A Starosta, El Idiota – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Pescado Rabioso
• Album: Artaud

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poetic language of Argentine Rock with "A Starosta, El Idiota." This is a brilliant example of Luis Alberto Spinetta’s lyrical genius, offering powerful imagery and deep introspection. The song’s Spanish lyrics provide phrases rich in metaphor, like comparing understanding hardship to "the light in spring," allowing you to learn poetic and philosophical Spanish expressions beyond common conversational language.

[English]

Mouths of the air, of the sea

Drink the salt of this light

For themselves

Now eat in eternity

Something is going to drown

It’s this burning

And this is the fever

Of the one who waits

Facing the awakening

Let’s get out of here

Don’t cry anymore, don’t be cold

Don’t believe there are no more shadows

You just have to understand them

It’s like the light in springtime

High tides of the sun

Fill their mouths with it

The idiot

I can’t do anything for him anymore

He will burn

Looking at the sun

And this is the story

Of the one who waits

To wake up

Let’s get out of here.

[Spanish]

Bocas del aire, del mar

Beban la sal de esta luz

Para sí

Ya coman en la eternidad

Algo se va a ahogar

Es este ardor

Y es esta la fiebre

Del que espera

Frente al despertar

Vámonos de aquí

No llores más, ya no tengas frío

No creas que ya no hay más tinieblas

Tan solo debes comprenderla

Es como la luz en primavera

Altas mareas del sol

Llenan sus bocas con él

El idiota

Ya nada puedo hacer por él

Él se quemará

Mirando al sol

Y es esta la historia

Del que espera

Para despertar

Vámonos de aquí.

Key Grammar Structures

• Bocas del aire, del mar

  ➔ Prepositional phrases with 'de'

  ➔ The phrase 'del aire, del mar' uses the contraction 'del' (de + el) to indicate possession or origin.

• Beban la sal de esta luz

  ➔ Subjunctive mood in imperative

  ➔ The verb 'beban' is in the subjunctive mood, used in imperative sentences to express a wish or suggestion.

• Algo se va a ahogar

  ➔ Future tense with 'ir a'

  ➔ The phrase 'se va a ahogar' uses 'ir a' to express a future action.

• No llores más, ya no tengas frío

  ➔ Negative imperative

  ➔ The phrases 'no llores más' and 'ya no tengas frío' are negative imperatives, used to give prohibitions or advice.

• Tan solo debes comprenderla

  ➔ Stressed 'solo' for emphasis

  ➔ The word 'solo' is stressed with 'tan' to emphasize exclusivity.

• El idiota / Ya nada puedo hacer por él

  ➔ Pronoun 'él' for clarity

  ➔ The pronoun 'él' is used to clearly refer back to 'el idiota'.

• Mirando al sol

  ➔ Gerund in progressive action

  ➔ The gerund 'mirando' indicates an action happening simultaneously with the main verb.