EPEX track “ECO” serves as an emotional conclusion to the group’s “Youth” narrative series. The song revolves around themes of shared resonance, overcoming youthful anxieties, and connection with someone whose presence is as persistent and comforting as an echo.
Hangul
We know this, faced with liberation wide open
Yesterday it’s gone, now it’s just the hashtag
No phone, no photos or camera turned off
My time is a big deal, no more blocking
A fence of which only rubble remains, trampled on
Take a deeper breath of fresh air
No matter how hard you try, it’s a passing MacGuffin
And I will never be controlled, because I understand the game
Eyes on me
You don’t need to say a word, I don’t care what you heard
On your breath
The flow that undulates over the unfolding world
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
It takes a moment before we even realize, we’ve already started
Echo, echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
I’m sick of this, my breathing gets harder and harder.
I pour out my sincerity that I’m more used to hiding.
The desperation that blocked all my vision soon fades (Ooh)
The reverberations of this growing tremor continue
Ayo, can you hear me? What happened
Don’t think about forgetting it and spitting it out loud, yawn
Vibrations of the same intensity sounding at the same time
Raise your voice and you have to give your all
Yes, we have everything we dreamed of, yes, I feel it, yes, I feel it
What is it about the world that unfolds and moves?
A loud cry to demonstrate
This is my echo that woke me up
Eyes on me (always on me, girl)
You don’t need to say a word, I don’t care what you heard (Yeah, I don’t care what you are)
On your breath
Disappearance of anxiety and change in flow
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need an echo, echo, echo, echo, echo (Ooh-ooh)
We need a moment before we even realize we’ve already started (Yeah, yeah)
Echo, echo, echo, echo, echo, echo (Echo, hey)
Every moment you and I breathe
It can’t go like this, it can’t go like this
This tremor continues to spread
Let me give it to you (we need an echo)
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo (Echo)
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo (Oh)
We make it echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
We make it echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
We make it echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
We make it echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
Romanised
We know, tak teuin seonmyeonghan haebang bee
Eoje gyaen eopseo ije, that’s just the hashtag
No phone, no photos or camera turned off
Nae sigani is a big deal, no more lockdown
Janhaemani nameun fence, jeuryeobalbeun chae
Jom deo gipge deurikyeo fresh air
Kkikaebwatja jinaganeun MacGuffin
And I will never be controlled, because I understand the game
Eyes on me
You don’t need to say a word, I don’t care what you heard
On your breath
Pyeolchyeojin sesang wiro illeongineun flow
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need a kkaedatjido mothan sungan urin imi sihakaesseo
Echo, echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
I’m sick of all this, jeomjeom deo gappajineun hoheube
I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do it.
Su siyareul mageun jeolmangeun inae fades away (Ooh)
Keojyeoganeun i tteollimui banhyangeun gyesokdwae
Ayo, can you hear me? Jinagan Geon
Don’t think about it, go baeteo keuge, yawn
Dongsie ullin gateun segiui jindong
Sorireul nopigo must hit the load
Yes, we have everything we dreamed of, yes, I feel it, yes, I feel it
Jom deo pyeolchyeogago hechyeoganeun sesang soge mueosinga
Boyeojuryeo keuge deonjin hamseong
Naega kkaeun ige naui echo
Eyes on me (always on me, girl)
You don’t need to say a word, I don’t care what you heard (Yeah, I don’t care what you are)
On your breath
Sarajineun burangwa dwibakkwineun stream
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need an echo, echo, echo, echo, echo (Ooh-ooh)
We need a kkaedatjido mothan sungan urin imi sijakaesseo (Yes, yes)
Echo, echo, echo, echo, echo, echo (Echo, hey)
Neowa naega sum swineun mae sugan
It can’t go like this, it can’t go like this
I tteollimeun gyesok beonjyeoga
Let me give it to you (we need an echo)
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo (Echo)
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo (Oh)
We make it echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
We make it echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
We make it echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
We make it echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
Translation
We know this, in the face of a broad, crystalline liberation
Yesterday’s person is no longer here, this is just the hashtag
No phone, no photos or camera turned off
My time is a big deal, no more blocking
Walking decisively beyond the fence where only the wreckage remains,
Breathe in the fresh air just a little deeper
At most it’s just a passing MacGuffin
And I will never be controlled, because I understand the game
Eyes on me
You don’t need to say a word, I don’t care what you heard
On your breath
A rolling, rushing flow high above the unfolding world
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need a… in just an instant, before we even knew it, we had already started
Echo, echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
I’m sick of this, in the midst of my breathing becoming heavier and more irregular,
Show your true raw heart, which you are too used to hiding
The desperation that blocked our entire field of vision will soon fade (Ooh)
The resonance of this growing tremor continues endlessly
Ayo, can you hear me? The things that have already passed—
Don’t think about them, forget them and give a loud, massive yawn
A vibration of the exact same intensity that resonates at the same time
Turn up the volume, I have to give it my all
Yes, we have everything we dreamed of, yes, I feel it, yes, I feel it
Within a world where we expand further and move forward, what exactly is it?
A battle cry thrown loud and clear to show them something
This thing I’ve awakened… this is my echo
Eyes on me (always on me, girl)
You don’t need to say a word, I don’t care what you heard (Yeah, I don’t care what you are)
On your breath
Anxieties that vanish completely and a changing, reverse flow
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need an echo, echo, echo, echo, echo (Ooh-ooh)
We need a… in just one moment, before we even knew it, we had already started (Yeah, yeah)
Echo, echo, echo, echo, echo, echo (Echo, hey)
Every single moment that you and I breathe,
It can’t go like this, it can’t go like this
This tremor continues to spread further and further away
Let me give it to you (we need an echo)
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo (Echo)
We need an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo, an echo (Oh)
We make it echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
We make it echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
We make it echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
We make it echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
EPEX’s “ECHO” is an emotional song about connection, healing, and growing together through life’s uncertainties. As the final chapter of the group’s “Youth” narrative, the song reflects on the lessons, memories and relationships formed during the journey to adulthood.
The central metaphor of the song is the echo itself. Just as a voice is reflected and returned, the lyrics suggest that emotions are to be shared rather than carried alone. The repeated phrase “We need an echo” expresses the desire for someone who understands, supports and reflects our feelings in difficult times.
Another important theme is overcoming anxiety and insecurity. The lyrics acknowledge the fears and insecurities that often accompany young people, but highlight the comfort that comes from having someone by your side. Through mutual understanding and support, the characters in the song find the strength to move forward.
Ultimately, “ECHO” serves as a hopeful message about growth and belonging. The lingering echo symbolizes the memories, experiences and connections that remain with us long after a chapter in life ends. It reminds listeners that, even in times of uncertainty, they are never truly alone.
