Besos de Ceniza – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Timbiriche

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poignant world of Timbiriche's "Besos de Ceniza," a classic Latin Pop ballad that beautifully articulates the complex emotions of love, betrayal, and heartbreak. Learning Spanish through this song offers a unique opportunity to grasp evocative vocabulary related to feelings and relationships, as well as common expressions in emotional contexts. Its clear narrative and powerful lyrics make it an excellent piece for understanding storytelling in Spanish music and appreciating the cultural impact of 80s Mexican pop.

[English]

Something's wrong with me, I can't sleep

I take your photo and throw myself onto the couch

I'm going to break it

My breath leaves me, ha-ah-ha

In front of her house, you were talking to her, I saw you

You cornered her, you forgot about me

I ran away

I couldn't resist, ha-ah-ha

She's my friend and you didn't care (you didn't care)

She's my friend, the best one

You went to find her to talk to her about love

Kisses of ash, a fragile soul (kisses)

Innocent eyes, a heart that lies (eyes)

Like bandits, you slip away

Kisses of ash, a fragile soul

Innocent eyes, a heart that lies

Everything suddenly shatters

Kisses of ash, ha, ha

They were promises, crystal tales

Fragile your way of clinging to me

I've seen it all

You can't lie to me, no-oh-ho

She's my friend and you didn't care (you didn't care)

She's my friend, the best one

You went to find her to talk to her about love

Kisses of ash, a fragile soul (kisses)

Innocent eyes, a heart that lies (eyes)

Like bandits, you slip away

Kisses of ash, a fragile soul

Innocent eyes, a heart that lies

Everything suddenly shatters

Kisses of ash

Fragile soul

Innocent eyes

A heart that lies

Everything suddenly shatters

Kisses of ash, ha

Fragile soul, ha

Like bandits, you slip away

Kisses of ash

Innocent eyes

Everything suddenly shatters

Kisses of ash

...

[Spanish]

Algo me pasa, no consigo dormir

Tomo tu foto y me tiro al sofá

Voy a romperla

El aire se me va, ja-ah-ja

Frente a su casa, tú le hablabas, te vi

La acorralabas, te olvidabas de mí

Salí corriendo

No pude resistir, ja-ah-ja

Ella es mi amiga y no te importó (no te importó)

Ella es amiga mía, la mejor

Fuiste a buscarla para hablarle de amor

Besos de ceniza, alma quebradiza (besos)

Ojos de inocente, corazón que miente (ojos)

Como los bandidos te deslizas

Besos de ceniza, alma quebradiza

Ojos de inocente, corazón que miente

Todo de repente se hace trizas

Besos de ceniza, ja, ja

Fueron promesas, cuentos de cristal

Frágil tu modo de amarrarte de mí

Lo he visto todo

No me puedes mentir, no-oh-ho

Ella es mi amiga y no te importó (no te importó)

Ella es amiga mía, la mejor

Fuiste a buscarla para hablarle de amor

Besos de ceniza, alma quebradiza (besos)

Ojos de inocente, corazón que miente (ojos)

Como los bandidos te deslizas

Besos de ceniza, alma quebradiza

Ojos de inocente, corazón que miente

Todo de repente se hace trizas

Besos de ceniza

Alma quebradiza

Ojos de inocente

Corazón que miente

Todo de repente se hace trizas

Besos de ceniza, ha

Alma quebradiza, ha

Como los bandidos te deslizas

Besos de ceniza

Ojos de inocente

Todo de repente se hace trizas

Besos de ceniza

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
beso /ˈbe.so/ A2	noun - kiss
ceniza /θeˈni.θa/ B1	noun - ash
alma /ˈal.ma/ B1	noun - soul, spirit
quebradizo /ke.βɾaˈði.θo/ B2	adjective - brittle, fragile, easily broken
ojo /ˈo.xo/ A1	noun - eye
inocente /i.noˈθen.te/ B1	adjective - innocent, naive
corazón /ko.ɾaˈθon/ A1	noun - heart
mentir /menˈtiɾ/ B1	verb - to lie (tell untruths)
bandido /banˈdi.ðo/ B2	noun - bandit, outlaw
deslizar /des.liˈθaɾ/ B1	verb - to slide, to slip; to glide
triza /ˈtɾi.θa/ B2	noun - splinter, shred, piece (usually in plural 'trizas' meaning 'shards' or 'pieces')
promesa /pɾoˈme.sa/ B1	noun - promise
cristal /kɾisˈtal/ B1	noun - glass, crystal
frágil /ˈfɾa.xil/ B1	adjective - fragile, delicate, weak
romper /romˈpeɾ/ A2	verb - to break, to tear
acorralar /a.ko.raˈlaɾ/ B2	verb - to corner, to trap, to hem in
olvidar /ol.βiˈðaɾ/ A2	verb - to forget
resistir /re.sisˈtiɾ/ B1	verb - to resist, to withstand, to endure
amarrar /a.maˈraɾ/ B2	verb - to tie, to bind, to moor (ship); (figuratively) to attach oneself to
aire /ˈai̯.ɾe/ A1	noun - air, atmosphere; (figuratively) appearance, look

Key Grammar Structures

• Algo me pasa, no consigo dormir

  ➔ "Conseguir + infinitive"

  ➔ “Conseguir” followed by an infinitive verb means “to manage to” or “to succeed in doing something.” In this context, “no consigo dormir” means “I can't manage to sleep.”

• Voy a romperla

  ➔ "Ir a + infinitive" with attached direct object pronoun

  ➔ The structure “ir a + infinitive” is used to express the immediate future or an intention. The direct object pronoun “"la"” (referring to “foto” - photo) is attached to the infinitive “"romper"”.

• El aire se me va, ja-ah-ja

  ➔ Impersonal/involuntary "se" construction

  ➔ This construction (“"se"” + indirect object pronoun + verb) expresses an involuntary action or something that happens *to* the subject, often without their direct control. Here, “"se me va"” means “my breath leaves me” or “I lose my breath.”

• Frente a su casa, tú le hablabas, te vi

  ➔ Contrast between Preterite and Imperfect tenses

  ➔ The imperfect “"hablabas"” describes an ongoing or habitual action in the past (“you were talking to him/her repeatedly/for a period”). The preterite “"vi"” describes a completed, single action in the past (“I saw you”).

• La acorralabas, te olvidabas de mí

  ➔ Reflexive verb "olvidarse de"

  ➔ “"Olvidarse de"” is a reflexive verb meaning “to forget about” or “to forget.” The “"te"” indicates that “you” are the one doing the forgetting. The imperfect tense “"olvidabas"” suggests this was an ongoing state or repeated action in the past.

• Ella es mi amiga y no te importó

  ➔ Verbs like "gustar" (e.g., "importar")

  ➔ “"Importar"” functions similarly to “gustar” where the subject of the sentence is what “matters” or “is important” to the indirect object. “"No te importó"” means “it didn't matter to you” or “you didn't care.”

• Fuiste a buscarla para hablarle de amor

  ➔ "Para + infinitive" to express purpose

  ➔ “"Para"” followed by an infinitive verb (e.g., “"hablar"”) is used to express the purpose or goal of an action. “"Para hablarle de amor"” means “in order to talk to her about love.”

• Besos de ceniza, alma quebradiza

  ➔ "Noun + de + Noun" for description/characteristic

  ➔ The structure “"noun + de + noun"” is used to describe a characteristic, material, or origin of the first noun. “"Besos de ceniza"” literally means “kisses of ash,” implying kisses that are cold, lifeless, or leave a bitter residue.

• Como los bandidos te deslizas

  ➔ "Como" for comparison

  ➔ “"Como"” is used here as a conjunction to mean “like” or “as,” drawing a comparison between the way “you” (“te deslizas”) act and the way “bandidos” act.

• Todo de repente se hace trizas

  ➔ "Hacerse" for changes in state

  ➔ “"Hacerse"” is a reflexive verb used to express a change or transformation, often one that occurs naturally or involuntarily, or refers to becoming something. “"Se hace trizas"” means “it turns into pieces” or “it shatters.”