“If They Let Us”
Style: Ranchera, romantic song about leaving to a happy new beginning with your lover
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Translation:
Si nos dejan,
Nos vamos a querer toda la vida.
Si nos dejan,
Nos vamos a vivir a un mundo nuevo.
If they let us,
We will love each other our whole lives.
If they let us,
We will go live in a new world.
Yo creo, podemos ver
El nuevo amanecer de un nuevo día.
Yo pienso que tú y yo
Podemos ser felices todavía.
I believe, we can see
The new dawn of a new day.
I think that you and I
Can find happiness yet.
Si nos dejan,
Buscamos un rincón cerca del cielo.
Si nos dejan,
Hacemos con las nubes terciopelo.
If they let us,
We will find a corner near the heavens.
If they let us,
We will weave the clouds into velvet.
Y ahí juntitos los dos,
Cerquita de Dios,
Será lo que soñamos.
Si nos dejan,
Te llevo de la mano, corazón,
Y ahí nos vamos.
And there bunched together the two of us,
Near God,
It will be what we dreamed of.
If they let us,
I will take your hand, my love,
And there we will go.
Si nos dejan,
Buscamos un rincón cerca del cielo.
Si nos dejan,
Hacemos con las nubes terciopelo.
If they let us,
We will find a corner near the heavens.
If they let us,
We will weave the clouds into velvet.
Y ahí juntitos los dos,
Cerquita de Dios,
Será lo que soñamos.
Si nos dejan,
Te llevo de la mano, corazón,
Y ahí nos vamos.
And there bunched together the two of us,
Near God,
It will be what we dreamed of.
If they let us,
I will take your hand, my love,
And there we will go.
Si nos dejan,
De todo lo demás nos olvidamos.
Si nos dejan…
If they let us,
We will forget everyone else.
If they let us…
Translation Notes:
This song romanticizes leaving with a lover to start a new life somewhere else, where there will be no problems, and life will be idealized.
Si nos dejan, buscamos un rincón cerca del cielo.
If they let us, we will find a corner near the heavens.
If they let us, we will find a corner near the sky.
In Spanish, “el cielo” means both “they sky” and “the heavens”. Given the romantic context, I think heaven is more appropriate here.
Si nos dejan, hacemos con las nubes terciopelo.
If they let us, we will weave the clouds into velvet.
(Si nos dejan), [hacemos] {con las nubes} terciopelo.
(If they let us), [we will make] {with the clouds} velvet.
The connotation of velvet here is that velvet is a soft fuzzy fabric that is nice touch and feels luxurious. José Alfredo is imagining that they will make beautiful things together, with fantastical materials. It is a romantic fantasy.
Y ahí juntitos los dos,
Cerquita de Dios
And there bunched together the two of us,
Near God
The -ito/-ita suffixes in juntitos and cerquita here signify small measurements, and extra closeness.
“Junto” means close or next to. “Juntito” means really closely next to, with little space in between.
“Cerca” means nearby or close by. “Cerquita” means very close by.
Additionally, -ito/-ita suffixes are diminutives that make things sound small and cute in Spanish. They are used more often when speaking to children or lovers. This is a romantic song fantasizing about a wonderful future, so cute language makes sense.
“Si Nos Dejan” by Jose Alfredo Jimenez — removed accents so I can search for this song translation
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