Spanish songs translated to English with side-by-side lyrics and notes for Spanish learners
“Fatality”
Style: Pasillo eulogy mourning a lost love. Very poetic.
Country: Ecuador
Listen: YouTube
Nocturno de celaje deslumbrante,
Tu encanto rememoro a cada instante,
Romance de un momento en que viviera.
Nocturne of glittering, hued sky,
I recall your charm at every instant,
The romance of a moment I would live.
“The King”
Composer: José Alfredo Jiménez
Style: Ranchera very popular in Mexico. This is one of José Alfredo’s most famous songs.
Country: Mexico
Listen on YouTube: José Alfredo Jiménez (original), Vicente Fernandez, Alejandro Fernández, and now George Strait (possibly because of my translation? I don’t know, but if so, I am very honored!)
Yo sé bien que estoy afuera
Pero el día que yo me muera
Sé que tendrás que llorar.
(Llorar y llorar, x2)
I am fully aware that I am out
But the day that I die
I know that you will have to cry.
(Cry and cry, x2)
Dirás que no me quisiste,
Pero vas a estar muy triste
Y así te vas a quedar.
You will say that you did not love me,
But you will be very sad
And that is how you will stay.
“Mine Soul”
Style: Pasillo love song serenade from mid-20th century Ecuador. Julio Jaramillo’s lyrics are so poetic.
Country: Ecuador
Listen: YouTube
[Spoken by observers:]
La cuarta canción y no sale.
¡La cuarta!
The fourth song and she does not come out.
The fourth!
[Serenade begins:]
El día que me olvides, alma mía,
Yo sé que existirás en mi penar,
Al verme solo, triste y olvidado,
Mi vida la haría arrancar. (x2)
“(Kiss Me) Softly”
Album: Suavemente, 1998
Genre: Merengue song about wanting a kiss
Country: Puerto Rico
Listen: YouTube
Chorus:
————————————–
Suavemente, besame
Que quiero sentir tus labios
Besandome otra vez.
(x2)
Softly, kiss me
Because I want to feel your lips
Kissing me again.
(x2)
————————————–
“It Was Worth It”
Album: Valió La Pena (It Was Worth It), 1995
Style: Salsa, celebrating love, a romantic loved one, and everything it took to get to this point. The album won a 2005 Latin Grammy for “Best Salsa Album”.
Country: USA (New York); Puerto Rico
Listen: YouTube
Mirándote a los ojos se responden mis por qués.
Me inspiro en tus palabras y mi casa está en tu piel.
Qué tierno amor, mi devoción, viniste a ser mi religión,
Mi dulce sentimiento,
De nada me arrepiento.
Looking into your eyes my why’s are answered.
I become inspired in your words and my home is on your skin.
What tender love, my devotion, you came to be my religion,
My sweet emotion,
I regret nothing.
“Asteroid” Lyrics
Album: Zoé (Zoe), 2008
Style: Rock song using an asteroid metaphor for a relationship
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Déjate ver,
Estuvo chido poder besar (*)
Tu estereocuerpo lunar,
Tus ojos brillan más cada vez.
Let yourself be seen,
It was nice being able to kiss (*)
Your stereobody beauty spot,
Your eyes shine more very time.
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