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.

“Dios No Lo Quiera” by Sanchez Alonso, English translation of lyrics

“May God Not Want It” Lyrics
Style: Romantic song lamenting a lover who is pulling away.
Country: Mexico
Composed by: Enrique Sánchez Alonso (Mexico)
Listen, sung by: Tania Libertad, Ana Gabriel, Javier Solis, Los Tres Ases, and many more.

Translation Notes:

Dios no lo quiera
Pero presiento que has dejado de quererme.
En estos días se te nota diferente,
Se han vuelto frías tus caricias de repente.

May God not let it be
But I feel that you no longer love me.
In these days, your presence is different,
Your caresses have turned cold suddenly.

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“Que Vuelvas” by Shakira, English translation of lyrics

“That You Return”
Album: ¿Dónde Están Los Ladrones? (Where Are The Thieves?), 1998
Style: Ballad/rock about wanting someone to return.
Country: Colombia
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

¿Y qué voy a hacer con mi despiste selectivo,
Y con mi sueño frustrado de aprender a cocinar?
¿Y qué voy a hacer con los domingos y feriados?
Ningún plan es apropiado
Cuando intento no pensar.

And what am I going to do with my selective tangents
And my frustrated dream of learning how to cook?
And what am I going to do with Sundays and holidays?
No plan is appropriate
When I try to stop thinking.

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“Demasiado Tarde” by El Sueño De Morfeo, English translation of lyrics

“Much Too Late”
Style: Emo alternative rock with folk music elements about unfulfilled potential and wanting to change
Country: Spain
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Rondaba los veinte años
Y sin darse cuenta ya era toda una mujer
Había empeñado su vida, aunque no lo sabia,
En hacerle feliz a él.
Pero nadie la escuchó,
Cuando en silencio gritó…

She was roaming those twenty years
And without realizing it she was fully a woman
She had pawned her life, though she didn’t know it,
To make him happy.
But nobody heard her,
When in silence she yelled…

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“Todo Tiende” by Ojos de Brujo, English translation of lyrics

“Todo Tiende”
Album: Techarí (Free), 2006
Style: Fast-paced flamenco/hip hop.
Country: Spain
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Mendigando eternidades,
Mendigos piden a mendigos
Lo que no tienen ni pueden darse.

Panhandling eternities,
Vagrants ask vagrants
For what they do not have nor can give each other.

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“Dulce Locura” (Sweet Madness) by La Oreja de Van Gogh, English translation of lyrics

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“Combatiente” by Maná, English translation of lyrics

“Combatant” Lyrics
Album: Amar es Combatir (To Love is To Battle), 2006
Style: Latin rock
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Desde crió, me conducían el soñar.
Toda era imposición.
Desde niño, controlaban lo que iba a pensar.
Mataban la ilusión.

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“Salió el Sol” (The Sun Rose) by Don Omar, English translation of lyrics

“The Sun Rose” or “The Sun Appeared” or “The Sun is Here”
Album: King of Kings, 2006
Style: Reggaeton
Country: Puerto Rico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Don, Don, Don, Don!

CHORUS A:
———————————————–
Salió el sol-oh-ol…
Cuerpo bronceado y sus amigas buscaban acción.
La canción…
Que causa en ellas y sus cuerpos esa sensación,
Reggaeton-oh-on…
Piden Reggaeton-oh-on…
Del mejor…
(Pon the river, pon the river, pon the river, pon the bank, pon the bank)
Sientan la presión.

The sun appeared-eh-eared…
Bronzed body and her friends were seeking action.
The song…
What causes in them and their bodies that sensation,
Reggaeton-oh-on…
They ask for reggaeton-oh-on…
Of the best…
(Pon the river, pon the river, pon the river, pon the bank, pon the bank)
Feel the pressure.
———————————————–

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“El Libro” by La Oreja de Van Gogh, English translation

“The Book” Lyrics
Album: Dile al Sol (Tell the Sun)
Style: Jazzy
Country: Spain
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Qué distinto parece el mundo al girar,
Si sonríes sentada en cualquier bar,
Conversando sobre la eternidad.

How different the world looks as it spins,
If you smile sitting in any bar,
Speaking about eternity.

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“Papeles Mojados” (Wet Papers) by Chambao, English translation

“Wet Papers” Lyrics Translation
Album: Con Otro Aire (With Another Air), 2007
Style: Romani-influenced Spanish music about the perils of immigration and fears of refugees.
Country: Spain
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Miles de sombras cada noche trae la marea.
Navegan cargaos de ilusiones que en la orilla se quedan. [*ilusiones = dreams, hopes, lit. illusions]
Historias del día día, historias de buena gente.
Se juegan la vida cansaos, con hambre y un frío que pela.

Every night, the tide brings in thousands of shadows.
They navigate laden with dreams left at the shore.
Stories of the day, the real day, histories of good people.
They gamble their lives fatigued, with hunger and a cold that hurts.

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“Cuídate” (Take Care) by La Oreja de Van Gogh, English translation of lyrics

“Cuídate” (Take Care) by La Oreja de Van Gogh (LODVG)
Album: El Viaje de Copperpot (Copperpot’s Voyage), 2000
Style: Pop/rock, upbeat song about two people spending time together, catching up, and enjoying each other’s company.
Country: Spain
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Detrás del tiempo me instalé.
Ya ves, ni me quejo ni me quejaré.
Mi ser, mis recuerdos y alguna canción
Son hoy mi premio de consolación.

I parked myself behind the time
You see now, I don’t complain nor will I.
My being, my memories and some song
Are today my consolation prize.

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“El Viaje” by Maná, English translation of lyrics

“El Viaje” (The Voyage) by Maná
Album: Amar Es Combatir (To Love is To Battle), 2006
Style: Latin rock
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

[Whisper:]
Que no cunda el pánico

Don’t let the panic take over

Quiero llevarte lejos baby, déjame
Quiero llevarte lejos baby, déjame
Te llevaré

I want to take you far away baby, let me
I want to take you far away baby, let me
I will take you

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“El Desierto” by Maná, English translation of lyrics

“The Desert” Lyrics by Maná
Album: ¿Dónde jugarán los niños? (Where will the children play?), 1992
Style: Latin Rock
Listen: YouTube, Amazon

Translation:

Ya me voy muy lejos del pueblo,
Empacando maletas, guardando recuerdos
De amor.

Now I go very far away from the village
Packing suitcases, putting memories away
(Memories) of love.

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