Let’s take a weekly journey through K-pop history, and this week, we’re diving into the world of a second-generation girl group I haven’t spotlighted before: After School! I’ve chosen ‘Flashback’ for today—a song that perfectly captures their signature high-energy dance style.

As far as I know, After School was the first K-pop group to introduce a graduation concept. Members would leave the group to pursue individual careers while new members joined, resulting in five different generations or lineups.

Let’s analyze this part from the lyrics: 

그대로 사라져라, 처음처럼 없어져라

거짓도 깊은 상처도

“Just disappear, vanish like it was at the start —

the lies, even the deep wounds.”

Vocabulary & grammar breakdown

1. 그대로 사라져라

• 그대로 = “just like that / as it is”
• 사라지다 = “to disappear”
• –아/어라 = imperative ending (command)

→ Strong command: “Disappear just as you are.”

2. 처음처럼 없어져라

• 처음 = “the beginning”
• –처럼 = “like / as if”
• 없어지다 = “to vanish / cease to exist”
• –어라 = imperative

→ 처음처럼 modifies 없어지다:

“vanish as if it were the beginning.”

3. 거짓도 깊은 상처도

• 거짓 = “lies / falsehood”
• 깊은 = “deep” (attributive form of 깊다)
• 상처 = “wound / scar”
• –도 = additive particle (“also / even”)

→ Means “lies as well, even deep wounds.”

4. Omitted verb (ellipsis)

• No verb is stated in the second line
• The command 사라져라 / 없어져라 is understood

→ Common lyrical grammar: the verb is shared across lines.

I’ll make sure to include After School’s subunit Orange Caramel in my coverage in the coming weeks.