“Cecilia” by Juanes ft. Juan Luis Guerra, English translation of lyrics

“Cecilia” Lyrics
Album: Vida Cotidiana (Daily Life), 2023
Style: Tropical pop. Peace and love song, singing to Cecilia that they shouldn’t fight and that they should dance instead.
Country: Colombia, Dominican Republic
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Cuando hablamos y peleamos,
No vamos a ningún lado.
Nos lastimamos
Y más y más

Y más y más nos apartamos.

When we talk and fight,
We don’t go anywhere.
We hurt each other
And more and more
And more and more we distance ourselves.

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“Encontrarme” by Carla Morrison, English translation of lyrics

“Finding Myself” Lyrics
Album: El Renacimiento (The Rebirth), 2022
Style: Pop. Carla’s heartfelt song about reckoning with depression and her journey to reach a good mental state.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Se acabó, ya la mentira está en mi cuerpo.
Toda esta falsedad ha roto mis adentros.
Entregué mi todo, olvidé mi centro,
Cedí por apostar, soy infeliz, es cierto.

It ended, now the lie is on my body.
All this falseness has broken my insides.
I gave my all, I forgot my center,
I yielded for a chance, I am unhappy, it’s true.

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“A Tu Lado” by Bobby Pulido, English translation of lyrics

“By Your Side” Lyrics
Album: Siempre Pensando en Ti (Always Thinking of You), 2001
Style: Country, romantic song telling a lover that they are your best friend, that life is good with them, and that you want to be with them forever.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Cuando estoy a tu lado
Se detiene todo el tiempo,
Me entretengo con tus besos,
Despiertas mis sentimientos.

When I am by your side
All time stops,
I get distracted with your kisses,
You wake up my emotions.

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“La Gran Señora” by Jenni Rivera, English translation of lyrics

“The Great Woman” Lyrics
Album: La Gran Señora (The Great Woman), 2009
Style: Mariachi from an older woman to a younger woman, telling her that this homewrecking attempt won’t work. She will defend her home and family.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Tenemos que hablar de mujer a mujer,
Hay que dejar unas cosas en claro,
Aunque no te guste tienes que entender,
Lo que es mío es mío y no voy a soltarlo.

We have to talk (from) woman to woman,
Let’s leave some things clear,
Even if you don’t like it, you have to understand,
What is mine is mine and I will not let it go.

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“Hasta La Raíz” by Natalia Lafourcade, English translation of lyrics

“Down to The Roots” Lyrics
Album: Hasta La Raíz (Down to Your Roots), 2015
Style: Folk rock, alternative rock. Natalia told National Public Radio that she wanted to sing about her roots, in her case about Mexico. The album won Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album (58th Grammy Awards), Best Alternative Music Album (16th Latin Grammy Awards), and Best Engineered Album (16th Latin Grammy Awards). This particular song won Song of the Year and Best Alternative Song (16th Latin Grammy Awards).
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Sigo cruzando ríos,
Andando selvas, amando el sol.
Cada día sigo sacando espinas
De lo profundo del corazón
.

I keep crossing rivers,
Passing jungles, loving the sun.
Every day I keep pulling thorns
From the depths of my heart.

En la noche sigo encendiendo sueños
Para limpiar
Con el humo sagrado,

Cada recuerdo.

At night I keep lighting dreams on fire
To clean,
With the sacred smoke,
Every memory.

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“La Que Se Fue” by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation of lyrics

“She Who Got Away” Lyrics
Album: Album (AlbumTranslation), Year
Style: Ranchera. Regretful song about the one who got away.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

¡Ay, amor, amor mío, uy-ya!

Oh, love, my love, uh-ya!

Tengo dinero en el mundo,
Dinero maldito que nada vale.
Aunque me miren sonriendo,
La pena que traigo
Ni Dios la sabe.

I have money in this world,
Damn money worth nothing.
Though they see me smiling,
The sorrow I carry
Not even God knows it.

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“Diamantes” by Carla Morrison, English translation of lyrics

“Diamonds” Lyrics
Album: El Renacimiento (The Rebirth), 2022
Style: Indie/alternative. Love song with drums and great vocals about finding love and joy. I’m so happy for Carla Morrison. She’s clearly in a good place. Compare this to her 2012 emo single, Dejenme Llorar” (Everybody Let Me Cry). Her happiness now is so beautiful.
Country: Mexico, USA (Arizona)
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Despertar junto a ti es ya no tener miedo
A tanto desconsuelo

Que una vez tuve en mí.

Waking up next to you is no longer feeling fear
Of so much distress
That I once had in me.

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“No Soy Para Ti” by Mon Laferte, English translation of lyrics

“I Am Not For You” Lyrics
Album: 1940 Carmen, 2021
Style: Rock song about a relationship ending due to a loss of feelings from shared sadness (possibly infertility), and breaking up so they can find happiness somewhere else.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

¿Cuánto amor desaparecerá?
¿Cuánto tiempo más tendremos que llorar?
Mejor que acabe aquí, mejor dejarte ir.
Si nos queremos tanto, ¿para qué sufrir?

How much love will disappear?
How much more time will we need to cry?
Better to end it here, better to let you go.
If we love each other so much, why suffer?

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“Nunca Es Suficiente” by Los Ángeles Azules ft. Natalia Lafourcade, English translation

“It Is Never Enough” Lyrics
Album: Esto sí es cumbia (Now this is cumbia), 2018
Style: Folk pop, melancholy, about wanting a serious and exclusive relationship with a flighty partner who isn’t used to that.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Nunca es suficiente para mí
Porque siempre quiero más de ti.
Yo quisiera hacerte más feliz
,
Hoy, mañana, siempre, hasta el fin
.

It is never enough for me
Because I always want more from you.
I would like to make you more happy,
Today, tomorrow, always, until the end.

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“La Despedida” by Alejandro Sanz (Bullet Train 2022 Spanish song), English translation

“The Farewell” Lyrics
Album: Bullet Train, 2022
Style: Melancholy song about dealing with unexpected loss. This is the Spanish song in the action/comedy movie Bullet Train (2022).
Country: Spain
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Voy sin saber,
Sin tu amor.
¿Cómo hacer, con tanto dolor?
Una vez más, apaga las luces,
Y canta conmigo
,
Así me olvido de la despedida.

I go without knowing,
Without your love.
What to do, with so much pain?
One more time, turn off the lights,
And sing with me,
That is how I forget the farewell.

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