Ahora O Nunca – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José
• Album: Lo Pasado, Pasado

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poignant Spanish lyrics of José José's 'Ahora o Nunca,' a classic ballad that masterfully expresses complex emotions of love, guilt, and protection. Learning the language through this song offers insight into the nuanced expressions of regret and selfless advice, making it special for its deep emotional resonance and its portrayal of a delicate human dilemma.

[English]

I felt guilty

When I kissed your skin

I pulled my body away from yours

I shouldn't do it

I thought

You felt hurt

You became unfaithful

I said, “Don’t get angry”

But you’re

too much a girl

to be a woman

Go,

what are you waiting for, girl?

Put on your dress

and keep your dreams

Leave now or never

what are you waiting for, girl?

Put on your dress

and keep your dreams

Leave now or never…

I felt ridiculous

and I doubt whether I did right

You might think I’m a fool

To love you and not want…

I made your tears

not follow you

I said, “Be patient”

At your age,

you shouldn’t debut,

not even your skin.

Leave,

what are you waiting for, girl?

Put on your dress

and keep your dreams

Leave now or never

what are you waiting for, girl?

Put on your dress

and keep your dreams

Leave now or never

what are you waiting for, girl?

Put on your dress

and keep your dreams

Leave now or never…

...

[Spanish]

Me senti culpable

Al besar tu piel

Retire mi cuerpo de tu cuerpo

No debo hacerlo

Pense

Te sentiste herida

Te pusiste infiel

Dije no te enfades

Pero eres

Demasiado niña

Para ser mujer

Vete,

A que esperas muchacha

Ponte tu vestido

Y guarda tus sueños

Vete ahora o nunca

A que esperas muchacha

Ponte tu vestido

Y guarda tus sueños

Vete ahora o nunca...

Me senti ridiculo

Y dudo si hice bien

Pensaras tal vez que soy un tonto

Poder amarte y no querer

Hice que tus lagrimas

No te acompañen

Dije ten pasiencia

Que a tus años

No debes estrenar

Aun tu piel.

Vete,

A que esperas muchacha

Ponte tu vestido

Y guarda tus sueños

Vete ahora o nunca

A que esperas muchacha

Ponte tu vestido

Y guarda tus sueños

Vete ahora o nunca

A que esperas muchacha

Ponte tu vestido

Y guarda tus sueños

Vete ahora o nunca...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
culpable kuλpaβle A2	adjective - guilty
herir eˈɾiɾ A2	verb - to hurt
infiel inˈfjel A2	adjective - unfaithful
enfadar enf aˈðaɾ B1	verb - to get angry
demasiado ðemaˈsjaðo A2	adverb - too much
niña ˈniɲa A1	noun - girl
mujer muˈxer A1	noun - woman
vestido vesˈtiðo A1	noun - dress
soñar soˈɲaɾ A2	verb - to dream
ridículo riˈðikulo A2	adjective - ridiculous
dudar duˈðaɾ A2	verb - to doubt
paciencia paˈθjenθja A2	noun - patience
estrenar estɾeˈnaɾ B1	verb - to debut
piel pjel A1	noun - skin
lagrima laˈɣɾima A2	noun - tear

Key Grammar Structures

• Me senti culpable

  ➔ Preterite tense of reflexive verb

  ➔ The verb 'senti' is the preterite form of 'sentir' (to feel), used reflexively with 'me' to express feeling guilty.

• Te sentiste herida

  ➔ Preterite tense of reflexive verb

  ➔ 'Sentiste' is the preterite form of 'sentir', used reflexively with 'te' to express feeling hurt.

• No debo hacerlo

  ➔ Present tense of verb with negative

  ➔ 'Debo' is the present tense of 'deber' (to should/must), negated with 'no' to express obligation.

• Demasiado niña / Para ser mujer

  ➔ Adjective placement and infinitive

  ➔ 'Demasiado' is an adjective placed before the noun 'niña', and 'para ser mujer' uses the infinitive form of 'ser'.

• Vete ahora o nunca

  ➔ Imperative mood with adverbial phrase

  ➔ 'Vete' is the imperative form of 'ir' (to go), and 'ahora o nunca' is an adverbial phrase indicating urgency.

• Pensaras tal vez que soy un tonto

  ➔ Future tense with adverb

  ➔ 'Pensaras' is the future tense of 'pensar', and 'tal vez' is an adverb indicating possibility.

• Hice que tus lagrimas / No te acompañen

  ➔ Preterite tense with negative and subjunctive

  ➔ 'Hice' is the preterite of 'hacer', and 'no te acompañen' uses the subjunctive mood after 'que' for negation.