Autumn Leaves

The song “고엽” (Autumn Leaves) by BTS describes a poignant breakup through the metaphor of falling dry leaves. The lyrics express the feelings of longing and loss as the relationship fades away. The title itself, “고엽,” refers to withering and gloomy brown dead leaves at the end of the autumn season. The song may also pay homage to Yves Montand’s “Les Feuilles Mortes” (Dead Leaves), which has a similar theme and is known as “고엽” in Korea. The lyrics capture the emotions of separation and the struggle to let go of a past love.