“Me Voy” by Julieta Venegas, English translation (breakup song)

“I Leave”, “I Am Leaving” Song Lyrics
Album: Limón y Sal (Lemon and Salt), 2006
Style: Indie, breakup and farewell song, strong vocals. Julieta Venegas sings her farewell song and explains why the relationship is ending. She uses a sort of sing-song tone that works surprisingly well in this album.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Porque no supiste entender a mi corazón,
Lo que había en él.
Porque no tuviste el valor
De ver quién soy.

Because you did not know how to understand my heart,
What was there in it.
Because you didn’t have the courage
To see who I am.

Porque no escuchas
Lo que está tan cerca de ti,
Sólo el ruido de afuera
Y yo, que estoy a un lado
Desaparezco para ti.

Because you don’t listen
To what is so close to you,
Just the noise from outside
And I, who am right beside
Disappear for you.

No voy a llorar y decir
Que no merezco esto porque
Es probable que lo merezco
Pero no lo quiero, por eso…

I am not going to cry and say
That I do not deserve this because
It’s probable that I do deserve it
But I do not want it, that’s why…

Chorus:
——————————————–
Me voy, qué lástima pero adiós
Me despido de ti y
Me voy, qué lástima pero adiós
Me despido de ti.

I leave, what a shame but goodbye
I bid my farewell and
I leave, what a shame but goodbye
I bid my farewell to you.
——————————————–

Porque sé que me espera algo mejor
Alguien que sepa darme amor,
De ese que endulza la sal
Y hace que salga el sol.

Because I know that something better waits for me
Someone who knows how to give me love,
The kind that sweetens salt
And makes the sun come out.

Yo que pensé, nunca me iría de ti,
Que es amor del bueno, de toda la vida
Pero hoy entendí que no es
Suficiente para los dos.

Me who thought, I would never leave you,
That it was real love, lifelong love
But today I understood that it isn’t
Enough for the two of us.

No voy a llorar y decir
Que no merezco esto porque
Es probable que lo merezco
Pero no lo quiero, por eso…

I am not going to cry and say
That I do not deserve this because
It’s probable that I do deserve it
But I do not want it, that’s why…

[Chorus x3 repeated:]

Me voy, qué lástima pero adiós
Me despido de ti y
Me voy, qué lástima pero adiós
Me despido de ti.

I leave, what a shame but goodbye
I bid my farewell and
I leave, what a shame but goodbye
I bid my farewell to you.

Translation Notes:

Me voy = I leave, I am leaving

Both of these English translations are present tense. Someone in the original comments was confused about this. “I leave” is present tense and “I am leaving” is present continuous tense. Both are correct. I used “I leave” because it fits the song tempo better, but yes you can also use “I am leaving.”

—

Y yo, que estoy a un lado
Desaparezco para ti.

And I, who am right beside [*literal]
Disappear for you.

And I, who am on the side [*literal word-for-word]
Disappear for you.

—

Me despido de ti y
Me voy, qué lástima pero adiós

I bid my farewell and
I leave, what a shame but goodbye

despedir (verb) = to dismiss, to send off

despedirse de (reflexive verb phrase) = to say goodbye to, to part company with, to separate from, to bid farewell to

adios = goodbye, farewell
This form of saying goodbye can sound long-term, like you won’t see someone again for a while, if ever.

—

Que es amor del bueno, de toda la vida
That it was real love, lifelong love

amor del bueno = the good kind of love, the real kind of love