Spanish to English song lyrics translations, side-by-side. A Spanish language learning resource. Canciones en español traducidas al inglés. Site migration in progress!
“Forever” Lyrics Album:Para Siempre (Forever), 2007 Style: Romantic mariachi serenade to a lover after a rough relationship spot. Relationships take work, but their love is forever. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube
Translation:
Vale más, un buen amor Que mil costales de oro. Vale más, un buen amor Por eso eres mi tesoro.
It’s worth more, a good love, Than a thousand sacks of gold. It’s worth more, a good love, That’s why you are my treasure.
“The Fall”Lyrics, lit. “The Impact” or “The Blast of Wind” Style: Mariachi Countries: United States (Texas), Mexico Listen: This song is full of life advice and metaphors. It speaks about the fall of a great tree. It was so large, and it fell so hard. The song is covered on Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s anthology album, disc 2. Listen to Flor Silvestre’s original version on YouTube.
Translation:
Deja amistades pa’ cuando caigas, Te den la mano. Brinde una copa pa’ cuando llores, Te den un trago.
Keep friendships so that when you fall, They give you a hand. Raise your glass (to others’ happiness) so that when you cry, They give you a drink.
“Something With Meaning”Lyrics Album: Residente o Visitante (Resident or Visitor), 2007 Style: Hilarious but explicit rap song, slow tempo, increasingly disturbing lyrics Country: Puerto Rico Listen: YouTube. This song is hilarious because of its disturbing build-up and then the abrupt end after the first end. Residente Calle 13’s voice acting in this song is great.
***Warning: Explicit language, graphic descriptions of violence.***
Translation:
La gente está jugando con mi mente Y ando con la mirada borracha. Mi cabeza está pensando en remolacha, Por eso no tiene sentido esta guaracha.
People are playing with my head And I walk around with a drunk look. My head is thinking about beets; That’s why this song makes no sense.
“The Black Dog” Lyrics Style: Corrido (a storytelling style) about a loyal dog. Country: Mexico Listen: YouTube, Amazon
About:
José Alfredo Jiménez was a famous and prolific Mexican singer-songwriter. Remember his name if you are interested in the music history of Latin America or Mexican culture. His songs created a new mythology in Mexico. He sang about characters and stories. This song is about the murder of Gilberto the Brave, who was killed in his sleep by a cowardly but powerful rival. Gilberto had a loyal dog who avenged his murder.
Translation:
Al otro lado del puente De La Piedad, Michoacán, Vivía Gilberto el Valiente, Nacido en Apatzingán.
“Smaragdos Margara (Claviceps Purpura)”, 1995 Album: Si Buscabas (If You Searched), 1985 Singers: Salvador Cardenal and Katia Cardenal Style: Soft folk music, strong vocals; hauntingly pretty and ambiguous. I like how music travels the world. I actually first heard this song as a cover on Une Histoire de Famille, a French language album by the Montreal band Hart-Rouge. Country: Nicaragua Listen: original by Dúo Guardabarranco (softly spoken) on YouTube or Amazon.
“Question” Lyrics Style: Pasillo, heartsickness Country: Ecuador Listen at YouTube. Julio Jaramillo would rather be stabbed in the gut than lied to about love. He just wants the truth. I love the lyrics. They are clear and concise but so poetic.
Translation:
Ya no creo en nada. Hasta dudo de ti. Siento desconfianza. Ya no creo ni en mí.
I no longer believe in anything. I doubt even you. I feel distrust. I no longer believe even in me.
“Beloved Dove”Lyrics Style: Ranchera, love song. A popular old romantic song in Mexico. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube, Amazon
Translation:
Por el día que llegaste a mi vida, Paloma querida, me puse a brindar, Y al sentirme un poquito tomado, Pensando en tus labios, me dio por cantar.
For the day that you entered into my life, Beloved dove, I began to toast, And on feeling a little drunk, Thinking of your lips, I was inspired to sing.
“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.
“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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