“La Democracia” (Democracy) by Mon Laferte, English translation

“Democracy”
Album: SEIS (Six), 2021
Genre: Cumbia about politics in Latin America, lamenting poor conditions and atrocities done in the name of democracy.
Country: Chile, Mexico

Lyrics 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.

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“El Ramalazo” (The Fall) by Flor Silvestre, cover by Selena Quintanilla-Perez, English translation

“The Fall” Lyrics, lit. “The Impact” or “The Blast of Wind”
Genre: 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.

Lyrics 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.

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“Que Nadie Sepa Mi Sufrir” (Let No One Know My Suffering) by Angel Cabral and Enrique Dizeo, sung by many, English translation

“Let No One Know My Suffering”
Genre: 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

Listen: Renditions available at YouTube by: Los Lobos (USA, 1970s-current), Julio Jaramillo (Ecuador, 1950s pasillo), Maria Dolores Pradera (Spain, 1950s operatic), Sonora Dinamita (Colombian and Salvadorean, 1980s+ cumbia), Julio Iglesias (Spain, 1980s romantic), Lucha Reyes (Peru, 1970s), 웅산 Woong San (Korea, in Spanish, 2010s), Edith Piaf (France, in French with edited lyrics as La Foule, 1957), and many more.

Lyrics Translation:

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.

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“Alma de Acero” (Soul of Steel) by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation

“Soul of Steel”
Genre: Ranchera about having a strong center, able to withstand emotional blows by flighty lovers.
Country: Mexico

Lyrics Translation:

Podrás tener mucha suerte,
Podrás andar por el mundo
Destrozando corazones.

You can have lots of luck,
You can travel the world
Destroying hearts.

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“Amor Clandestino” (Clandestine Love) by Maná, English translation & meaning

“Clandestine Love”
Album: Drama y Luz (Drama and Light), 2011
Genre: Latin rock song with dual meaning, about hidden love, but also about undocumented immigrant youth (Dreamers).
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube, Amazon

Lyrics Translation:

Eres inevitable, amor,
Casi como respirar,
Casi como respirar.

You are inevitable, love,
Almost like breathing,
Almost like breathing.

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“Te Solté La Rienda” (I Let Go of Your Reign) by José Alfredo Jiménez, Maná, English translation

“I Let Go of Your Rein”
Genre: 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.

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“Vivir Mi Vida” (Living My Life) by Marc Anthony, English translation

“Living My Life”
Album: Marc Anthony 3.0, 2013
Genre: Joyful anthem encouraging you to seek happiness.
Country: USA (New York & Puerto Rico)
Listen: YouTube, Amazon

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“Tu Falta De Querer” (Your Failure to Love) by Mon Laferte, English translation

“Your Failure to Love”
Album: Mon Laferte Vol. 1, 2015
Genre: Latin rock about a devastated woman wondering “why?” after a breakup.
Country: Chile

Lyrics Translation:

Hoy volví a dormir en nuestra cama
Y todo sigue igual.
El aire y nuestros gatos, nada cambiará.
Difícil olvidarte estando aquí, oh, oh, oh.

Today I went back to sleep in our bed
And everything remains the same.
The air and our cats, nothing will change.
It’s difficult to forget you being here, oh, oh, oh.

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“No Voy A Ser Tu Esclavo” (I Will Not Be Your Slave) by Maná, English translation

“I Will Not Be Your Slave”
Album: Revolución de Amor (Revolution of Love), 2002
Genre: Rock
Country: Mexico
Listen @ YouTube, Amazon Music

Lyrics Translation:

No me crucifiques
Con los clavos del amor, mi morena.
No soy de tu propiedad, mi reina,
Y no voy a ser tu esclavo.

Do not crucify me
With the nails of love, my brunette.
I am not your property, my queen,
And I will not be your slave.

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“Kitipun” by Juan Luis Guerra, English translation

“Kitipun”
Album: Literal (Literal), 2019
Genre: Bachata, salsa, tropical love song.
Country: Dominical Republic
Listen: YouTube, Amazon. This song won “Best Tropical Song” and was nominated for Song of the Year in the 2019 Latin Grammy Awards.

Lyrics Translation:

Mi cuenta de ahorros, mi pasta dental,
Mi guitarra Fender y mi celular.
Mi libro de sushi comprado en Perú,
Mi bata de baño y mi champú. (¡Oh!)

My checking account, my toothpaste,
My Fender guitar and my cell phone.
My book about sushi bought in Peru,
My bathrobe and my shampoo. (Oh!)

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“Ella Me Enamoró” (She Made Me Fall In Love) by La Santa Cecilia, English translation

“She Made Me Fall In Love”
Album: Quiero Verte Feliz (I Want To See You Happy), 2021 
Genre: Cumbia about falling in love.
Country: USA/Mexico (Mexican-American)
Listen: YouTube, Amazon

Lyrics Translation:

En la locura de este pensamiento
Salen corriendo todos mis deseos.
Quisiera liberar mi pensamiento,
Buscándote a ti.

In the lunacy of this thought
All my desires go flying [*lit. running].
I would like to liberate my mind,
Looking for you.

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“Amor Profundo” (Profound Love) by Julio Jaramillo, English translation

“Profound Love”
Genre: Vals (Waltz). Love song.
Country: Ecuador
Listen: YouTube, Amazon

Lyrics Translation:

Yo no creí
Que al cabo de los años
Fuera a encontrar
Un amor como el tuyo.

I did not believe
That after all these years
I would find
A love like yours.

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