and otherwise. Notably, in 2019, he sang Fortunate to a live audience in Season 3 of JTBC’s busking show Begin Again, where Korean artists form a band to busk in scenic locations around the world.

Fortunate is widely-recognized in Korea as a romantic song commonly performed at weddings. And in fact, Lee Juck wrote and composed the song for his then-girlfriend, and sang the song at his own wedding.

Just like the rest of the artist’s most iconic songs, Fortunate is made up of very simple and yet heartfelt lyrics, made even more profound by Lee Juck’s emotional delivery both on voice and piano.

Head to the end of the page and comment which of Lee Juck’s songs you would like translated next, or if you have songs from other Korean artists you want to request.

Translated Lyrics to ‘Fortunate (다행이다)’

Live performance of Fortunate (다행이다) in season 3 of busking show Begin Again

그대를 만나고 
그대의 머릿결을 만질 수가 있어서

Having met you,
And that I can stroke your hair

그대를 만나고 
그대와 마주 보며 숨을 쉴 수 있어서

Having met you,
And that I can share these breaths beside you

그대를 안고서 
힘이 들면 눈물 흘릴 수가 있어서

Embracing you,
And that I can shed a tear when times are hard

다행이다
그대라는 아름다운 세상이 여기 있어줘서

I am fortunate
That a world as beautiful as you is here beside me

[Chorus]
거친 바람 속에도 
젖은 지붕 밑에도
홀로 내팽개쳐져 있지 않다는 게

Even through the roughest winds
Even under a roof laden with the rain
That I am not left abandoned in solitude

지친 하루살이와 
고된 살아남기가
행여 무의미한 일이 아니라는 게

That the struggles of each day
And hardships of life
Are thankfully not without any meaning

언제나 나의 곁을 지켜 주던
그대라는 놀라운 사람 때문이란 걸 

The one that always stayed by my side
All because of that remarkable person that is you

그대를 만나고 
그대와 나눠 먹을 밥을 지을 수 있어서

Having met you
And that I can share these meals with you

그대를 만나고 
그대의 저린 손을 잡아줄 수 있어서

Having met you
And that I can hold your tired hands

그대를 안고서 
되지 않는 위로라도 할 수 있어서

Embracing you
And that I can comfort you even in vain

다행이다
그대라는 아름다운 세상이 여기 있어줘서

I am fortunate
That a world as beautiful as you is here beside me

[Chorus]
거친 바람 속에도 
젖은 지붕 밑에도
홀로 내팽개쳐져 있지 않다는 게

Even through the roughest winds
Even under a roof laden with the rain
That I am not left abandoned in solitude

지친 하루살이와 
고된 살아남기가
행여 무의미한 일이 아니라는 게

That the struggles of each day
And hardships of life
Are thankfully not without any meaning

언제나 나의 곁을 지켜 주던
그대라는 놀라운 사람 때문이란 걸 

The one that always stayed by my side
All because of that remarkable person that is you

그대를 만나고 
그대의 머릿결을 만질 수가 있어서

Having met you,
And that I can stroke your hair


More Lyrics

Goodbye by Park Hyo Shin
Other poetic Korean lyrics

2 thoughts on “English Lyrics to ‘Fortunate’ by Lee Juck (이적)”

  1. Thanks~! 🙂 Was actually looking for this song on Spotify after watching “Master in the House” Episode 145… but couldn’t find it… what a pleasant surprise to find it here, together with the English translations~! 🙂

    1. Hi there!

      Thank you for dropping by and taking the time to leave us a comment! And you’re right – unfortunately, ‘Fortunate’ isn’t available on Spotify at the time of writing (thank god for YouTube!).

      It’s great to see Lee Juck back with an album and appearing on more variety shows like ‘Master in the House.’ He’s one of my favourite singer-songwriters and maybe one of the few who continue to write songs without any English in the lyrics.

      We just published a translation of his 2013 song ‘Lies, lies, lies’ too, hope you check it out 🙂

      Stay safe and well,

      MoinNet Chief Editor,
      MayLKM

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