Author: Cairaguas Gonzalez

I am the Spanish-English translator for songlations.com, where I post English translation of Spanish song lyrics. I am Mexican-American, grew up bilingual thanks to my immigrant parents and neighborhood, and love languages.

“No Me Queda Más” [I Have Nothing Left (But To…)] by Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, English translation

“I Have Nothing Left (But To…)”, 1994
Genre: Mariachi, sad. This song is about the end of a relationship. Selena sings about having no choice left but to come to terms with it, but she does not want to deny that it happened. She was in love! It was wonderful while it lasted. Poor Selena!
Country: USA (Texas)

Unrelated, but happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone. It’s not Mexican independence day! That’s September 16! Tell your friends.

Lyrics Translation:

No me queda más
Que perderme en un abismo
De tristeza y lágrimas.

I have nothing left
But to lose myself in an abyss
Of sadness and tears.

Continue reading ““No Me Queda Más” [I Have Nothing Left (But To…)] by Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, English translation” →

“Muñeca de Trapo” (Rag Doll) by La Oreja de Van Gogh, English translation

“Rag Doll” Song Translation
Album: Guapa (Good Looking), 2006
Genre: Pop/rock, heavy string instruments, sad song about unrequited love and neglect.
Country: Spain

Lyrics Translation:

Como esos cuadros que aún están por colgar,
Como el mantel de la cena de ayer,
Siempre esperando que te diga algo más,
Y mis sentidas palabras no quieren volar.

Like those paintings that have yet to be hung up,
Like the tablecloth of yesterday’s dinner,
Always waiting for me to tell you something more,
And my heartfelt words do not want to fly.

Continue reading ““Muñeca de Trapo” (Rag Doll) by La Oreja de Van Gogh, English translation” →

“Un Lugar Para Renacer” (A Place To Be Reborn) by Natalia Lafourcade, English translation

“A Place To Be Reborn” Lyrics
Album: Hu, Hu, Hu, 2009
Genre: Pop, light and floaty, gentle fairy-ish, some piano
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube, Amazon

Lyrics Translation:

Qué protección sentí ayer,
Aunque afuera vi la lluvia.
Me dieron ganas de llorar
Con la canción que me enseñabas.

What security I felt yesterday,
Even though saw the rain outside.
I felt like crying [*lit. I got the urge to cry]
With the song that you were teaching me.

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“Puedes Contar Conmigo” (You Can Count On Me) by La Oreja De Van Gogh, English translation

“You Can Count On Me”
Album: Lo Que Te Conté Mientras Te Hacías La Dormida (What I Told You While You Pretended to Sleep), 2003
Genre: Pop/rock, nostalgic love song about seeing the end of a relationship and feeling sad, thinking of the good times they had in the past, and asking if they will remember them fondly also.
Country: Spain

Lyrics Translation:

Un café con sal,
Ganas de llorar,
Mi mundo empezando a temblar,
Presiento que se acerca el final.

A coffee with salt,
Wanting to cry,
My world starting to tremble,
I feel that the end draws near.

Continue reading ““Puedes Contar Conmigo” (You Can Count On Me) by La Oreja De Van Gogh, English translation” →

“Tres” (Three) by Juanes, English translation

“Three”
Album: La Vida Es… Un Ratico (Life Is… A Brief Moment), 2007
Genre: Pop, love song about waiting for someone.
Country: Colombia

Lyrics Translation:

Yo no pienso que me pueda de ti olvidar.
Yo no pienso que mi corazón resista un día más.
Yo no soy lo que tú quieras que sea este amor.
Sólo soy la puerta abierta que te da mi corazón.

I do not think that I can forget about you.
I do not think that my heart will stand another day.
I am not what you want this love to be.
I am only the open door that gives my heart to you.

Continue reading ““Tres” (Three) by Juanes, English translation” →

“Estupida” (Stupid) by La India, English translation

“Stupid”
Singer: Linda “La India” Viera Caballero
Genre: Pop with salsa influence, about a lying boyfriend and feeling dumb for falling for them.
Country: Puerto Rico

Lyrics Translation:

Qué estúpida te ves.
Sera ingenuidad.
Hay cosas en la vida que
No se pueden aceptar.

How stupid you look.
It must be some ingenuity.
There are things in life that
Cannot be accepted.

Continue reading ““Estupida” (Stupid) by La India, English translation” →

“Che Araña” (Friend Spider) by Cri-Cri, Eugenia León, English translation of lyrics

“Friend Spider” (1942)
Songwritter: Francisco “Cri-Cri” Gabilondo Soler
Genre: Children’s song about a musical spider who rallies other household bugs and animals for a dance party. Cri-Cri is unique for his elaborate children’s stories with advanced Spanish vocabulary. He does not speak down to children. The songs are fun without being overly repetitive.
Country: Mexico
Listen: Cri-Cri (children’s song); Eugenia León (ballad style)

Lyrics Translation:

Al fondo del barril desvencijado
Que alumbra un rayo de sol,
La araña en sus hilos baila tango
Con los acordes del bandoneón.

At the bottom of the crumbling barrel
That a ray of sunlight illuminates,
The spider on its strings dances tango
With the chords of the bandonion.

Continue reading ““Che Araña” (Friend Spider) by Cri-Cri, Eugenia León, English translation of lyrics” →

“La Llamada” (The Call) by Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, English translation

“The Call”
Genre: Drama pop song about a cheater who wants to get back together. This person cheats, gets caught, gets dumped, and then won’t stop calling! Selena is just going to keep hanging up. Stop calling her. I love songs with stories.
Country: United States (Texas); Mexico

Lyrics Translation:

[Sound of phone ringing]

-Bueno…
-Soy yo, mi amor, antes de que me cuelgues no’ más dejame explicar que…

-Hello…
-It’s me, my love, before you hang up on me just let me explain that…

[Sound of phone hanging up]

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“Nuestro Amor Sera Leyenda” (Our Love Will Be Legend) by Alejandro Sanz, English translation

“Our Love Will Be Legend”, 2009
Genre: Pop, love song, about long-distance relationships
Country: Spain (Madrid)

Lyrics Translation:

No hay doctor que me retenga,
No hay dolor que me detenga,
No hay planeta que me eclipse,
O de tu lado me desvíe.

There is no doctor who can retain me,
There is no pain that can detain me,
There is no planet that can eclipse me,
Or from your side divert me.

Continue reading ““Nuestro Amor Sera Leyenda” (Our Love Will Be Legend) by Alejandro Sanz, English translation” →

“Barbie de Extrarradio” (Barbie of the Suburbs) by Melendi, English translation

“Barbie of the Suburbs”, 2010
Genre: Rock, bitter ex song
Country: Spain

Lyrics Translation:

En la guerra, como en el amor,
Todo vale y siempre queda un perdedor.
Normalmente, pierde el que quiere más,
Al igual que en una mesa de black jack.

In war, like in love,
All’s fair and there is always a loser.
Usually, the loser is the one who loves the most,
Just like in a black jack table.

Continue reading ““Barbie de Extrarradio” (Barbie of the Suburbs) by Melendi, English translation” →

“Jueves” (Thursday) by La Oreja de Van Gogh, English translation and meaning

“Thursday” Lyrics
Album: A Las Cinco En El Astoria (Five o’ Clock at the Astoria), 2008
Genre: Bittersweet romance song tied to a historical event. Two train riders with mutual crushes finally confess their interest in each other. This song is dedicated to the victims of the 2004 Madrid train bombing. Per the band, news of tragedies often focuses on the statistics, but they wanted to humanize the individual lives lost.
Country: Spain

Lyrics Translation:

Si fuera más guapa y un poco más lista,
Si fuera especial, si fuera de revista,
Tendría el valor de cruzar el vagón
Y preguntarte quién eres.

If I were more beautiful and a bit smarter,
If I were special, if I were from magazines,
I would have the courage to cross the passenger car
And ask you who you are.

Continue reading ““Jueves” (Thursday) by La Oreja de Van Gogh, English translation and meaning” →

“Con Toda Palabra” (With Every Word) by Lhasa de Sela, English translation

“With Every Word” Lyrics
Genre: Controlled slow pace, sultry, with string instruments, poetic lust song.
Country: United States (New York); Mexico

Lyrics Translation:

Con toda palabra,
Con toda sonrisa,
Con toda mirada,
Con toda caricia.

With every word,
With every smile,
With every glance,
With every caress.

Continue reading ““Con Toda Palabra” (With Every Word) by Lhasa de Sela, English translation” →