Spanish songs translated to English with side-by-side lyrics and notes for Spanish learners
“Todo Tiende”
Album: Techarí (Free), 2006
Style: Fast-paced flamenco/hip hop.
Country: Spain
Listen: YouTube
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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“Combatant” Lyrics
Album: Amar es Combatir (To Love is To Battle), 2006
Style: Latin rock
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Desde crió, me conducían el soñar.
Toda era imposición.
Desde niño, controlaban lo que iba a pensar.
Mataban la ilusión.
“The Sun Rose” or “The Sun Appeared” or “The Sun is Here”
Album: King of Kings, 2006
Style: Reggaeton
Country: Puerto Rico
Listen: YouTube
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.
———————————————–
“The Book” Lyrics
Album: Dile al Sol (Tell the Sun)
Style: Jazzy
Country: Spain
Listen: YouTube
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.
“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
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.
“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
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.
“El Viaje” (The Voyage) by Maná
Album: Amar Es Combatir (To Love is To Battle), 2006
Style: Latin rock
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
[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
“The Desert” Lyrics by Maná
Album: ¿Dónde jugarán los niños? (Where will the children play?), 1992
Style: Latin Rock
Listen: YouTube, Amazon
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.
“Tear Out My Heart” Song Translation
Album: Amar Es Combatir (To Love is To Fight), 2006
Style: Rock song asking their sweetheart to tear out their heart if they leave. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album.
Country: Mexico
Yo sigo solo.
Aquí en la habitación, solo.
Ya anunciaste que te ibas a marchar de mi lado.
I continue alone.
Here in my room, alone.
You already declared you were leaving me.
“Moon”
Album: Un Día Normal (A Normal Day), 2002
Style: Pop/rock, sweet, singing to the moon about love
Country: Colombia
Listen: YouTube
Luna de todas la noches,
Iluminame esta noche.
Dime si ella es la reina
Y la dueña de todo mi amor.
Moon of all nights,
Illuminate this night for me.
Tell me if she is the queen
And the owner of all my love.
“Flaca o Gordita” (Skinny or Fat) by Olga Tañon
Album: Soy Como Tú (I am like you), 2006
Style: Romantic merengue love song
Country: Puerto Rico
Listen: YouTube
Qué bonito!
Ya llevamos tanto tiempo
Pareciera que fue ayer
Cuando te bese por primera vez
Me prometiste que por mi morirías.
How nice!
We’ve been together for so long
It would seem as if it were yesterday
When I kissed you for the first time
You promised me that you’d give your life for me (die for me).
Songlations 
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