Tag: Mexico

“El Rey” (The King) by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation of lyrics

“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!)

Translation:

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.

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“Asteroide” by Zoé, English translation

“Asteroid” Lyrics
Album: Zoé (Zoe), 2008
Style: Rock song using an asteroid metaphor for a relationship
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

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.

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“Nada Que Perder” by Maná, English translation of lyrics

“Nothing To Lose” Lyrics
Album: Revolucción de Amor (Love Revolution), 2002
Style: Rock, optimistic
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube, Amazon

Translation:

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.

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“Quiero Para Ti” by Los Panchos, English translation

“I Want For You” Lyrics
Style: Romantic bolero
Countries: USA (New York), Mexico, Puerto Rico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Quiero para ti,
De una tarde de abril,
Su magico esplendor.

I want for you,
From an April afternoon,
Its magical splendor.

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“Andar Conmigo” by Julieta Venegas, English translation of lyrics

“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

Translation:

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.

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“Deja Te Conecto” by Zoé, English translation of lyrics

“Let Me Connect You”
Style: Alternative/psychedelic rock, trippy music video.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

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.

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“Love” by Zoé, English translation of lyrics

“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

Translation:

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.

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“Oye Mi Amor” by Maná, English translation of lyrics

“Hear My Love” Lyrics
Album: Eclípse (Eclipse), 2003
Style: Upbeat rock with flutes and drums
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

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.

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“Nuestro Juramento” by Julio Jaramillo, cover by La Santa Cecilia, English translation of lyrics

“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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“Huele a Tristeza” (Smells of Sadness) by Maná, English translation

“Smells of Sadness” Lyrics Translation
Album: Luna (Moon), 2003
Style: Slow rock, Latin rock. Melancholy song about missing a lover and not knowing where they are.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Sólo huele a tristeza,
Huele a soledad.
En mis ojos perdidos
Sólo hay humedad.

It smells only of sadness,
It smells of loneliness.
In my lost eyes
There is only moisture (lit. humidity).

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“Hechicera” by Maná, English translation of lyrics

“Enchantress”
Album: Sueños Liquidos (Liquid Dreams), 1997
Style: Psychedelic rock about a beautiful enchantress who seduces but is out of reach.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation

Hay una mujer hermosa,
La más primorosa,
De ojitos negros,
De piel gitana.

There is a gorgeous woman,
The most exquisite,
Of (darling) black eyes,
Of gypsy skin.

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“Me Voy” by Julieta Venegas, English translation (breakup song)

“I Leave”, “I Am Leaving” Song Lyrics
Album: Limón y Sal (Lemon and Salt), 2006
Style: Indie, breakup and farewell song, strong vocals. Julieta Venegas sings her farewell song and explains why the relationship is ending. She uses a sort of sing-song tone that works surprisingly well in this album.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Porque no supiste entender a mi corazón,
Lo que había en él.
Porque no tuviste el valor
De ver quién soy.

Because you did not know how to understand my heart,
What was there in it.
Because you didn’t have the courage
To see who I am.

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