Bandera – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Draco Rosa

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the evocative Spanish lyrics of Draco Rosa's 'Bandera' to explore profound themes of struggle and hope. This song offers a great opportunity to learn Spanish vocabulary related to emotions and societal concepts, all within a powerful rock anthem that holds deep cultural significance for Puerto Rico. Discover the 'galvanizing power' of its message.

[English]

A hand to guide me through the darkness

A hand to caress my pain

A hand to draw my path

A hand and destiny

The earth raises flags of war

And the river doesn't flow

And the wise man hides

The earth raises flags of war

And the river doesn't flow

The earth raises flags of war

And the river doesn't flow

And the wise man hides

Sleeping Beauty never wakes up

And the wolf prince lies when he speaks

The earth raises flags of war

And the river doesn't flow

And the wise man hides

The earth raises flags of war

And the river doesn't flow

...

[Spanish]

Una mano que me guie entre tinieblas

Una mano que acaricie mis dolores

Una mano que me dibuje mi camino

Una mano y el destino

La tierra levanta banderas de guerra

Y el rio no corre

Y el sabio se esconde

La tierra levanta banderas de guerra

Y el rio no corre

La tierra levanta banderas de guerra

Y el rio no corre

Y el sabio se esconde

La bella durmiente nunca se despierta

Y el principe lobo miente cuando habla

La tierra levanta banderas de guerra

Y el rio no corre

Y el sabio se esconde

La tierra levanta banderas de guerra

Y el rio no corre

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
man /mæn/ A2	noun - a human being; an adult male person
guidar /ɡiˈðaɾ/ B1	verb - to guide, lead
silencio /siˈlẽn.sjo/ A2	noun - silence
corazón /koɾaˈθɔn/ (es), /kɔˈɾaˈsɔn/ (la) A2	noun - heart
camino /kaˈmi.no/ A2	noun - path, way
guerra /ˈge.ra/ A2	noun - war
corre /ˈko.re/ A2	verb - to run
sabio /ˈsa.βjo/ B2	adjective - wise noun - wise person
esconder /es.konˈdeɾ/ B1	verb - to hide
levantar /leβãnˈtaɾ/ B1	verb - to raise, lift
bandera /banˈdeɾa/ A2	noun - flag
guerra /ˈge.ra/ A2	noun - war

Key Grammar Structures

• Una mano **que** me guie entre tinieblas

  ➔ Subjunctive after relative pronoun with indefinite or hypothetical antecedent.

  ➔ The subjunctive mood ("guie") is used because the existence of the "mano" (hand) is uncertain. It's a hand that *might* guide, not a specific hand that definitely will. "Que" introduces a relative clause.

• Una mano **que** acaricie mis dolores

  ➔ Subjunctive after relative pronoun with indefinite or hypothetical antecedent.

  ➔ Similar to the previous line, the subjunctive mood ("acaricie") emphasizes the hypothetical nature of the hand. It is not a specific, known hand, but one that *might* soothe.

• Y el principe lobo **miente cuando habla**

  ➔ Adverbial clause of time introduced by "cuando" (when) + indicative.

  ➔ "Cuando" introduces a time clause. Since the action (he speaks) and the consequence (he lies) are presented as factual, the indicative mood ("habla") is used.