Lee Mujin’s “Bird On The Edge” Soars with Bright Beats and Bittersweet Truths
Photo: BPM Entertainment
Entirely written and composed by Lee Mujin (이무진), “Bird On The Edge” was released as a single on May 27. The song blends Lee Mujin’s signature style, expansive vocals, and lyrical delicacy to express the complex emotions that surface when one’s inner world begins to collapse.
A bit like BTS, Lee Mujin draws from Korean culture and sings about being a “baepsae” (뱁새) — a small bird often used to symbolize those who struggle against the odds. In “Bird On The Edge,” he delivers a lively ode to hardship and solitude, while offering insight into one of Korea’s most resonant cultural metaphors.
There’s something to be said about much of Korean art; whether in cinema, literature, TV, poetry, or music, pain is often depicted with quiet grace — and Lee Mujin is no stranger to that subtlety. In “Bird On The Edge,” he wraps sorrow in a catchy, hopeful melody that aligns perfectly with his earlier work, yet never shies away from the bitterness of the emotions he’s expressing.
Sometimes, they say if you see it through, it’ll work out,
But sometimes, even to the end, you’re just wrong.
Those sharp words I spit out in urgency, they return to me,
Like a habit, endlessly back to me.
Maybe I’m not like that.
Not like that.
Not like that...
That’s just the beginning of the song. Later, Lee Mujin sings lines like: “Even if it all ends like this, it’s okay/ Even if everyone leaves me, it’s okay/ I’m the ‘baepsae’ that stayed behind in this place.”
But what exactly is a “baepsae,” and what does it represent? Let’s take a closer look at the metaphor.
Baepsae
Baepsae (뱁새), often translated as "crow tit," refers to a small bird in Korea, but its significance extends far beyond ornithology into Korean language, culture, and folklore.
As for the bird, the word “baepsae” in Korean may refer to two different species that are somewhat similar in shape and size, but differ in color: the Vinous-throated Parrotbill (Sinosuthora webbiana) which has a reddish-brown or vinous color; and the Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) which is mostly white and fluffy, with some black and pinkish-gray markings. It’s often called a “tiny white cotton ball” and is widely represented in graphic design and illustrations.
Yet, the most important cultural meaning of "baepsae" is metaphorical, deriving from a well-known Korean proverb:
"If a baepsae tries to walk like a stork, it will break its legs."
Because of its short legs, a baepsae cannot imitate the long, graceful stride of a stork. The proverb warns against overreaching, especially in a deeply hierarchical society. In traditional usage, it implies that someone from a modest or disadvantaged background risks failure or ridicule if they try to emulate those from a more privileged class.
BTS gave this proverb new relevance with their song “뱁새” (also known as “Silver Spoon”), using the baepsae as a symbol for younger generations facing structural inequality. The song reframed the conflict as generational rather than strictly class-based, highlighting the frustration of being told to try harder in a rigged system.
Lee Mujin, in contrast, seems to return to the more traditional reading, portraying the baepsae as someone left behind, worn out by effort, yet still standing in quiet defiance.
"Is a little failure that big a deal?" someone whispers.
"Did you even try all the way to the end properly?”
I did. You cruel people, I tried countless times,
But sometimes, some people just don’t make it, sometimes, sometimes.
Now, after one by one have left,
I’m left under this endless, dark night sky,
Knowing I’ll end up all alone,
Still, I try to let go of everything.
Lee Mujin
In “Bird On The Edge”, Lee Mujin sings: “It all began smoothly, I expected success, but it just kept/ Getting farther, out of reach/ That bitter wound, never given time to heal/ Those words are too exhausting to hear, sometimes, sometimes.”
He did enjoy, in fact, quite a meteoric rise in fame. Born in 2000 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Lee Mujin debuted in 2018 with the song "Walk", but gained widespread recognition after appearing on TV for the first time in JTBC's talent show for unknown singers, Sing Again, in 2020, where he finished in third place. His first EP, Room Vol. 1, released in 2022, chronicled his life before fame, and he also penned and sung a number of OSTs, for dramas like Hospital Playlist, Business Proposal, Love Your Enemy and more. Since 2022, he has been the main host of the KBS music web show LeeMujin Service.
His breakout single, "Traffic Light" (신호등), released in May 2021, conquered the hearts of many listeners for its metaphorical lyrics likening the uncertainties of youth to a yellow traffic light. The song topped South Korea's music streaming charts and became one of the longest-running number one on the Billboard K-Pop 100.
Considering how catchy, meaningful and delightfully executed it is, “Bird On The Edge” might be Lee Mujin’s next song to soar high on the Korean music scene!
Edited by Sandy Ou