Spanish song lyrics translated to English: side-by-side lyrics, song meanings, and translation notes for people learning Spanish.
“The Town Son”
Composer: José Alfredo Jiménez
Style: Ranchera about poverty with dignity.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Es mi orgullo haber nacido
En el barrio más humilde,
Alejado del bullicio
(Y) de la falsa sociedad.
It is my pride to have been born
In the most humble neighborhood,
Away from the hustle and bustle
(And) from the false society.
“Lemon and Salt”
Album: Limón y Sal, 2006
Style: Alternative rock, love song to a moody lover, whimsical, fairy tale-like, not very subtle werewolf references. Could be a cute song to do for Halloween in Spanish class.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube. The music video is kind of amazing in a strange way.
Tengo que confesar que a veces
No me gusta tu forma de ser.
I have to confess that sometimes
I do not like your way of being.
“Beloved Dove” Lyrics
Style: Ranchera, love song. A popular old romantic song in Mexico.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube, Amazon
Por el día que llegaste a mi vida,
Paloma querida, me puse a brindar,
Y al sentirme un poquito tomado,
Pensando en tus labios, me dio por cantar.
For the day that you entered into my life,
Beloved dove, I began to toast,
And on feeling a little drunk,
Thinking of your lips, I was inspired to sing.
“The King”
Composer: José Alfredo Jiménez
Style: Ranchera very popular in Mexico. This is one of José Alfredo’s most famous songs.
Country: Mexico
Listen on YouTube: José Alfredo Jiménez (original), Vicente Fernandez, Alejandro Fernández, and now George Strait (possibly because of my translation? I don’t know, but if so, I am very honored!)
Yo sé bien que estoy afuera
Pero el día que yo me muera
Sé que tendrás que llorar.
(Llorar y llorar, x2)
I am fully aware that I am out
But the day that I die
I know that you will have to cry.
(Cry and cry, x2)
Dirás que no me quisiste,
Pero vas a estar muy triste
Y así te vas a quedar.
You will say that you did not love me,
But you will be very sad
And that is how you will stay.
“Asteroid” Lyrics
Album: Zoé (Zoe), 2008
Style: Rock song using an asteroid metaphor for a relationship
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Déjate ver,
Estuvo chido poder besar (*)
Tu estereocuerpo lunar,
Tus ojos brillan más cada vez.
Let yourself be seen,
It was nice being able to kiss (*)
Your stereobody beauty spot,
Your eyes shine more very time.
“Nothing To Lose” Lyrics
Album: Revolucción de Amor (Love Revolution), 2002
Style: Rock, optimistic
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube, Amazon
Ya me harté de estar aburrido,
No tengo más tiempo que perder,
Me voy a largar en busca de un sueño,
De nuevo a empezar, un nuevo día vendrá.
I have had it up to here with being bored,
I have no more time to lose,
I am going to leave in search of a dream,
Starting over anew, a new day will come.
“I Want For You” Lyrics
Style: Romantic bolero
Countries: USA (New York), Mexico, Puerto Rico
Listen: YouTube
Quiero para ti,
De una tarde de abril,
Su magico esplendor.
I want for you,
From an April afternoon,
Its magical splendor.
“Being With Me” Lyrics Translation
Album: Sí (Yes), 2003; MTV Unplugged – Julieta Venegas, 2008
Style: Pop, popular radio song. It was nominated for “Record of the Year” in the 2004 Latin Grammy Awards.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Hay tanto que quiero contarte
Hay tanto que quiero saber de ti,
Ya podemos empezar poco a poco.
Cuéntame qué te trae por aquí.
There is so much I want to tell you
There is so much I want to know about you,
We can begin little by little now.
Tell me what brings you to these parts.
“Let Me Connect You”
Style: Alternative/psychedelic rock, trippy music video.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
No me pidas que llore por ti,
Alguna vez te vi sometido,
Tus ojos caen y flotan en la obscuridad,
Alumbrame, que estoy bien perdido.
Do not ask me to cry for you,
At one point I saw you submerged,
Your eyes fall and float in the darkness,
Light my way, because I am completely lost.
“Love”
Album: Rocanlover (Rockin’ Lover), 2003
Style: Alternative/psychedelic space-travel love song that sounds like it was inspired by The Beatles.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
En tu planeta me quedé,
Fue por un tiempo
Y nunca fue mi plan.
I stayed in your planet,
It was for a time
And it was never my plan.
“Hear My Love” Lyrics
Album: Eclípse (Eclipse), 2003
Style: Upbeat rock with flutes and drums
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Tú sabes cómo te deseo.
Tú sabes cómo te he soñado.
Si tú supieras que me muero
Por tu amor y por tus labios.
You know how I desire you.
You know how I have dreamed you.
If you knew that I die
For your love and for your lips.
“Our Vow” (1956) Lyrics
Composer: Benito de Jesús, famously sung by Julio Jaramillo.
Style: Pasillo, waltz-like originally. Many covers in different styles.
Country: Ecuador originally, but popular across Latin America.
Listen: Julio Jaramillo (Ecuador), José Feliciano (Puerto Rico), Javier Solis (Mexico), Vicente Fernández (Mexico) La Santa Cecilia (Mexican-American), Juanes (Colombia).
“Nuestro Juramento” is a well-known romance song across Latin America and arguably Julio Jaramillo’s most famous song. It is about human mortality and passion. It is two lovers who declare to continue loving each other forever, and to be devastated should the other die. The verb jurar means “to swear, to vow” and a juramento is an oath or a vow.
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