Bamboléo – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Gipsy Kings

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the infectious rhythms of "Bamboléo" by Gipsy Kings, a song that's not just a global hit but a gateway to understanding Spanish and Romani culture. Its catchy chorus, "Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así" ("Because I prefer to live my life this way"), offers a perfect entry point for language learners, teaching common phrases and expressions within a joyful, dance-inducing context. The song's unique fusion of flamenco guitars and Latin pop makes it a special and captivating piece, ideal for immersing yourself in the sounds and spirit of Spanish-language music.

[English]

Love arrives just like this

It’s not its fault

A foolish dance horse

Because it’s so despised, that’s why

I won’t forgive you for crying

Love arrives just like this

It’s not its fault

Love bought and sold

Love from the past

Bem bem bem, bem bem bem, bem bem bem

Bem, bem bem bem, bem bem bem

...

Swaying, swaying

Because I prefer to live my life like this

Swaying, swaying

Because I prefer to live my life like this

You have no forgiveness from God

You are my life, the luck of fate

In the fate of the forsaken

The same as yesterday

It’s the same as me

I can’t find you after leaving

You’re impossible, I really can’t find you

That’s why one day I can’t find you, no matter what

It’s the same as yesterday

I think of you

Swaying, swaying

Because I prefer to live my life like this

Swaying, swaying

Because I prefer to live my life like this

...

Swaying, swaying

Because I prefer to live my life like this

Swaying, swaying

Because I prefer to live my life like this

...

Swaying, swaying

Because I prefer to live my life like this

Swaying, swaying

Because I prefer to live my life like this

Swaying, swaying

Because I prefer to live my life like this

Swaying, swaying

Because I prefer to live my life like this

...

[Spanish]

Ese amor llega así de esta manera

No tiene la culpa

Caballo de danza vana

Porque es muy despreciado, por eso

No te perdondo llorar

Ese amor llega así esta manera

No tiene la culpa

Amor de compra y venta

Amor de en el pasado

Bem bem bem, bem bem bem, bem bem bem

Bem, bem bem bem, bem bem bem

Bamboleio bamboleia

Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así

Bamboleio bamboleia

Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así

No tienes perdón de Dios

Tú eres mi vida la fortuna del destino

En el destino del desamparado

Lo mismo ya que ayer

Lo mismo soy yo

No te encuentro al abandon'

Eres imposible, no te encuentro, de verdad

Por eso un día no encuentro si de nada

Lo mismo ya que ayer

Lo pienso en ti

Bamboleio bamboleia

Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así

Bamboleio bamboleia

Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así

Bamboleio bamboleia

Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así

Bamboleio bamboleia

Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así

Bamboleio bamboleia

Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así

Bamboleio bamboleia

Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así

Bamboleio bamboleia

Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así

Bamboleio bamboleia

Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
amor /aˈmor/ A1	noun - love
vida /ˈvida/ A1	noun - life
destino /desˈtino/ B1	noun - destiny
perdón /peɾˈðon/ B1	noun - forgiveness
encontrar /eŋkonˈtɾaɾ/ B1	verb - to find
prefiero /pɾeˈfjeɾo/ B1	verb - I prefer
imposible /impoˈsiβle/ B2	adjective - impossible
culpa /ˈkulpa/ B2	noun - guilt
despreciado /despɾeˈθjado/ B2	adjective - despised
bamboleo /bamboˈleo/ B2	noun - swaying or rocking

Key Grammar Structures

• Ese amor llega así de esta manera

  ➔ Demonstrative adjective + adverbial phrase of manner

  ➔ "Ese" (that) is a demonstrative adjective. "Así de esta manera" (like this, in this way) is an adverbial phrase describing how the love arrives.

• No tiene la culpa

  ➔ Use of "tener la culpa" (to be to blame)

  ➔ "No tiene la culpa" (It's not its fault/It's not to blame). This idiom uses the verb "tener" (to have) with the noun "culpa" (fault/blame).

• Porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así

  ➔ Object pronoun redundancy (la)

  ➔ The object pronoun "la" is redundant, as it repeats the object "mi vida" (my life). While grammatically not strictly correct, it's a common feature in spoken Spanish, particularly in certain regions. "Yo prefiero vivir así mi vida" would also be valid, and placing "mi vida" after "así" can be more emphatic.

• No tienes perdón de Dios

  ➔ Idiomatic expression: "No tener perdón de Dios"

  ➔ This means "You have no forgiveness from God" or, more idiomatically, "You're beyond redemption." It's a strong expression of disapproval.

• Lo mismo ya que ayer

  ➔ Use of "Lo mismo" + "ya que"

  ➔ "Lo mismo" means "the same thing". "Ya que" roughly translates to "since" or "because". The phrase suggests that something is the same as it was yesterday, using "since" or "because" to emphasize its consistency.

• Eres imposible, no te encuentro, de verdad

  ➔ Use of "de verdad" for emphasis

  ➔ "De verdad" means "really" or "truly". It is used here to emphasize the speaker's inability to find the person, making the statement more emphatic.