Songlations

Quotes and commentary from my English translations of Spanish song lyrics. Follow the main translation blogs: Songlations.com (New) | Songlations at LiveJournal (Old) | bsky.app @songlations | Mastodon.social @songlations | | Twitter @songlations | Facebook @songlations | Spotify list of translated song |

[songlations]

"Muerte En Hawaii" (Death in Hawaii) by Calle 13, English translation and discussion

“Death in Hawaii”Album: Entren Los Que Quieran (Enter Those Who Want To), 2010Genre: Love song, ukelele, exaggerated accomplishments, ode to self. The lyrics are a cute love song (albeit arrogant and overly self-aggrandizing), but I guess Calle 13 didn’t want to be cute, so they juxtaposed the song with a violent and bizarre music video. The album won “Album of the Year” in the 2011 Latin Grammys…

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[songlations]

"Geografía" (Geography) by La Oreja de Van Gogh, English translation

“Geography”Album: Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormida (What I told you while you pretended to sleep), 2003Genre: Pop with world/island music influence, flutes, wooden wind instruments, string instruments. Happy love song about wanting to create a world (a life) with someone.Country: Spain Lyrics Translation: Me gustaría inventar un país contigoPara que las palabras como patria o…

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[songlations]

"Mi Delirio" (My Delirium) by Anahí, English translation

“My Delirium”Genre: Techno pop, seduction and lust theme, club-influenceCountry: Mexico Lyrics Translation: Tu boca no se ha dado cuenta aúnDe que mis labios son motor para arrancar.Yo sé que tú eres el color para mí,Matiz que pinta todo lo que llevo gris. Your mouth has not figured it out yetThat my lips are a motor ready to go.I know that you are the color for me,Hue that paints everything…

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[songlations]

"Tiempo Al Viento" ([I Ask For] Time from the Wind) by Natalia Lafourcade, English translation

“(I Ask For) Time from the Wind”, lit. “Time to the Wind”Genre: Airy, soft, nostalgic pop from Natalia Lafourcade. Dreamy reflections on sunlight and love.Country: Mexico Lyrics Translation: El sol no miente.La luz envuelve.Mi corazón se viste… de rojoY revive. The sun does not lie.The light surrounds.My heart dresses… in redAnd revives. (more…)

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[songlations]

"Manos Al Aire" (Hands in the Air) by Nelly Furtado, English translation

“Hands in the Air” (2009)Album: Mi Plan (My Plan)Genre: Pop, about defenselessness, relationship trouble, and not wanting to fight. Beautiful voice, but the song is sad. Don’t put your hands in the air in defeat! Nooo.Country: Canada, Portuguese background By the way, I want to point out that Nelly Furtado was first famous in English media (she sung light pop “I’m Like a Bird” and…

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[songlations]

"Se Murió De Amor" (He Died of Love) by Bobby Pulido, English translation

“He Died of Love” LyricsAlbum: Enséñame (Teach Me), 1996Style: Romantic country song. Love song declaring that he wants to be with his sweetheart forever, that his sweetheart made him so happy, and that their absence makes him feel so alone. He wants to be with them forever, even if it leads to future pain. When the time comes, let them write on his tomb that he died of love.Country: USA…

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[songlations]

"Se Me Olvido Otra Vez" (I Forgot Again) by Juan Gabriel, Maná, English translation

“I Forgot Again”Composer: Juan Gabriel (1974)Albums: Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán (1990); Maná MTV Unplugged (1999)Style: Mariachi, ranchera; bolero; rock; lost love song; always guitar. A classic Mexican ranchera song full of emotion, soulfully mourning still being in love with someone who doesn’t love them back. Good pick for a karaoke song.Country: Mexico About: YouTube has renditions by:…

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[songlations]

"No Me Queda Más" [I Have Nothing Left (But To...)] by Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, English translation

“I Have Nothing Left (But To…)”, 1994Style: Mariachi, sad. This song is about the end of a relationship. Selena sings about having no choice left but to come to terms with it, but she does not want to deny that it happened. She was in love! It was wonderful while it lasted. Poor Selena!Country: USA (Texas) Unrelated, but happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone. It’s not Mexican independence day! That’s…

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[songlations]

"Muñeca de Trapo" (Rag Doll) by La Oreja de Van Gogh, English translation

“Rag Doll” Song TranslationAlbum: Guapa (Good Looking), 2006Style: Pop/rock, heavy string instruments, sad song about unrequited love and neglect.Country: Spain Translated Lyrics: Como esos cuadros que aún están por colgar,Como el mantel de la cena de ayer,Siempre esperando que te diga algo más,Y mis sentidas palabras no quieren volar. Like those paintings that have yet to be hung up,Like the…

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[songlations]

"Abrázame" (Embrace Me) by Siddhartha, English translation

“Embrace Me” (“Hug Me”) LyricsAlbum: Abrázame (Embrace Me), 2025Style: Alternative/indie love song for a shaky relationship, declaring love and asking forgiveness. Slow lyrics, well enunciated.Country: Mexico Lyrics Translation: AbrázameComo hace la luz del sol,Llenándome de calorSi el frío me hace mal. Embrace meLike the sunlight does,Filling me with warmthIf the cold does me wrong. (more…)

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[songlations]

"Flores" (Flowers) by Silvana Estrada, English translation

“Flowers” LyricsAlbum: Vendrán Suaves Lluvias (Soft Rain Will Come), 2025Style: Alternative/indie pop, slow soft pop. Bittersweet farewell song from a girl who was The Other Woman, understanding that the relationship was not serious for the one she loved, and that she was merely a soul passing briefly through their life.Country: Mexico Lyrics Translation: Ya no puedo más con esta…

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[songlations]

"No Pibe" (No Boy) by Manal, Javier Martinez, English translation

“No Boy”, 1969 Style: Rock and Roll. This song is in the soundtrack for The Eternaut, a Netflix sci-fi series from Argentina. Not a sponsored post, I just liked the show.Country: Argentina Lyrics Translation: No hay que tener un auto,Ni relojes de medio millón,Cuatro empleos bien pagados,Ser un astro de televisión… One need not have a car,Nor watches worth half a million,Four well paying…

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[songlations]

"Cuentas Del Alma" (Accounts of the Soul) by Rubén Blades, English translation

“Accounts of the Soul”Album: Escenas (Scenes), 1985Style: Storytelling salsa, salsa consciente (socially conscious salsa). Story of a boy who watches his mother waste her life away pining for his father who left them. Country: Panama Lyrics Translation: Siempre en la noche Mi mamá buscaba el sueñoFrente a la televisión, Y me pedía que por favor,No la apagara. Always at nightMy mother sought…

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[songlations]

"Pídeme la Luna" (Ask Me For the Moon) by Cali Carranza, English translation

“Ask me for the moon”, 1993About: Tejano romantica. Love song dedicated to a life partner or long-term sweetheart on the way to becoming a life partner.Country: USA (Texas)Listen: YouTube Lyrics Translation: Las horas más lindas,Las paso contigo, sí.No quiero ni pensar si un día me faltas tú,No quiero ni pensarlo, amor. The most beautiful hours,I pass them with you, yes.I don’t even want to…

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[songlations]

"Ojos Noche" (Eyes of Night) by Elsa y Elmar ft. Carla Morrison, English translation

“Eyes of Night”Album: Eres Diamante (You’re A Diamond), 2017Style: Bittersweet pop song about a girl who fell in love and got ghosted.Country: Colombia; Mexico; USAListen: YouTube Lyrics Translation: Él siempre me recogíaCon su mirada de amanteY me llevaba a lugaresQue yo no conocíaCuando me recogía. He always picked me upWith his gaze of a loverAnd he took me to placesThat I didn’t knowWhen…

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[songlations]

"Mi Gusto Es" (It Is My Pleasure) by Alfonso Esparza Oteo, sung by many, English translation

“It Is My Pleasure“Style: Regional Mexican, mariachi love song of the 20th century. The lyrics declare that love is a pleasure that none but God can take away. Sung by many including Antonio Aguilar, Vicente Fernández, and more. Country: MexicoListen: YouTube Lyrics Translation: Mi gusto es,¿Y quién me lo quitará?Solamente Dios del cielo me lo quita.Mi gusto es... It is my pleasure,And who…

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[songlations]

"Ojos Marrones" (Brown Eyes) by Lasso, English translation

“Brown Eyes” LyricsAlbum: Eva, 2023About: Pop song about a new relationship that seems perfect, but the singer can’t commit because he is not over his ex.Country: VenezuelaListen: YouTube Lyrics Translation: Es la primera vezQue invito a alguien desde que te fuisteY estoy bien. It’s the first timeThat I ask someone out since you leftAnd I’m fine. Continue reading “Ojos Marrones” (Brown Eyes)…

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