LYRICAL INTERPRETATION OF WE ARE BULLETPROOF: THE ETERNAL BY BTS

We are Bulletproof: The Eternal, I think, is a song of gratitude to ARMYs and a sort of reflection for BTS.

We are Bulletproof Pt. 1, which was originally written by RM and two other BigHit trainees, Iron and Supreme Boi, has an angry tone to it. Then, the boys had just debuted and they were receiving tons of hate from people. People judged the way they dressed, sang, rapped, said they wouldn’t last more than 2 years. This song was more of a notice/warning that BTS is here and here to stay.

We are Bulletproof Pt. 2 is an extension of part 1. I think part 2 is more personal since it was written by the members. This song is more like challenging the haters. Jungkook talking about how he pulled all-nighters in the practice room while others were going to partying and then the lyrics saying, “if you’ve done enough like me, throw a stone at me”. BTS said they weren’t afraid and that they would keep on singing no matter what.

We are Bulletproof: The Eternal which most of us think is the final installation of the ‘We are bulletproof series’, talks about the struggles they had to endure in their early years and how alone they felt but now they have ARMYs.

LYRIC INTERPRETATION

[JUNGKOOK, V]

We had nothing but dreams
Nothing but foggy mornings when we opened our eyes
We stayed up all night to dance and sing
The endless music sheets

Just like WAB PT.2, Jungkook begins the first verse, talking about how much they worked, how much they sacrificed to be where they are. A bit similar to his verse in WAB Pt.2,

“I pulled all-nighters at practice rooms
Instead of school, dancing and singing
While you guys partied
I gave up sleep for my dreams”

I say WAB:TE is more of a reflection cause of the tone of the song and the lyrics, unlike the first two WABs which were kind of aggressive, for lack of words.

[J-HOPE]

Ay, we bravely shout
“Throw all you have”
First fight with the world
Don’t wanna die
But so much pain
Too much cryin’
So blunted blades

These were the feelings of the members in their early years. They didn’t come from a big company so things were pretty tough for them. They had to fight their way through lots of criticisms and hate. People telling them that they were not going to make it. The members were very young at the time, the youngest being 13 and the eldest, 21, so having to go through all of that at such a young age must not have been easy. “Too much crying” 💔

[V, JIN, JUNGKOOK]

Oh, I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
We were only seven
I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
But we have you all now
After seven winters and springs
At the tips of our entwined fingers
Oh I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
Yeah, we got to heaven

BTS must’ve felt alone, being surrounded by many people that only wanted their downfall but now they have millions of Armys around the world who love and support them.

Heaven, in this context mean two things to me. Some dictionaries describe Heaven as, very pleasant or good, meaning the members have finally gotten to a good place.

To me as a Christian, Heaven is the reward of being good here on earth. The Bible describes Heaven as a peaceful place, free of sorrows, pain, suffering, anger, any negative feeling— a place of eternal rest. When they preach to us they say, “You have to endure the hardships here on earth, try not to fall into temptation and remain good so you can get to ‘Heaven’”.

BTS saying, “they got to Heaven” means they’ve endured the hardships, they remained strong and true to themselves, now they’ve finally gotten to a good place.

“Seven winters and springs”— this song was released in their 7th year of being together. Winters and springs refer to the dark and bright times within those 7 years.

[JIMIN, V, JUNGKOOK, JIN]

Throw stones at me
We don’t fear anymore
We are we are together, bulletproof
(Yeah we have you have you)
Even if winter comes again
Even if I’m blocked off, I will still walk
We are we are forever, bulletproof
(Yeah, we got to heaven)

This is also referencing the lyrics of WAB PT.2,

“Oh! Throw a stone at me if you’ve done as much as I did
We go hard, we have no fear
(Click click, bang bang) we just sing it like
(Click click, bang bang) we just sing it like”

Now they’re saying, you can throw stones at us but we’re not afraid anymore because together, BTS and ARMY are bulletproof. Your words can’t break them/us.

[SUGA]

We are bullet-bullet-bulletproof
We faced the negative looks and did it
Bad memories, numerous trials
We bravely blocked them all, bulletproof

They did it. They made it. Despite the hardships, trials and storms, they broke through.

[RM]

I always think
Am I still in a dream?
Is it really spring
That came after the long winter?
The name that everyone laughed at
That was once embarrassing
This is the iron proof
“Bullet-proof”

In one of BTS’s popular tracks, Spring Day, the lyric goes,

“Passing by the edge of the cold winter
Until the days of spring”

I said earlier that the winters and springs refer to the dark and bright times. RM expresses disbelief, questioning himself like “is it really over? Has spring finally arrived?”

When BTS first revealed their debut name “방탄소년단 (Bangtan Sonyeondan)” translating to “Bulletproof Boy Scouts”, people mocked them saying the name was “tacky, pretentious and cheesy”. They came up with the name, “Bulletproof Boys Scouts”, because BTS came to be the voice of our generation. They were supposed to be the shield to protect teens from pressure and prejudice.

[V, JIN, JUNGKOOK]

Oh, I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
We were only seven
I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
But we have you all now
After seven winters and springs
At the tips of our entwined fingers
Oh I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
Yeah, we got to heaven

[JIMIN, V, JUNGKOOK, JIN]

Throw stones at me
We don’t fear anymore
We are we are together, bulletproof
(Yeah we have you have you)
Even if winter comes again
Even if I’m blocked off, I will still walk
We are we are forever, bulletproof
(Yeah, we got to heaven)

Oh, oh, oh, oh
I will never stop again
For we are together here
Tell me your every story
Tell me why you don’t stop this
Tell me why you still walkin’
Walkin’ with us
(Yeah we got to heaven)

There were times BTS wanted to stop. A member contemplated leaving, in 2018 they admitted that they had thought of disbanding when it all became too much to bear— but they kept pushing.

“Tell me your every story” is a line that struck a cord for ARMYs. If you ask ARMYs to state the things they love about BTS, 8/10 will say that BTS makes us feel heard, feel listened to, feel less alone. The members have stated multiple times how much they love reading and hearing about our lives. Not only ARMYs are interested in BTS, they are also equally interested in ARMYs which further strengthens the bond between us.

RM, during his speech at the UN in 2018 said, “I’d like to ask all of you, What is your name? What excites you and makes your heart beat? Tell me your story.”

[JIMIN, JUNGKOOK, JIN, V]

Throw stones at me
We don’t fear anymore
We are, we are together bulletproof
(Yeah, we have you, have you)
Even if winter comes again
Even if I’m blocked off, I will still walk
We are, we are forever, bulletproof
(Yeah we got to heaven)

[JUNGKOOK]

(Yeah, we have you, have you)
Yeah we are not seven, with you
Yeah we are not seven, with you
Yeah we are not seven, with you

BTS express their gratitude to ARMYs a lot, saying that they wouldn’t have gotten to where they are without ARMYs. RM said BTS is not only made up of seven of them but also ARMYs and the staff that continually support them every step of the way.

BTS is ARMY, ARMY is BTS

I think it’s pretty obvious why this song is dear to ARMYs and why I chose to interpret it’s lyrics for this year’s Bangtaniversary.

I am beyond proud of the group and everything they’ve done and I hope that they continue to go higher and never leave their ‘heaven’.

Thank you for reading today’s post! I hope you enjoyed it. 🤍

Listen to We Are Bulletproof : The Eternal

What was your favorite lyric?

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