“Tell Them Not To Fear Me” Album:Dile Que Por Mi No Tema / Bajo La Luna Vinyl, 1972; Boleros, 1993 Style: Bolero, which is both a dance style and a story-telling lyrics style. Song telling an ex that you have a new (better) sweetheart and that your ex should tell their own new lover not to worry about you, because you’ve moved on. Also an example of a gender neutral Spanish song. Country: Cuba Listen:YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
Dile a tu nuevo querer Que no hay nada que temer Porque hace ya mucho tiempo Que te borré de mi mente Y no me acuerdo de ti…
Tell your new beloved That there is nothing to fear Because it’s been a long time now Since I erased you from my mind And I don’t remember you…
“Let No One Know of My Suffering” Style: Varies, but commonly in the style of a Peruvian waltz Composer: Ángel Cabral (Argentina), 1936 Songwriter: Enrique Dizeo (Argentina) Country: Sung by many, originally from Argentina
No te asombres si te digo lo que fuiste: Una ingrata con mi pobre corazón. Porque el fuego de tus lindos ojos negros [*alt: el brillo] Alumbraron el camino de otro amor.
Don’t be surprised if I tell you what you were: An ingrate with my poor heart. Because the fire of your lovely black eyes [*alt: the shine] Lit up the path to another love.
“I Let Go of Your Rein” Style: Corrido, ranchera, sometimes a mariachi. This popular Mexican song is an epic “you’ll miss me, but go” breakup song. Country: Mexico Listen: YouTube (José Alfredo Jiménez, Maná, Lupillo Rivera, Vicente Fernandez, and many more)
Lyrics Translation:
Se me acabó la fuerza De mi mano izquierda. Voy a dejarte el mundo Para ti solita.
I lost the strength On my left hand. I am going to leave you the world For your very own.
“I Forgot Again” Composer: Juan Gabriel (1974) Albums: Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán (1990); Maná MTV Unplugged (1999) Style: Mariachi, ranchera; bolero; rock; lost love song; always guitar. A classic Mexican ranchera song full of emotion, soulfully mourning still being in love with someone who doesn’t love them back. Good pick for a karaoke song. Country: Mexico
Wikipedia originally said that Juan Gabriel wrote and released it in 1990, but that time can’t be right because Julio Jaramillo sung it also and Julio died in 1978. Anyway, Juan Gabriel re-released it in 1999 around the same time that Maná released their version. It won Maná a Latin Grammy in 2000.
Update: English Wikipedia now says 1975, but Spanish Wikipedia says Juan Gabriel released this song in 1974 in his collaboration with the famous and transgenerational Mariachi Vargas.
Lyrics Translation:
Probablemente ya De mí te has olvidado Y sin embargo yo Te seguiré esperando.
Probably, by now You’ve forgotten about me And nevertheless, I Will continue to wait for you.
“Soul, Heart and Life” Style: Waltz, bolero, various adaptions. Translation of a classic song about a person very much in love. They sing about the three things they offer their lover: their soul to woe them, their heart to love them, and their life to spend with them. It is a sweet love song. Countries: Many Listen: Various versions. Trío Los Panchos (USA/Mexico), Dyango (Spain; live, slow performance), Los Embajadores Criollos (Peru), Soledad Pastorutti (Argentina, live, deep voice), Tania Libertad (Peru), and more on YouTube.
Translation:
Recuerdo aquella vez Que yo te conocí Recuerdo aquella tarde Pero no recuerdo ni como te vi.
I remember that time When I first met you I remember that afternoon But I don’t even remember how I saw you.
“When You No Longer Love Me”Lyrics Album: Julio Jaramillo, 1966 Style: Pasillo about being in love and seeing the end of the relationship in sight, and being determined to take it well when it does finally end. Since this is a famous old song, there are several renditions from all over Latin America. It is a good song for accent study. Country: Ecuador Listen:YouTube, Amazon, and scroll down for other renditions.
Translation Notes:
Cuando ya no me quieras, No me finjas cariño, No me tengas piedad, Compasión ni temor.
When you no longer love me, Do not fake me tenderness, Do not have mercy on me, (Nor) compassion nor fear.
“Our Vow” (1956) Lyrics Composer: Benito de Jesús, famously sung by Julio Jaramillo. Style: Pasillo, waltz-like originally. Many covers in different styles. Country: Ecuador originally, but popular across Latin America. Listen: Julio Jaramillo (Ecuador), José Feliciano (Puerto Rico), Javier Solis (Mexico), Vicente Fernández (Mexico) La Santa Cecilia (Mexican-American), Juanes (Colombia).
“Nuestro Juramento” is a well-known romance song across Latin America and arguably Julio Jaramillo’s most famous song. It is about human mortality and passion. It is two lovers who declare to continue loving each other forever, and to be devastated should the other die. The verb jurar means “to swear, to vow” and a juramento is an oath or a vow.
Ya no estás más a mi lado, corazón. En el alma sólo tengo soledad, Y si ya no puedo verte, ¿Por qué Dios me hizo quererte? Para hacerme sufrir más.
You are no longer at my side, my love. In my soul I have only loneliness, And if I can no longer see you, Why did God make me love you? To make me suffer more.
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