Jungkook: what is “Shot Glass of Tears” about? Lyrics and explanation from Golden

‘Shot Glass Of Tears’ is the second ballad from the debut solo album from the King of Kpop, Jungkook. This one serves as the 10th song on the track list, though the 11th one is actually a clean version of the third song, so we can assume that this is the closing for the album, GOLDEN.

While most artists end their albums with a refrain, a reprise of the message of the album, or a motivational anthem, Jungkook decided to close his debut album as a solo artist with a depressing slow ballad with some very dark thoughts on the lyrics. That was definitely a choice.

What’s the story behind Jungkook’s ‘Shot Glass Of Tears’?

Just as a starting point, when he says ‘shot glass’, he literally refers to those glasses that are used in alcohol shots.

The song has spawned a lot of theories and interpretations among the fans, though the popular consensus is that it appears to be about the feeling of nothingness and worthlessness one may experience after a difficult breakup. It’s probably the least explicit track from the album, as there is no hint of intimacy or being turned on, but it goes to the other extreme with hints of self-harm and feeling devastated.

In the opening chorus, he puts the nothingness and worthlessness sentiment on the table while questioning if he’ll ever be the same as he used to be before the breakup. Shortly after, he makes the metaphor of drinking his tears in a shot glass, also calling them ‘diamonds’.

Right after, on the refrain, the singer explains that the person he broke up with was a party person, probably with alcohol problems and staying up till the sun rises again, as he suggests on these two lines: ‘She got some dangerous hobbies, like chasing after the sun, and making me fall in love.’

He then continues to narrate his misery and self-harm thoughts on the first verse with the lines ‘I’m driving a hundred [mph], with my hands off the wheel’. He then spends the second verse blaming her for his sorrow, and closes the song with yet more depressing thoughts.

Such an unexpected track considering his previous releases all had an upbeat rhythm and sensual sentiment. Anyhow, here are the lyrics to ‘Shot Glass Of Tears’:

Tell me, am I ever gonna feel again?
Tell me, am I ever gonna heal again?
Got a shot glass full of tears
Drink, drink, drink, say cheers

I got all these diamonds running down my face
And I ain’t letting any of ’em go to waste
Got a shot glass full of tearsShe the life of the party
42 in her body
She got some dangerous hobbies
Like chasing after the sun and making me fall in love
Till I’m sick to my stomach
Until I throw back a dozen
Until I’m driving a hundred
With my hands off the wheel just to see how it feel

Tell me, am I ever gonna feel again?
Tell me, am I ever gonna heal again?
Got a shot glass full of tears
Drink, drink, drink, say cheers

I got all these diamonds running down my face
And I ain’t letting any of ’em go to waste
Got a shot glass full of tears
Drink, drink, drink, say cheers
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah
Drink, drink, drink, say cheers
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah

It’s a hard pill to swallow
This emotion I bottle
Need something strong for the sorrow
Something strong for the pain so I can wash it away
I was cold, now I’m freezing
Stuck in a permanent season
And we both know you’re the reason
I’m not the same as before, I don’t feel anymore, oh

Tell me, am I ever gonna feel again?
Tell me, am I ever gonna heal again?
Got a shot glass full of tears
Drink, drink, drink, say cheers

I got all these diamonds running down my face
And I ain’t letting any of ’em go to waste
Got a shot glass full of tears
Drink, drink, drink, say cheers
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah
Drink, drink, drink, say cheers
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah

She the life of the party
42 in her body
She’s got some dangerous hobbies
Like chasing after the sun and making me fall in love