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Title - Spanish Language Song Lyrics
for Improving Spanish Listening Comprehension
By - J.D. Meyer
Primary Subject - Language Arts
Secondary Subjects - Social Studies, Music
Grade Level - Spanish 2 and above
Concept/Rationale:Listening to Spanish-language music (in various genres) is a fun way to improve your listening comprehension and I can personally vouch for its effectiveness. I chose a variety of genres primarily because of the different listening ability levels required to comprehend them. On the other hand, I’m offering music that is familiar to me while trying to find music that a wide range of students may enjoy.
Learner Objectives: The student will show improvement in Spanish listening comprehension and develop at least a respect for some of the music.
Materials: - Lyrics in the original Spanish with (teacher provided) English footnotes for words that the student is not expected to know at that level.
- A complete English translation of the lyrics (see below) would be provided only after the songs were played, read, and discussed.
Additional Notes: The following songs were chosen partly for their wholesome, G-rated content suitable for the classroom. The self-directed learner is free to choose whatever additional songs they wish to learn away from the classroom.
A quiz over lyric comprehension could follow the presentation of the songs. There could be as many as four - one after the easy first two songs, the second after the moderately difficult songs, the third after the difficult songs and the final. A suggested final is included below.
Spanish Language Songs for
Improving Spanish Listening Comprehension
Summaries of Spanish Language Songs for
Improving Spanish Listening Comprehension
- "No te olvidare," by Mazz
is a slow Tejano ballad that crossed over to norteno stations. Some believe it was their most popular song. Joe Lopez mourns his lost love. A great horn segment and flute bridge fit this song well. Guitarist, Jimmy Gonzalez hits a super high note on a brief second vocal.
- "Y todo para que," by Intocable
is a major Norteno/Tejano hit with an anthem feel to it. Singer/accordionist, Ricky Munoz chastises his lost-love while freely admitting the affair was worth it.
- "Hijos de America" by Angeles del Infierno
shows lyrics with patriotism, rich nature imagery and nostalgia for the hometown from where they immigrated. Somewhat biographical, Angeles del Infierno is the biggest metalero band in Mexico during the 80’s and 90’s - moved to North America from Spain.
- "Dos locos," by Los Horoscopos de Durango
helped cement the up-and-coming duranguense movement. The band features a male and female singer. This song explores the dilemma of a couple that is still in love but date other people. Personally, this song always reminded me of the two stars of the Navy lawyer show JAG, Mac and Harm, who married in the series finale.
- "Volviendo a casa," by Rata Blanca
shows the Argentinean heavy metal band (Metalero) at their romantic best. They remind me of an Iron Maiden/Deep Purple mix. These lyrics passed the all-important Mom test; they reminded her of Dad.
- "Jambalaya," by K-Paz de la Sierra and Kinto Sol
has the distinction of being written by Country-and-Western star Hank Williams. Then duranguense band, K-Paz, translated the song into Spanish and did a second version with rappers, Kinto Sol. Basically, Sergio Gomez and the Kinto Sol singer declare a bunch of friends are going to the beach and forget the ex-girl friend.
Song Lyrics and Translations
Note: Liberties were taken with some of the English translations to better reflect the style of song lyrics.
1) No te olvidare
No no te olvidare
aunque pasen nuchos años
no me olvidare
porque fuiste en mi vida
la mujer que tanto ame
la que pense amara siempre
hasta el morir
No no me olvidare
aunque tu ya no me quieras
no te olvidare
diste luz a mi vida
y me hiciste comprender
fuiste todo todo
todo mi querer
Yo te extraño tanto
que ya no se que hacer
siempre siempre
estoy pensando en ti
El triste recuerdo
que ella me dejo
lo llevo muy dentro
dentro de mi
No no te olvidare
Yo no se que le debo a la vida
porque me paga asi
si yo siempre siempre siempre
pienso en ti
Siempre siempre
pienso en ti
siempre estoy pensando en ti
no te olvidare siempre
2) Y todo ¿para qué?
¿Qué más quieres de mí?
Si ya todo te di
Te di mi cariño,
Te di mi confianza,
Te di mi calor
¿Qué más quieres de mí?
Mi vida te la di
Por tan solo un minuto
Por tan solo un poquito
De tu gran pasión
Y todo ¿para qué?
Y todo ¿para qué?
¿Para qué tanto amor?
¿Para qué ilusionaste?
¿Para qué enamoraste mi corazón?
Y todo ¿para qué?
Y todo ¿para qué?
Si al final yo perdí
Pero no me arrepiento
Si en cada momento
Me hiciste feliz
¿Qué más quieres de mí?
¿A dónde quieres llegar?
¿Qué no te has dado cuenta
que por no mirarte
me puedes matar?
¿Qué más quieres de mí?
Dímelo por favor
Ya no encuentro palabras
No encuentro la forma
De darte mi amor
Y todo ¿para qué?
Y todo ¿para qué?
¿Para qué tanto amor?
¿Para qué ilusionaste?
¿Para qué enamoraste mi corazón?
Y todo ¿para qué?
Y todo ¿para qué?
Si al final yo perdí
Pero no me arrepiento
Si en cada momento
Me hiciste feliz
Y todo ¿para qué?
3)Angeles Del Infierno
Estaba mirando
los restos del ayer
Estaba llorando por
lo que fue y no es
Su tierra arrasada
su origen también
Sus antepasados claman
delante de el
Y cantan ooeea
al recuerdo del ayer
Y bailan ooeea
al gran pueblo que siempre fue
La brisa en el rostro
la tarde al caer
El espíritu del guerrero
le recuerda lo que es
El águila vuela
tras el ritual
Y danza en el cielo
cuando el sol se va
Y la luna dibuja en la pradera
un gran corazón
Y en esos hijos de América
la esperanza volvió
4) Dos Locos
El tiempo no ha logrado
que te olvide
No ha borrado las huellas
de tu amor.
Todavia siento el sabor
de tus besos en mi boca,
todavia siento tus manos
acariciandome la piel.
Y yo no quiero
seguir asi,
estando con ella
y pensando en ti.
A mi me esta pasando igual
no dejo de pensar en ti,
el dia que me levanto
contigo en la cabeza
lo llamo por tu nombre.
Que tontos que locos somos
tu y yo
estando con otros
y amandonos
que tontos que locos somos
tu y yo
estando con otros
y aun amandonos.
Todavia no me acostumbro
de el cafe
hecho por sus manos,
me sabe mal
no es como el tuyo.
Y yo cuando siento sus caricias,
cierro los ojos
y pienso en ti.
5) Volviendo a Casa
Hoy voy regresando
hacia mi hogar
la noche esta llegando y el ruido
del tren me adormecio
hoy igual que un perro trabaje
para llevar a casa
algo de dinero y el dolor
de la dura ciudad
en ti me dare un poco paz
es todo tan veloz
ven por favor
(coro)
Angel ella es un angel
tiene la llave
que devuelve la ilucion
dame, dame un instante
te necesita mi cansado corazon
el fuego no se apago
Soy quien
desespera por llegar
y recorrer el barrio
y encontrar caminos
que extravie
tu sabes que es
duro progresar
y aunque nunca cambie
no me importa
por que con tu amor
fortuna me das
senti siempre que el fuego estara
que tu lo encenderas
es lo mejor
(coro)
Fortuna me das
de ti me dare un poco de paz
es todo tan veloz
ven por favor
todo lo que me das
es lo mejor
(coro)
VOLVIENDO A CASA ESTOY!!!
YENDO ESTOY
YENDO A CASA ESTOY!!
VOLVIENDO A CASA ESTOY!!!
6) Jambalaya
Que paso compa Skribe
Que dice Chivo,
Aqui nomas
con los compas
del grupo Kpaz
Haciendo una nueva rola,
para todas las
morras y morros
Orale, vamonos
Compa yo ya me voy a la playa
Mi corazón es de ti Jambalaya
Quiero estar muy feliz
a tu lado
Voy a gozar como
nunca yo había soñado
Oh Jambala
para no llorar
yo te olvido
Ahora quiero
compartir
con mis amigos
Con el Grupo K-paz
yo les canto
Son of a gun el amor
que me a traicionado
Vamonos resio..
Olvida las penas ese llamado
Como K-paz ninguno ha llegado
Kinto Sol
una vez mas dandole gas
Hago bailar a toda mi gente
Con esta rola
que es duranguense
A todo lo ajeno
le pongo freno
Pues en la radio
soy el que sueno
Vamos ya a olvidar
nuestras penas
Construiremos un castillo de arena
Con las olas del mar
arrullando
Hay les voy.. Abrete un lado
haste pa'tras
Quien te da mas
el Grupo K-paz
Voy hacer todo de cualquier modo
Con fuego.. en Chicago me quedo
La vida es un duelo
de esta atraccion
Busco consuelo
y ya fue pasado
Ya esta olvidado
con otra paloma
aqui de mi lado
El sol quema tu cuerpo y el mió
Nos iremos de pesca
en el rió
Regresar cuando el sol
se a ocultado
Y hay nos vemos raza
Porque ya estoy hasta tras,
con el grupo K-paz
Orale Skribe no te trompieses
Hahaha
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1) I will not forget you
No, I will not forget you,
although many years pass by.
You will not forget me,
because you were in my life,
the woman I loved so much,
who I thought I would love
forever, until the end.
No, you will not forget me,
although you no longer want me.
I will not forget you.
You gave light to my life
and you made me understand
you were all, all,
everything, my love.
I miss you so much that
I don't know what to do anymore,
always, always
I am thinking about you.
The sad memory
that she left me,
I feel it deep inside,
inside of me.
No, no I will not forget you.
I don't know what I owe this life,
because it pays me like this.
Yes, always, always, always,
I think about you.
Always, always,
I think about you.
Always, I am thinking about you.
I will not forget you, forever.
2) And All for What?
What more do you want of me?
After all I already gave you
I gave to you my affection,
Gave to you my confidence,
Gave to you my heat.
What more do you want of me?
My life, I gave it to you
In only a minute
For only a bit
Of your great passion.
And all for what?
And all for what?
Why so much love?
Why did you deceive?
Why did you enamor my heart?
And all for what?
And all for what?
Yes, in the end I lost.
But I do not regret
Yes, in every moment
You made me happy.
What more do you want of me?
To where do you want to come?
What you have not realized
that for not looking
you can kill me?
What more do you want of me?
Say it to me please
Already I do not find words
Do not find the way
Of giving you my love.
And all for what?
And all for what?
Why so much love?
Why did you deceive?
Why did you enamor my heart?
And all for what?
And all for what?
Yes, in the end I lost.
But I do not regret
Yes, in every moment
You made me happy
And all for what?
3) Hijos de America
I was looking at
the rest of yesterday.
I was crying for
what it was and isn't.
Your mountainous land,
your beginning too.
Your ancestors beg
in front of you.
Chorus:
And they sing, "Ooeea,"
to the memories of yesterday.
And they dance, "Ooeea,"
to the great town that always was.
The sea breeze on the face
when the afternoon falls,
the spirit of the warrior
reminds him what it is.
The eagle flies
behind the ritual
and dances in the sky
while the sun goes by.
Repeat Chorus.
And the moon draws in the prairie
a great heart.
And in these children of America,
the hope returned (twice).
4) Dos Locos
Time has not succeeded
in me forgetting you
It hasn't erased the footprints
of your love.
I can still feel the taste
of your kisses on my mouth.
I still feel your hands
caressing my skin.
Bridge
And I don't want to
continue this way,
being with her
and thinking of you.
The same thing is happening to me.
I can't stop thinking about you.
The day that I wake up
with you in my mind,
I call it by your name.
Chorus
How stupid, how crazy we are,
you and I.
Being with others
and loving each other.
What fools, what crazies we are,
you and I.
Being with others,
but still loving each other.
Repeat bridge.
I still can't get used
to the coffee
made by her (other women) hands.
I know too well
that it's not yours.
And I, when I feel his hands,
I close my eyes
and think it's you.
5) Returning Home
Today I am returning
toward my place.
The night is arriving and
the noise of the train wakes me.
Today I'm like a working dog
In order to bring home
Something of money and
the pain of the hard city.
Bridge:
In you, I find a little peace.
It's all so fast.
Come (here) please.
Chorus:
Angel, she is an angel.
She has the key
that brings the dream.
Give me, give me an instant.
I need you for my tired soul.
The fire has not gone out.
I am the one
who despairs to arrive
and return to the neighborhood
and find the roads
that lead astray.
You know that it's tough
to progress
and although nothing changes,
It is not important to me
because of your love.
Bridge:
You give me fortune.
I feel always that the fire
that you light,
It's the best.
Repeat chorus.
Bridge:
You give me fortune.
In you I find a little peace.
It's all so fast.
Come (here) please.
All that you give me-
it's the best.
Repeat chorus.
RETURNING HOME, I AM!!!
GOING I AM
GOING HOME I AM!!
RETURNING HOME, I AM!!!
6) Jambalaya
(Repeat the underlined parts.)
What's up, buddy Skribe.
What you say, Chivo.
Here no more.
We're with the buddies,
Grupo K-Paz
Doing a new role
for all the pouting
men and women.
Move it; we go.
Bud, I am going to the beach.
My heart is of you, Jambalaya.
I want to be very happy
at your side.
Chorus:
I'm going to enjoy
like nothing I have dreamed.
Oh Jambalaya,
in order not to cry,
I forget you.
No, I want to share
with my friends
(with my buds)
With the group, K-Paz,
I sing to them.
Son of a gun,
the love traitor to me.
Let's go, strong.
Forget the penalties that called
Like K-Paz nobody has arrived.
Kinto Sol,
one more giving it gas.
I made dance with all the people.
With this role
that is duranguense.
To all that is others,
I put on the brakes.
Like in the radio,
I am a dream.
We go already to forget
our penalties.
We will build a sand castle
With the wings of the sea
whispering.
Repeat chorus.
There I go with them.
Move back.
I give you more
of Grupo K-Paz.
I am going to all whatever way
With fire in Chicago, I stay.
The life is a duel
with this attraction.
I seek consolation
and it's already passed.
Already it's forgotten
with another "dove" (lady)
here at my side.
The sun burns your body and mine.
We will go fishing
in the river.
Return when the sun is
behind clouds.
Repeat Chorus,
And there we go, Raza.
Because I already go there
with Grupo K-Paz.
Get up, Skribe; don't trip.
Hahaha
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Final Exam with Answers
- What verse forms the bridge between the stanza and the chorus in "No te olvidare"?
"Yo te extrano tanto que ya no se que hacer.
Siempre siempre estoy pensando en ti.
El triste recuerdo que ella me dejo
lo llevo muy dentro dentro de mi."
- In "No te olvidare," what describes the singer’s feelings regarding the loss of his girlfriend?
- Mad and bitter: Go away!
- Sad-wishes she would return. X
- Sad but glad she’s gone.
- Mad, but wishes she would return.
- In "Y todo para que," what line in the chorus shows that the singer feels
the ended affair was still worth it?
Pero no me arrepiento si en cada momento me hiciste feliz.
- In "Y todo para que," what describes the singer’s feelings regarding the loss of his girlfriend?
- Mad and bitter: Go away!
- Sad-wishes she would return.
- Sad but glad she’s gone.
- Mad but wishes she would return. X
- In "Volviendo a casa," how does the singer describe his lady friend?
- A mediocre lady that creates deception.
- An angel that has the key to his dreams. X
- Confusing but great-looking.
- Funny -- a quick sense of humor.
- How does the singer regard his neighborhood in "Volviendo a casa"?
- It’s difficult to earn enough money and distracting. X
- It’s beautiful and he has a great job.
- It’s dangerous and full of thieves.
- He doesn’t care whether his neighborhood is good or bad since he’s so in love.
- What does the moon draw in the prairie and what does it symbolize in "Hijos de America"?
The moon draws a great heart in the prairie, and the hope returned to the children of America.
- Mention two other natural features that are described in "Hijos de America"?
Mountainous land and the sea breeze.
- In "Jambalaya," what describes the singer’s feelings regarding the loss of his girlfriend?
- Mad and bitter: Go away!
- Sad-wishes she would return.
- Sad but glad she’s gone. X
- Mad but wishes she would return.
- Where is this location for "Jambalaya," by K-Paz de la Sierra and Kinto Sol?
- Durango.
- Somewhere in the western US.
- Chicago. X
- Unknown.
- In "Dos locos," what food or drink does the man miss that his ex-girl friend used to make for him?
- Coffee. X
- Breakfast tacos.
- Barbacoa.
- Steak and potatoes.
- Find the two gerunds with objective pronouns attached to them in "Dos locos."
Acaraciandome and amandonos.
E-Mail JD Meyer!
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