If you're looking for a hidden gem in Korean music—a song that feels like a whispered prayer or a scene from a musical—look no further than “a bird”, a hauntingly beautiful track from the 2023 EP album [everland] by jazz pianist Su-Young Jin and vocalist Isaac Hong.
🎵 A Hidden Masterpiece in Korean Jazz-Influenced Gospel Music
Released in April 2023, [everland] is a collaborative EP album that masterfully combines Su-Young Jin's minimalist jazz piano with Isaac Hong’s emotionally resonant vocals. Among the album’s tracks, “a bird” stands out as the most spiritually stirring piece—a song that feels more like a monologue, or a desperate prayer whispered into the void.
“God, I only have a bird…”
These words open the song with disarming simplicity and profound vulnerability. The entire piece unfolds like a cinematic moment from an old black-and-white film—perhaps a scene where a poor soul kneels in prayer, eyes full of tears, not in tragedy, but in sacred desperation.
🎙 Who is Isaac Hong?
Isaac Hong (홍이삭) is a Korean singer-songwriter known for his unique ability to blend spirituality with popular music. He first rose to fame through the Korean music survival show JTBC’s Superband (2019) and has since garnered a dedicated following for his warm vocal tone, poetic lyrics, and heartfelt performances.
Hong is often described as an artist whose music feels like a soft-spoken poem or a gentle prayer. For listeners of faith, his work often resonates on a deeper level, offering subtle yet powerful reflections of gospel truth within the form of contemporary ballads and jazz-tinged melodies.
With a bird, he reaches new emotional and spiritual heights, creating what feels like a moment of intimate worship wrapped in musical excellence.
✨ Lyrics That Speak Like Scripture
The lyrics of “a bird” may be short, but their depth is immeasurable:
God I only have a bird
I know what your worth
but this is all I have
for you
I’ve said and done
citing all your words
and deny
what I, who I was
I was young and so afraid
and now, I feel like, the universe will fade
love me
and heal me
save me from your silence
seal me
get rid of me
pour the blood you paid for
love me
or hate me
teach me how to feel you
love me
and heal me
with the blood you paid for
the miseries and
all the days
with the blood you paid
God I only have a bird
this is all I have
💬 A Gospel Message Through Minimalism
In a bird, the piano refrains from excess, allowing every note to breathe. The vocals, soft and raw, do not merely sing—they pray. There’s a striking beauty in the restraint. Rather than filling the space, the music invites silence to speak too. It is a rare moment where music, faith, and artistry converge.
The progression from confession, to lament, and finally to a hope-filled surrender mirrors the structure of a Psalm. It is a worship song, though not in the conventional sense—it’s not CCM, but it reaches the soul just as deeply, if not more.
🌿 everland – An Album That Whispers, Not Shouts
As a whole, the everland EP leans into a sensitive, philosophical soundscape. Its strength lies in subtlety. In a fast-paced world dominated by bold rhythms and loud hooks, this album offers a sacred pause. It invites you to sit still, reflect, and if you're willing—to pray.
Among its tracks, “a bird” shines as the emotional and spiritual climax. For anyone searching for peaceful Christian music, Korean gospel-inspired jazz, or simply a song that speaks to the soul, this is it.
