Spanish to English song lyrics translations, side-by-side. A Spanish language learning resource. Canciones en español traducidas al inglés. Site migration in progress!
“The Democracy” Lyrics Album:SEIS (Six), 2021 Style: Cumbia about politics in Latin America, lamenting poor conditions and atrocities done in the name of democracy. Country: Chile, Mexico Listen:YouTube
Translation:
Tú no tienes la culpa de que la plata a nadie le alcanza. Tú no tienes la culpa de la violencia y de la matanza. Así el mundo nos recibió: con muchas balas, poca esperanza. Quiero que todo sea mejor, que se equilibre esa balanza.
It’s not your fault that money doesn’t stretch out far enough for anyone. It’s not your fault, the violence and the killings. This is how the world received us: with many bullets, little hope. I want everything to be better, for that scale to balance.
José Alfredo Jiménez died 41 years ago on November 23, 1973.
My father is a huge fan of José Alfredo Jiménez. Once, when I was visiting home and helping him install a new music program, he started filling his playlist and found this song. He told me more about the legendary José Alfredo Jiménez, beloved and prolific singer-songwriter of Mexico. Jiménez died in 1973 of cirrhosis of the liver due to his drinking. He didn’t die sad or regretful, though. He died full of gratitude for his fans. He composed this last song, “Gracias” (Thank You) to express his love for everyone, and to let people know that he thought his life was wonderful, and that he had made peace with his upcoming death.
To this day, he is still internationally famous for his character- and story-driven lyrics. When people think of mariachi, ranchera, and corrido songs, they think of José Alfredo Jiménez.
Translation:
¿Cómo puedo pagar Que me quieran a mí Por todas mis canciones?
How can I repay That you all love me For all my songs?
“Destiny”Lyrics Album: Fíjate Bien (Pay Attention), 2000 Style: Pop/rock Country: Colombia Listen:YouTube. This album won “Best Rock Solo Vocal Album” and “Best New Artist” at the 2001 Latin Grammy Awards.
Translation:
Estoy buscando una forma de ver Detrás de los espejos del alma, Más adentro donde está la luz Que quema, pero que no mata.
I am searching for a way of seeing Behind the mirrors of the soul, Deeper inside where there’s the light That burns, but does not kill.
“Disappearances” Album: Buscando America (Looking for America), 1984 Style: Political commentary, sad song Countries: Panama, Mexico Listen at YouTube: Rubén Blades, or Maná’s cover from their MTV Unplugged album
Translation:
Que alguien me diga si han visto a mi esposo, Preguntaba la Doña. Se llama Ernesto X. Tiene cuarenta años. Trabaja de celador, en un negocio de carros. Llevaba camisa oscura y pantalón claro.
Someone tell me if they have seen my husband, Asked the madam. His name is Ernesto X. He is forty years old. He works as a guard, in a car dealership business. He had a dark shirt and light pants.
Salió anteanoche y no ha regresado Y no sé ya qué pensar, Pues esto antes no me había pasado. Oooo…
He went out the night before last night and he has not returned And I don’t know what to think anymore, Because this had never happened to me before. Oooo…
“To The North”Translation Album: Residente/Visitante (Resident/Visitor), 2007 Style: Urban/hip hop Countries: Puerto Rico, Cuba Listen: YouTube
Translation:
Girl: Unas piernas que respiran… Veneno de serpiente… Por el camino del viento… Voy soplando agua ardiente*
A pair of legs that breathe in… Venom from snakes… By the way of the wind… I go exhaling blazing water…
Announcer: El día habia comenzado entusiasmado y alegre.
The day had begun enthusiastically and joyfully.
Spoken: -Dice… Pasaporte! -Ha donde va por ahí, luminario*, en esta noche tan fea? -Usted no se anima? -Mire como ‘sta el camino. ‘Ta negaiiiito! -No hombre, cómo, el camino es lo de menos. -Lo importante es que haiga* bronca.
-(He) says… Passport! -Where you goin’, luminary, in this night so ugly? -Don’t you dare? -See how the road is. It’s terrible! -No man, how (can you say that), the road is the least of it. -What matters is for there to be a fight in you.
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