A Palé – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Rosalía

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw energy and linguistic blend of Rosalía’s 'A Palé,' a track where you can learn assertive Spanish slang mixed with references to high culture and working-class life. Its fusion of traditional flamenco *seguiriya* with avant-hip hop beats makes it a unique and powerful listen, offering a vocabulary that is both modern and rooted in Spanish cultural history.

[English]

She says that since she was born, she’s carried a special star of fortune that belongs only to her.

That light or gift protects only her—nobody else can claim it.

She repeats that this force is hers alone, emphasizing confidence and destiny.

Y solo me protege a mí

Solo me protege a mí

Solo me protege a mí

Chanted sounds highlight energy and rhythm, like a rallying call.

Tú-tú, tú-tú-tú (Eh)

Tú, tú-tú-tú (Eh, ¡tírale!)

Tú-tú, tú-tú-tú (Eh)

She challenges someone to look her in the eyes, showing power and defiance.

Proudly, she points out how her success shines.

Leaving her mark, like a kiss from a luxury brand.

If someone wants to speak to her, they must show respect.

She paints names on walls, staking claim to fame.

Her passionate style and love appear boldly in iconic places.

She drives fast but under control—a symbol of freedom.

Breaking limits, she moves without rules or permission.

She balances strength with playfulness, comparing herself to a confident cat.

She says to fight back when needed—bite if you must.

Muerde si tie's que morde' (Eh)

Muerde si tie's que morde'

The phrase “A palé” repeats like an industrial mantra, invoking toughness and factory imagery.

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

Everything she creates gets copied, showing her cultural influence.

She mixes luxury (tracksuits, gold, designer brands) with traditional Spanish flair (veil, ritual).

Traces of fine living—caviar and elegance—remain around her.

Her motorcycle and rhythm flow to classic Andalusian forms.

Reinforcing earlier ideas: graffiti tags, bold love, fast life, rebellion, and pride.

Mal querer en Times Square (Ok)

Driving speed limit DGT

Quemando rue'a sin carnet (Ok, peligrosa)

Vas a lo suave, a lo Kitty Cat (Eh)

Muerde si tie's que morde' (Ok)

Muerde si tie's que morde' (Eh)

Muerde si tie's que morde' (Gnam)

Repetition of “A palé” again, emphasizing raw strength and resilience.

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

The phrase at the end means “Throw it back,” closing with assertive energy.

...

[Spanish]

Desde el día en el que nací

Traigo la estrella que llevo

Sé que a nadie se la doy

Y solo me protege a mí

Solo me protege a mí

Solo me protege a mí

Tú-tú, tú-tú-tú (Eh)

Tú-tú, tú-tú-tú (Eh)

Tú, tú-tú-tú (Eh, ¡tírale!)

Tú-tú, tú-tú-tú (Eh)

Mírame a los ojos, a la milla

Mírame esta roca cómo brilla

Te dejo Saint Laurent en la mejilla

Si qui'es hablarme, siéntate en la silla (Sh)

Taggea'o tu nombre en la pared (Eh)

Mal querer en Times Square (Ok)

Driving speed limit DGT

Quemando rue'a sin carnet (Ok)

Vas a lo suave, a lo Kitty Cat (Eh)

Muerde si tie's que morde' (Ok)

Muerde si tie's que morde' (Eh)

Muerde si tie's que morde'

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

To' lo que invento me lo trillan (Me lo trillan)

Chandal, oro, sello (Sello, sello) y mantilla

Restos de caviar en la vajilla (En la vajilla)

Mi Kawasaki va por seguirilla (Tiri-tiri)

Taggea'o tu nombre en la pared (Eh)

Mal querer en Times Square (Ok)

Driving speed limit DGT

Quemando rue'a sin carnet (Ok, peligrosa)

Vas a lo suave, a lo Kitty Cat (Eh)

Muerde si tie's que morde' (Ok)

Muerde si tie's que morde' (Eh)

Muerde si tie's que morde' (Gnam)

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

A palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, a palé, ah

Tíralo pa'trás

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
nacer /naˈser/ B1	verb - to be born
llevar /ʝeˈβar/ A1	verb - to carry; to wear
proteger /pɾo.teˈxer/ B1	verb - to protect
brillar /briˈʝar/ B2	verb - to shine; to sparkle
roca /ˈro.ka/ B2	noun - rock; large stone
mejilla /meˈxi.ʝa/ B2	noun - cheek
silla /ˈsi.ʝa/ A1	noun - chair
nombre /ˈnom.bɾe/ A1	noun - name
pared /paˈɾeð/ B1	noun - wall
querer /keˈɾeɾ/ A1	verb - to want; to love noun - desire; love
quemar /keˈmar/ B1	verb - to burn
suave /ˈswa.βe/ B2	adjective - soft; smooth
morder /morˈðeɾ/ B1	verb - to bite
inventar /in.benˈtar/ B1	verb - to invent; to make up
caviar /kaˈβjar/ C2	noun - salted fish eggs
vajilla /baˈxi.ʝa/ C1	noun - dishes; tableware
chándal /ˈtʃan.dal/ C1	noun - tracksuit
sello /ˈse.ʝo/ A2	noun - stamp; seal
mantilla /manˈti.ʎa/ C1	noun - lace veil

Key Grammar Structures

• Desde el día **en el que** nací

  ➔ Relative clause with preposition + relative pronoun

  ➔ The phrase **en el que** introduces a relative clause that describes “el día”. It literally means “on which”.

• Sé **que** a nadie se la doy

  ➔ Subordinate clause introduced by "que" after a verb of cognition

  ➔ The verb **sé** (I know) is followed by **que**, which introduces a content clause: “that I give it to nobody”.

• **Mírame** a los ojos

  ➔ Imperative mood with clitic pronoun (direct object)

  ➔ The verb **mírame** is the imperative of “mirar” with the clitic **‑me** attached, meaning “look at me”.

• Si **quieres** hablarme, **siéntate** en la silla

  ➔ Conditional clause with “si” + present indicative; second clause imperative

  ➔ The **si** clause (“if you **want**”) uses the present indicative **quieres**. The result clause uses the imperative **siéntate** (“sit down”).

• **Taggea'o** tu nombre en la pared

  ➔ Colloquial verb formation with suffix –ea + enclitic object pronoun

  ➔ The made‑up verb **taggear** (to tag) gets the colloquial suffix **‑ea** and the enclitic **‑o** (object “it”), meaning “tag it”.

• Vas **a lo** suave, **a lo** Kitty Cat

  ➔ Construction “ir + a + noun/adjective” indicating direction or preference

  ➔ The verb **vas** (you go) is followed by **a lo** + adjective/noun, meaning “you go for the soft style, for the Kitty Cat style”.

• Muerde si **tie's** que **morde**

  ➔ Conditional clause with “si” + informal contraction; imperative verb

  ➔ The line mixes Spanish and English slang. **si** introduces a condition, **tie's** (a phonetic spelling of “tienes”) means “you have”, and **morde** is the imperative “bite”.

• To' lo que **invento me lo** trillan

  ➔ Double object pronouns (me + lo) with verb in present indicative

  ➔ The phrase **me lo** combines the indirect object pronoun **me** (to me) and the direct object pronoun **lo** (it). The verb **trillan** (they grind) is in third‑person plural present.

• Mi Kawasaki **va por** seguirilla

  ➔ Verb “ir” + preposition “por” indicating purpose or direction

  ➔ Here **va por** works like “go for” or “head towards”, describing the motorcycle’s movement toward “seguirilla”.

• Tíralo **pa' atrás**

  ➔ Colloquial contraction of preposition “para” + directional noun “atrás”

  ➔ The phrase **pa' atrás** is a slang contraction of **para atrás**, meaning “backward”. It functions as an adverbial complement of **tíralo** (“throw it”).