“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
Translation:
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.
Chorus:
————————————————————–
Que vivan los momentos en tu boca y en tu cuerpo
Mujer…
Let live the moments in your mouth and on your body
Woman…
Valió la pena lo que era necesario para estar contigo, amor.
Tú eres una bendición.
Las horas y la vida de tu lado, nena,
Están para vivirlas pero a tu manera.
Enhorabuena,
Porque valió la pena, valió la pena…
(x2)
It was worth it, what was necessary to be with you, my love.
You are a blessing.
The hours and the life by your side, babe,
Are there to be lived but by your way.
Congratulations,
Because it was worth it, it was worth it…
(x2)
————————————————————–
Te veo y me convenzo que tenías que llegar.
Después de la tormenta aquí en tu pecho puedo anclar,
Y ser más yo, de nuevo yo, y por bandera mi ilusión.
Y mira si te quiero que por amor me entrego.
I see you and I convince myself that you had to arrive.
After the storm I can anchor myself on your bosom here,
And be more myself, again myself, and my illusion for a flag.
And see whether I love you, that for love I give myself.
[Chorus]
(Boricua!)
(Boricua!)
(Acá va Sergio)
(Here goes Sergio)
Pena,
Valió la pena.
Worth it,
It was worth it.
Bueno señoras y señores,
Ya me voy.
Como dice Celia,
“My English is not very good looking.”
Que Dios los bendiga.
Well ladies and gentlemen,
I’m leaving now.
Like Celia says,
“My English is not very good looking.”
May God bless you all.
Translation Notes:
Me inspiro en tus palabras
I become inspired in your words
As opposed to:
Me inspiran tus palabras
Your words inspire me
—
Las horas y la vida de tu lado, nena
The hours and the life by your side, babe
nena [f. noun] = babe (slang); chick (slang); lit. young girl (used by people older than the girl); niña
—
Están para vivirlas pero a tu manera
Are there to be lived but by your way
(Están para) (vivirlas) (pero) (a tu manera)
(Are there for) (living) (but) (by your manner/way/approach)
—
En hora buena
At a good time, lit. At a good hour
Actually one word as, pointed out by a helpful comment:
enhorabuena = congratulations
—
Después de la tormenta aquí en tu pecho puedo anclar
After the storm I can anchor myself on your chest here
(Después de la tormenta) (aquí) (en tu pecho) (puedo anclar)
(After the storm) (here) (on your bosom) (I can anchor myself)
pecho [m. noun] = bosom, breast, chest
Side note that just occurred to me, for when you eat chicken or other meat:
carne de pecho = breast meat, brisket
—
Y ser más yo, de nuevo yo, y por bandera mi ilusión
And be more myself, again myself, and my illusion for a flag
de nuevo = anew, again, lit. from new
bandera [f. noun] = flag
—
Y mira si te quiero que por amor me entrego
And see whether (lit. if) I love you, that for love I give myself
Means:
And see for yourself if I love you, proof: see that I am giving myself for love
Or…
Y mira, sí te quiero que por amor me entrego
And look, (yes) I do love you, (so much) that for love I give myself
I can’t tell if it’s “si” (if) or “sí” (yes).
—
Pena / Valió la pena
Worth it / It was worth it
alt. Price / It was worth the price
pena [f. noun] = penalty, pain or burden
valer la pena = to be worth the cost, to be worth the trouble
This is an expression, where pena is roughtly equal to “cost” or “trouble”
Also related:
qué pena = what a shame
—
Como dice Celia,
“My English is not very good looking.”
This is a reference to Celia Cruz, the queen of salsa. Rest in peace, Celia!
—
“Valio La Pena” by Marc Anthony, English translation of lyrics
Songlations 