Balas y Chocolate – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Lila Downs

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a captivating linguistic and cultural journey with Lila Downs' "Balas y Chocolate"! This song is a vibrant tapestry of traditional Mexican sounds and contemporary influences, rich with poetic lyrics that blend Spanish and indigenous Mixtec. By immersing yourself in its powerful narrative, you can explore themes of resilience, love, and social commentary, all while experiencing the beauty of a language interwoven with deep cultural meaning and emotional depth. The song's unique fusion of genres and heartfelt storytelling makes it a compelling way to connect with the nuances of Spanish and Mexican identity.

[English]

Fifty cups for Motecuhzoma

On the banks of the Orinoco

To Cerro Manatí

Ocinchán, Tabasco

There are bullets flying

Around the world, around the world

Some people dodge them

On the ground, on the ground

Give me more, my chocolate

My mezcal for the chocolate

Give me more, my chocolate

Because you're my chocolate

Honduras, Soconusco, Chontalpa

My life, my sweet

I'm going to dance my luck

My sun and moon

With you until death

My life, my sweet

I love you, chocolate

My sun and moon

I love you, chocolate, beat, beat

There are no bullets that penetrate

The strength of this love

There are no bullets that penetrate

The strength of this love

There are no bullets that penetrate

The strength of this love

There are no bullets that penetrate

The strength of this love

If a gunshot doesn't kill me

Kidnapping or robbery

If I don't drown in volcanic ash

Diabetes, cirrhosis

Neurosis, psychosis

Necrosis from overdose

If alcoholism doesn't kill me

Egoism, foolishness

Partisanism or an earthquake

Out of fear from telenovelas

I'm going to hell and I’ll toast my cacao

El Salvador, Peru, Parinaud, Venezuela, Chuao

That Mexican cacao

There are dreams that are born

For the people, for the people

Some people truly live them

Every day, every day

I'm going to change my life

If you always go with me

I'm going to change my life

If you always go with me

And we follow the Cacao Route

America

My life, my sweet

I'm going to dance my luck

My sun and moon

With you until death

My life, my sweet

I love you, chocolate

My sun and moon

I love you, chocolate

My life, my sweet

I'm going to dance my luck

My sun and moon

With you until death

My life, my sweet

I love you, chocolate

My sun and moon

I love you, chocolate, beat, beat

There are no bullets that penetrate

The strength of this love

There are no bullets that penetrate

The strength of this love

There are no bullets that penetrate

The strength of this love

There are no bullets that penetrate

The strength of this love

Give me my chocolate

I want my chocolate

Give me my chocolate, beat, beat, beat (beat, beat, beat)

...

[Spanish]

Cincuenta jícaras para Motecuhzoma

En orillas del Orinoco

Al Cerro Manatí

Ocinchán, Tabasco

Hay balas que van volando

Por el mundo, por el mundo

Hay quienes que las esquivan

Por el suelo, por el suelo

Dame ma' mi chocolate

Mi mezcal pa'l chocolate

Dame ma' mi chocolate

Que tú eres mi chocolate

Honduras, Soconusco, Chontalpa

Mi vida, mi dulce

Voy a bailar mi suerte

Mi sol y la luna

Contigo hasta la muerte

Mi vida, mi dulce

Te quiero chocolate

Mi sol y la luna

Te quiero chocolate, late, late

No hay balas que penetren

La fuerza de este amor

No hay balas que penetren

La fuerza de este amor

No hay balas que penetren

La fuerza de este amor

No hay balas que penetren

La fuerza de este amor

Si no me mata un balazo

Secuestro o asalto

Si no me ahogo en ceniza de volcán

Diabetes, cirrosis

Neurosis, psicosis

Necrosis, por sobredosis

Si no me mata alcoholismo

Egoísmo, pendejismo

Partidismo o un sismo

De espanto por la telenovela

Me voy pa'l carajo y me tuesto mi cacao

El Salvador, Perú, Parinaud, Venezuela, Chuao

Ese cacao mexicano

Hay sueños que van naciendo

Por el pueblo, por el pueblo

Hay quienes que sí lo viven

Cada día, cada día

Yo voy a cambiar mi vida

Si tú vas siempre conmigo

Yo voy a cambiar mi vida

Si tú vas siempre conmigo

Y seguimos la Ruta del Cacao

América

Mi vida, mi dulce

Voy a bailar mi suerte

Mi sol y la luna

Contigo hasta la muerte

Mi vida, mi dulce

Te quiero chocolate

Mi sol y la luna

Te quiero chocolate

Mi vida, mi dulce

Voy a bailar mi suerte

Mi sol y la luna

Contigo hasta la muerte

Mi vida, mi dulce

Te quiero chocolate

Mi sol y la luna

Te quiero chocolate, late, late

No hay balas que penetren

La fuerza de este amor

No hay balas que penetren

La fuerza de este amor

No hay balas que penetren

La fuerza de este amor

No hay balas que penetren

La fuerza de este amor

Dame mi chocolate

Quiero mi chocolate

Dame mi chocolate, late, late, late (late, late, late)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
chocolate /tʃəˈkɒl.ət/ A1	noun - a sweet food made from roasted and ground cacao seeds
vida /ˈviː.də/ A1	noun - life
suerte /ˈswɛr.te/ A2	noun - luck
balas /ˈbɑː.ləs/ A2	noun - bullets
amor /əˈmɔːr/ A1	noun - love
fuerza /ˈfɛr.zə/ B1	noun - strength
bailar /baɪˈlɑːr/ A1	verb - to dance
cacao /kəˈkaʊ/ A2	noun - the seeds of the cacao tree used to make chocolate
sueños /ˈswɛɪ.njɔːs/ B1	noun - dreams
muerte /ˈmɜːr.te/ B1	noun - death
cambio /ˈkæm.bi.oʊ/ B2	noun - change
esquivar /ɛsˈkiː.vɑːr/ B2	verb - to dodge or avoid
dolor /dəˈlɔːr/ B2	noun - pain
neurosis /njʊəˈroʊ.sɪs/ C1	noun - a mental disorder characterized by anxiety or fear
alcoholismo /ˌæl.kəˈhɔː.lɪ.zəm/ C1	noun - alcoholism

Key Grammar Structures

• Hay balas que van volando / Por el mundo, por el mundo

  ➔ Present indicative of 'ir' + gerund ('volando') expressing an ongoing action.

  ➔ The structure "ir + gerund" emphasizes that the bullets are "flying" around the world at this very moment, a continuous action.

• Dame ma' mi chocolate

  ➔ Imperative form 'dame' (give me). Possessive adjective 'mi' (my) combined with 'ma'' (short for 'mamá').

  ➔ 'Dame' is a direct request, emphasizing the speaker's desire. 'Ma' mi chocolate' is a term of endearment and request, implying a close relationship with the person being addressed.

• Voy a bailar mi suerte

  ➔ Future tense using 'ir a' + infinitive ('bailar'). Expressing intention or near future action.

  ➔ 'Voy a bailar' indicates the speaker's intention to dance, expressing a future plan.

• No hay balas que penetren / La fuerza de este amor

  ➔ Subjunctive mood ('penetren') used after a negative statement ('No hay'). Demonstrative adjective 'este' (this).

  ➔ The subjunctive mood 'penetren' is required because the existence of bullets that can penetrate the force of love is uncertain after the negative 'No hay'. 'Este' emphasizes a specific, perhaps strongly felt, love.

• Si no me mata un balazo

  ➔ Conditional clause using 'si' (if) + present indicative ('mata').

  ➔ This introduces a hypothetical situation: *if* a gunshot doesn't kill me...