Spanish songs translated to English with side-by-side lyrics and notes for Spanish learners
“The Little Lady Duck” / “Mama Webster”
Style: Children’s song about a money-strapped mother duck
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube. Also, this website has mp3 files. “La Patita” is on the second column.
La patita
De canasta y con reboso de bolita
Va al mercado
A comprar todas las cosas del mandado.
Mama Webster
With basket and polka dotted shawl
Goes to market
To buy all the things for groceries.
“The Ugly Doll” Children’s Song Translation
Composer: Francisco Gabilondo Soler (“Cri-Cri”)
Style: Children’s song about an abandoned doll. I remember Cri-Cri’s songs from my childhood. I hadn’t heard these songs in sooo long. You have no idea! Cri-Cri is Mexico’s best known writer of children’s story songs. A quick search didn’t bring up any English translations, so here I am!
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube. This website has mp3 files. “La Muñeca Fea” is on the first column, about two-thirds of the way down the list.
Escondida por los rincones,
Temerosa que alguien la vea,
Platicaba con los ratones,
La pobre muñeca fea.
Hidden around the corners,
Fearful of being seen,
She chatted with the mice,
The poor ugly doll.
“Justice, Land and Liberty” Song Translation
Album: Revolución de Amor (Love Revolution), 2002 — Grammy and Latin Grammy winner
Style: Latin rock anthem
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Justicia tierra y libertad (x2)
Oye tú mi canto, óyelo, óyelo,
Oye tu mi llanto, óyelo, óyelo.
Justice, land and liberty (x2)
Hear you my song, hear it, hear it,
Hear you my cry, hear it, hear it.
“We’re Sea and Sand”
Album: Amar es Combatir (To Love is To Fight), 2006. It won a 2007 Grammy for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album.
Style: Rock/pop
Country: Mexico
Ese hombre que te trae bien embrujada,
Ese hombre, gandalla, deudor,
¿Dónde estás? Vuelve mi amor
Que somos mar y arena.
That man that has you terribly bewitched,
That guy, vagabond, debtor,
Where are you? Return, my love
Because we’re sea and sand.
“Relax” by Maná
Album: Amar es Combatir (To Love is To Fight), 2006. It won a 2007 Grammy for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album.
Style: Rock. Oh man, this song is so catchy. Maná is brilliant when it comes to singing about desperation without being sentimental or sounding hopeless. It’s sad, but it’s not saddening. I like the beat.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Siento que el mundo no para, me vuelvo loco.
Siento que el sol no calienta nada, ni un poco.
I feel that the world doesn’t stop, I go crazy.
I feel that the sun doesn’t warm anything, even a little.
Vivo en el borde y al filo de una navaja,
Pero por dios en mi tierra nadie se raja.
I live on the brink and at the edge of a knife,
But for (the love of) God, in my land nobody cracks.
“It Has Not Stopped Raining”
Albums: No ha parado de llover (It has not stopped raining), 1995; Maná MTV Unplugged, 1999
Style: Rock, melancholy
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Desde que te perdí
La luz se ha puesto muy mojada.
Mirada triste esta nublada
Y en mis ojos no ha parado de llover.
Since I lost you
The light has become very watery.
Sad gaze, this cloudyness
And in my eyes, it has not stopped raining.
“Without the Moon”
Artist: Alejandro Filio. Also sung by: Tania Libertad
Style: Hauntingly beautiful love song. Melancholy guitar instrumentals.
Country: Mexico; Peru
Listen at YouTube: Alejandro Filio live, Tania Libertad recorded
Si repito tu nombre
Después de otra jornada
Y otra noche conmigo…
If I repeat your name
After another journey
And another night with me…
“The King Shark” Lyrics
Album: Amar es Combatir (To Love is to Battle), 2006
Style: Chacha dance and Latin rock about the king shark. This song was the opening for a Mexican telenovela, Yo amo a Juan Querendón (“I love Juan Querendón”).
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Todos me llaman el pez Tiburón,
El rey de los mares salados.
Todos me llaman el pez Tiburón,
El rey, el amante dotado.
Everyone calls me the Shark fish,
The king of the salted seas.
Everyone calls me the Shark fish,
The king, the gifted lover.
“Ay, Doctor” Lyrics
Album: Revolución de Amor (Revolution of Love), 2002
Style: Latin rock about heartbreak and wanting a heartbreak doctor.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube (Maná official video). There’s also a fan music video with costumes and reenactments and everything.
Me ha envenenado,
Con sus labios, con sus besos.
Alucinado, loco por su desamor.
She has poisoned me,
With her lips, with her kisses.
Hallucinated, crazy for her unlove.
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