The Meaning Of RM's "Persona" Lyrics Gives More Insight Into BTS' 'Map Of The Soul' Album
It's a moment we've all been waiting for, BTS ARMY! It's RM’s turn to grace us with the comeback trailer for "Map Of The Soul: Persona" and OMG it doesn't disappoint. While — in usual BTS style — the video is totally colorful, full of whimsy, and eclectic visuals, there is so much more happening beneath the surface on an emotional and intellectual level. But what do RM's "Persona" lyrics mean? Well, friends, RM's poetic rhymes grapple with a struggle so many of us face: the search for the true self.
Are you already moved? Because I'm already moved.
Really, it's all very raw. RM bares himself in "Persona" by questioning who he is and how he can keep track of his identity when he has to keep up, you know, a persona as an ultra-famous musician. He opens the track by asking simply:
Who am I? The question I had my whole life. Who am I? The question which I probably won't find the answer to my whole life.
RM goes on and sings:
I’m still not so sure if I’m a dog or a pig or what else. But then other people come and put the pearl necklace on me. I laugh more than I did before. I dreamt of becoming a superhero. Now it feels like I really became one.
Clearly, there is some frustration RM is contending with when it comes to feeling powerful and fulfilling his dreams, yet he still can't be certain of who he is or how seriously he should take it all. RM is thinking about the difference between the public RM and the RM he is inside.
Hey, have you already forgotten why you even started this? You were just digging it that someone was listening. Sometimes everything sounds like freakin’ nonsense.
I feel that, RM. I really feel that.
As you may have known, "Map of the Soul: Persona" is actually a reference to a book about Swiss psychiatrist and father of analytical psychology Carl Jung. The book in question, Jung’s Map of the Soul: An Introduction, was written by Dr. Murray Stein, who has already commented on being a fan of the way RM uses Jung's theories to inform his music.
Dr. Stein himself spoke about RM and some of the ideas RM covered in his "Generations Unlimited" speech at the UN on a podcast aptly titled Speaking of Jung.
He talked about how RM seemed very aware of how he needs to keep a "distinction" between the young boy he was growing up in Seoul, Korea, and the famous musician he is now. If he didn't, if he allowed himself to be completely overtaken by fame, that would cause a fractured sense self, or becoming what Stein calls "ungrounded."
If he were to identify with that role totally, he would lose contact with himself, with the boy he was, with the human being that he is.
But if "Persona" is any indication, RM is keeping that distinction at the forefront of his mind, and he is not losing track of his soul at all. Even if life offers him some challenges, moments of darkness, and questioning of his own worthiness.
And, momentary side note here, but can you believe even RM has dark nights of the soul where he is obviously paralyzed with self-doubt? His lyrics continue:
Someone like me ain’t good enough for the truth. Someone like me ain’t good enough for a calling. Someone like me ain't good enough to be a muse. The flaws of mine that I know maybe that's all I’ve got really. Who the hell am I?
Um, thank you for being so honest is all I have to say, because, same.
He then goes on to tell us that he's not going to be embarrassed, because this is the map of his soul, and he wants to "give us all the shoulders" while we cry, and "give us all the voices" till he dies. Tissues, anyone?
Ultimately, RM tells us that what he's finding out is that whoever he is, he's just going to keep on making art and giving the world his truth, and I don't know about you, but I'm totally psyched about that.
Here are all of RM's "Persona" lyrics in their entirety:
‘Who am I’ the question I had my whole life
The question which I probably won’t find an answer to my whole life
If I were answerable with a few mere words
Then God wouldn’t have created all these various beauties
How you feel? How’re you feeling right now?
Actually I’m real good but a little uncomfortable
I’m still not so sure if I’m a dog or a pig or what else
But then other people come out and put the pearl necklace on me
Ptui!
I laugh more than I did before
I dreamt of becoming a superhero
Now it feels like I really became one
But as it goes on there’s so much blabbering
One says ‘run’ another says ‘stop’
This one says ‘look at the forest’ that one says ‘look at the wild flower’
My shadow, I wrote and called it 'hesitation'
It has never hesitated after becoming that
It keeps appearing under the stage or the light
Keeps glaring at me scorchingly like a heat wave (oh shit)
Hey have you already forgotten why you even started this
You were just digging it that someone was listening
Sometimes everything sounds like freakin' nonsense
You know what comes out of you when you're drunk.. like immaturity
Someone like me ain't good enough for music
Someone like me ain't good enough for the truth
Someone like me ain't good enough to be a muse
The flaws of mine that I know
Maybe that's all I've got really
The world is actually not interested in my clumsiness at all
The regrets that I don't even get sick of anymore
I tumble with them every night until I'm disgusted
And twist the irreversible time habitually
There's something that raised me up again every time
The first question
The three syllables of my name and the word 'but' that should come before any of those
So I'm askin' once again yeah
Who the hell am I?
Tell me all your names baby
Do you wanna die?
Oh do you wanna go?
Do you wanna fly?
Where's your soul? where's your dream?
Do you think you're alive?
My name is R
The 'me' that I remember and people know
The 'me' that I created myself to vent out
Yeah maybe I have been deceiving myself
Maybe I've been lying
But I'm not embarrassed anymore this is the map of my soul
Dear myself
You must never lose your temperature
Cuz you don't need to be neither warm nor cold
Though I might sometimes be hypocritical or pretend to be evil
This is the barometer of my direction I want to keep
The 'me' that I want myself to be
The 'me' that people want me to be
The 'me' that you love
And the 'me' that I create
The 'me' that's smiling
The me that's sometimes in tears
Vividly breathing each second and every moment even now
Persona
Who the hell am I
I just wanna go
I just wanna fly
I just wanna give you all the voices till I die
I just wanna give you all the shoulders when you cry
Persona
Who the hell am I
I just wanna go
I just wanna fly
I just wanna give you all the voices till I die
I just wanna give you all the shoulders when you cry
