“Like the Olive Trees” Lyrics Album:Pafuera Telarañas (Out with the Cobwebs), 2004 Style: Flamenco hip/hop, song about a passionate romance against the peaceful backdrop of Spain’s pastures. Country: Spain Listen:YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
Como los olivos Sudan aceite, Mi cuerpo resbala sobre tu piel. Duerme hombre tranquilo en el jardín del edén Que la humedad desprende sabor a miel.
Like the olives Sweat oil, My body slips over your skin. Sleep, man, serenely in the garden of Eden For the humidity gives off a taste of honey.
“The Alms” Songwriter: Horacio Sanguinetti (pen name of Horacio Basterra) Style: Tango ballad about charity and poverty. An orphan on the streets tries unsuccessfully to beg outside of a rich party. Help fight hunger by donating to Feeding America or your local food bank. Country: Uruguay (Horatio Sanguinetti); Ecuador (Julio Jaramillo) Listen: This is an old song that has many renditions, including one from the prolific early-mid 20th century singer Julio Jaramillo (YouTube). Also sung by Jose Manuel Calderon, Juan Bautista, Juan José Guichandut (music composer), and others.
[Alternative lyrics are shown for the underlined text. The alternative shown is for Julio Jaramillo’s version.]
Translation:
En la puerta de un palacio, un pobre niño mendigaba: “¡Tengo hambre, tengo frío, tenga usted de mí, piedad!*” [*underlined alt. piedad de mi!] Era agosto, pleno invierno y la lluvia taladraba A su débil cuerpecito que era carne de orfandad.
At the door of a palace, a poor boy begged: “I am hungry, I am cold, have you for me, pity!*” [*underlined alt. pity for me!] It was August, in the middle of winter and (with) the rain striking down On his weak little body which was the flesh of orphanhood.
“Reminiscences” Lyrics Style: Pasillo romance song from mid-20th century Ecuador about remembering a past lover. Pasillo is like Latin American bolero music (romantic lyrics) and European waltz (musical sound), but includes guitar, mandolin, and other string instruments in addition to piano. No one is better at romantic poetry than Julio Jaramillo. Country: Ecuador Listen:YouTube
Translation:
Amada, es imposible borrar de mi memoria, Me persigue el recuerdo de tu extraño mirar, Esa risa tan tuya, tus labios tentadores, Que dejaron su encanto prendido en mi ansiedad.
Beloved, it is impossible to erase from my memory, It pursues me, the memory of your strange gaze, That laugh so yours, your lips so tempting, Who left their enchantment aflame in my restless mind.
“You and the Clouds” Lyrics Style: Ranchera, Mexican oldie from the mid-20th century. This unrequited love song was featured in the Mexican movie La Fiera (1956). Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube
Translation:
Ay, ay, ay (Cariño, mío, ríndete ya)
Ay, ay, ay (My dear, hang your white flag)
Ando volando bajo, Mi amor está por lo suelos, Y tú tan alto, tan alto, Mirando mis desconsuelos, Sabiendo que soy un hombre Que está muy lejos del cielo.
I am flying low, My love is dragging the floors, And you so high, so high, Watching my grief, Knowing that I am a man Who is very far from heaven.
“Of All the Flowers” LyricsTranslation Album:De Todas Las Flores (Of All the Flowers), 2022 Style: Jazzy, folk, piano and string. Song reminiscing about a happy romance that ended. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube
Translation:
De todas las flores que sembramos Solo quedan unas encendidas. Cada mañana se preguntan Cuándo llegarás para cantarles.
Of all the flowers that we sowed Only a few remain aflare. Every morning they ask themselves When will you come to sing to them.
“The Drunk Arrived Drunk” Lyrics Translation Style: Corrido (storytelling country music style of Mexico). Song about two drunks keeping each other company and how an unfortunate and minor argument led to their deaths. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube
Translation:
Llego borracho el borracho, Pidiendo cinco tequilas, Y le dijo el cantinero, Se acabaron las bebidas. Si quieres echarte un trago, Vamonos a otra cantina.
The drunk arrived drunk, Asking for five tequilas, And the barman told him, This bar has dried up. If you want to have a drink, Let’s go to another bar.
“A Good Life” LyricsTranslation Album:Una Vida Buena (A Good Life), 2023 Style: Pop/rock. Aspirational song about wanting to leave a bad marriage and live a good life, without the awfulness of current life. Country: Puerto Rico Listen:YouTube
Translation:
Me desperté cansada, Cansada de vivir en una vida que no me da nada. Tan triste, aburrida, deprimida, pero con más ganas De hacer una maleta y mandar todo pa’ la chingada.
I woke up tired, Tired of living in a life that gives me nothing. So sad, tired, depressed, but with a stronger urge To pack a bag and leave everything to hell.
“There Will Be No One in the World” Lyrics Album:Niña de Fuego (Girl of Fire), 2008. Nominated for “Album of the Year” in the 2008 Latin Grammy Awards. Style: Pop, jazz, tropical music. Song about a heartbreak. Country: Spain Listen:YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
Desde que el agua es libre, Libre entre manantiales vive. Jazmines han llora’o y yo no comprendo Cómo en tus ojos, niña, solo hay desierto.
Since the water was free, Free among running springs, it lives. Jasmines have cried and and I don’t understand How in your eyes, girl, there is only a desert.
“Foreign Land” Lyrics Album:Amor Supremo (Supreme Love), 2015 Style: Alternative rock song about wanting to be chaste, but struggling with new and foreign feelings and desires. Country: Mexico; USA Listen:YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
Y tú, ¿quién te crees? Enamorandome así, Sin pedirle permiso a Dios, Enredándome en locura.
And you, who do you think you are? Making me fall for you like this, Without asking God for permission, Entangling me in lunacy.
“The Rebellion” Album: Rebellion, 1986 Style: Salsa story-story about African slaves who rebel in Colombia. Billboard lists it as one of the “15 Best Salsa Songs Ever” and various publications have listed it among the greatest songs of Colombia. Joe Arroyo wrote this song to remember the history of his hometown. Country: Colombia Listen:YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
[Spoken:] Quiero contarle, mi hermano, Un pedacito de la historia negra, De la historia nuestra, caballero, Y dice así…
I want to tell you, my brother, A little piece of black history, Of our history, gentleman, And it goes like this…
“You Sure Know How to Love Me” Album:Musas (Muses), 2017 Style: Folk music, romantic song telling a long-time suitor that you have the courage to reciprocate now. Happy Valentine’s Day! Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
Ha pasado tanto tiempo, Finalmente descubrí tus besos, Me enredaste en tu mirada, Me abrazaste con todos mis defectos.
So much time has passed, Finally I discovered your kisses, You tied me up with your eyes, You hugged me with all my defects.
“You Don’t Owe Me, Nor I You” Album:Comillo De Leche (Milk Fang), 2023 Style: Northern Mexican regional pop about a mutual breakup. Sad but accepting and not angry. Country: Mexico, Colombia Listen:YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
Tengo que irme porque me siento muy triste, Aquí no hay nada, esta historia se acabó.
I have to leave because I feel so sad, There is nothing here, this story has ended. Te dejo libre, Fuiste tú la que perdiste. No es tan sencillo encontrarse Un gran amor.
I leave you free, It was you who lost. It isn’t so easy to find oneself A great love.
Songlations 
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