Al otro lado del rio – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Jorge Drexler

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the poetic beauty of Jorge Drexler's 'Al otro lado del río.' This Oscar-winning song, steeped in themes of hope and resilience, offers a unique opportunity to explore Spanish lyrics through its evocative metaphors of journey and perseverance.

[English]

I sink my oar in the water

I carry your oar in mine

I think I've seen a light

On the other side of the river

...

The day will be able

Little by little to the cold

I think I've seen a light

On the other side of the river

...

Above all, I think that

Not everything is lost

So many tears, so many tears

And I, I am an empty glass

I hear a voice calling me

Almost a whisper

Row, row, row

Row, row, row

On this shore of the world

What is not prey is wasteland

I think I've seen a light

On the other side of the river

...

I'm rowing very seriously

Deep inside I smile

I think I've seen a light

On the other side of the river

...

Above all, I think that

Not everything is lost

So many tears, so many tears

And I, I am an empty glass

I hear a voice calling me

Almost a whisper

Row, row, row

Row, row, row

I sink my oar in the water

I carry your oar in mine

I think I've seen a light

On the other side of the river

...

[Spanish]

Clavo mi remo en el agua

Llevo tu remo en el mío

Creo que he visto una luz

Al otro lado del río

El día le irá pudiendo

Poco a poco al frío

Creo que he visto una luz

Al otro lado del río

Sobre todo creo que

No todo está perdido

Tanta lágrima, tanta lágrima

Y yo, soy un vaso vacío

Oigo una voz que me llama

Casi un suspiro

Rema, rema, rema

Rema, rema, rema

En esta orilla del mundo

Lo que no es presa es baldío

Creo que he visto una luz

Al otro lado del río

Yo muy serio voy remando

Muy adentro sonrío

Creo que he visto una luz

Al otro lado del río

Sobre todo creo que

No todo está perdido

Tanta lágrima, tanta lágrima

Y yo, soy un vaso vacío

Oigo una voz que me llama

Casi un suspiro

Rema, rema, rema

Rema, rema, rema

Clavo mi remo en el agua

Llevo tu remo en el mío

Creo que he visto una luz

Al otro lado del río

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
remo /ˈremo/ A1	noun - oar
agua /ˈaɣwa/ A1	noun - water
luz /luθ/ A1	noun - light
río /ˈri.o/ A1	noun - river
día /ˈdi.a/ A1	noun - day
frío /ˈfɾi.o/ A2	adjective - cold
perdido /peɾˈðido/ B1	adjective - lost
lágrima /ˈlaɣɾima/ B1	noun - tear
vaso /ˈbazo/ A2	noun - glass
voz /βos/ A1	noun - voice
suspiro /susˈpiɾo/ B2	noun - sigh
orilla /oˈriʎa/ B1	noun - shore
mundo /ˈmundo/ A1	noun - world
llamar /ʎaˈmaɾ/ A2	verb - to call
creer /kɾeˈeɾ/ A2	verb - to believe
ir /iɾ/ A1	verb - to go

Key Grammar Structures

• Clavo mi remo en el agua

  ➔ Simple Present Tense

  ➔ The verb "clavo" (I drive) is in the simple present tense, indicating a current action.

• Creo que he visto una luz

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The phrase "he visto" (I have seen) uses the present perfect tense to indicate an action that has relevance to the present.

• Oigo una voz que me llama

  ➔ Simple Present Tense

  ➔ The verb "oigo" (I hear) is in the simple present tense, indicating a current perception.

• No todo está perdido

  ➔ Negative Form

  ➔ The phrase "no todo" (not everything) uses a negative form to express the idea of something not being true.

• Soy un vaso vacío

  ➔ Simple Present Tense

  ➔ The verb "soy" (I am) is in the simple present tense, indicating a state of being.

• Rema, rema, rema

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The verb "rema" (row) is in the imperative mood, giving a command or instruction.

• Creo que he visto una luz

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood

  ➔ The phrase "creo que" (I believe that) introduces a clause that expresses doubt or uncertainty, often requiring the subjunctive mood.