Yawn (하품)
SEVENTEEN
The Melancholic Breath of Loss: SEVENTEEN's 'Yawn (하품)'
SEVENTEEN's 'Yawn (하품)' is a poignant song that delves into the feelings of loss and the struggle to move on from a significant relationship. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is coming to terms with the cold reality that they must forget a person who was once integral to their life. The imagery of the moon passing by and the air growing colder suggests a change in time and emotional climate, indicating a transition from warmth to the chill of absence.
The song's chorus, 'Don't hate yourself, it was a good choice, you know it too,' speaks to a conversation between the self and the absent other, or perhaps an internal dialogue. It acknowledges the pain of separation and the difficulty of expressing that pain. The metaphor of yawn as a sign of something lacking, in this case, the presence of the loved one, is used to describe the emptiness felt. The yawn, a natural reflex often associated with tiredness or boredom, is repurposed here to symbolize the involuntary response to an emotional void.
The repeated references to breath and the line 'You were my breath' underscore the depth of the connection that has been lost. The absence of the loved one is likened to a gaping hole, a wound that makes it difficult to breathe, to live as fully as before. SEVENTEEN, known for their emotive lyrics and dynamic performances, captures the essence of heartache and the involuntary reactions our bodies have to emotional pain, such as a yawn, in this touching ballad.