Spanish songs translated to English with side-by-side lyrics and notes for Spanish learners
“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
“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.
“Eres Mi Religion” (You Are My Religion) by Maná
Album: Revolucíon de Amor (Revolution of Love), 2002
Style: Latin rock song about a man who was low, depressed, unhappy… then met the love of his life and his life brightened. He calls her his blessing, his light, his sun. Love song to her.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Iba caminando por las calles empapadas en olvido.
Iba por los parques con fantasmas y con ángeles caídos.
Iba sin luz, iba sin sol,
Iba sin un sentido, iba muriéndome.
Iba volando sobre el mar con las alas rotas.
I went walking through streets soaked in oblivion.
I went through parks with ghosts and fallen angels.
I went without light, I went without sun,
I went without a feeling, I went dying.
I went flying over the sea on broken wings.
“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.
“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’s For You”
Album: Un Día Normal (A Normal Day), 2002
Style: Soft rock with a beat, almost pop, love song
Country: Colombia
Listen: YouTube
Cada vez que me levanto
Y veo que a mi lado estás
Me siento renovado.
Every time I rise
And see you at my side
I feel renewed.
Y me siento aniquilado,
Aniquilado si no estás.
Tú controlas toda mi verdad
Y todo lo que está de más.
And I feel unbalanced,
Unbalanced if you aren’t around.
You control my whole truth
And everything else (of barest mention).
“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.
“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.
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