Canción para la Navidad – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José Luis Perales
• Album: El pregón

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the heartwarming story and message of José Luis Perales's “Canción para la Navidad.” This beautiful Spanish ballad is not just a Christmas carol but a lesson in empathy and the universal spirit of the holidays. By learning its poetic lyrics, you can practice Spanish vocabulary related to emotions, nature, and social themes, all while embracing a song that has touched hearts for generations. Its clear and melodic delivery makes it an excellent choice for language learners to connect with the festive culture of the Spanish-speaking world.

[English]

Christmas, it's Christmas

The whole earth rejoices

And the sea feels sad

Sailor, where are you going?

Drop your nets and pray

Watch the star pass by

Sailor, sailor, build an altar in your boat

Sailor, sailor, because Christmas has arrived

Sailor, sailor, build an altar in your boat

Sailor, sailor, because Christmas has arrived

White nights in hospital

Stop crying tonight

The child is almost here

Traveling stranger

Come to my house tonight

Tomorrow, God will decide

Traveler, traveler, fill your bag

Traveler, traveler, because Christmas has arrived

Traveler, traveler, fill your bag

Traveler, traveler, because Christmas has arrived

Come soldier, come back now

To heal your wounds

To give you peace

Christmas, it's Christmas

The whole earth rejoices

And the sea feels sad

You who hear my message, make an altar in your home

Leave hate behind and come with me, because Christmas has arrived

You who hear my message, make an altar in your home

Leave hate behind and come with me, because Christmas has arrived

And at Midnight Mass, the choirs tear their strings

And overwhelmed before the Christ born, a mother prays

For the son who, away from home, will feel sadness

And the son's eyes that night (You who hear)

They will cry with her (The message)

Make an altar in your house

Leave hate behind and come with me, because Christmas has arrived

...

[Spanish]

Navidad, es Navidad

Toda la tierra se alegra

Y se entristece la mar

Marinero, ¿a dónde vas?

Deja tus redes y reza

Mira la estrella pasar

Marinero, marinero haz en tu barca un altar

Marinero, marinero porque llegó Navidad

Marinero, marinero haz en tu barca un altar

Marinero, marinero porque llegó Navidad

Noches blancas de hospital

Dejad el llanto esta noche

Que el niño está por llegar

Caminante sin hogar

Ven a mi casa esta noche

Que mañana, Dios dirá

Caminante, caminante deja tu alforja llenar

Caminante, caminante porque llegó Navidad

Caminante, caminante deja tu alforja llenar

Caminante, caminante porque llegó Navidad

Ven soldado, vuelve ya

Para curar tus heridas

Para prestarte la paz

Navidad, es Navidad

Toda la tierra se alegra

Y se entristece la mar

Tú que escuchas mi mensaje haz en tu casa un altar

Deja el odio y ven conmigo porque llegó Navidad

Tú que escuchas mi mensaje haz en tu casa un altar

Deja el odio y ven conmigo porque llegó Navidad

Y en la misa del Gallo, los coros desgarran sus cuerdas

Y extasiada ante el Cristo que nace, una madre reza

Por el hijo que fuera de casa sentirá tristeza

Y los ojos del hijo esa noche (Tú que escuchas)

Llorarán con ella (El mensaje)

(Haz en tu casa un altar)

Deja el odio y ven conmigo porque llegó Navidad

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Navidad /na.βiˈðað/ A1	noun - Christmas
tierra /ˈtjera/ A1	noun - earth, land
estrella /esˈtre.ʝa/ A2	noun - star
marinero /ma.ɾiˈne.ɾo/ A2	noun - sailor
caminante /ka.miˈnante/ B1	noun - walker, traveler
casa /ˈkasa/ A1	noun - house
paz /pas/ A2	noun - peace
mensaje /menˈsa.xe/ B1	noun - message
llanto /ˈʝanto/ B2	noun - crying, weeping
heridas /eˈɾi.ðas/ B2	noun - wounds, injuries
odio /ˈo.ðjo/ B2	noun - hatred
madre /ˈma.ðɾe/ A1	noun - mother
hijo /ˈi.xo/ A1	noun - son, child
cuerdas /ˈkweɾ.ðas/ B2	noun - strings, cords

Key Grammar Structures

• Toda la tierra se alegra

  ➔ Reflexive verb 'alegrarse' in present tense

  ➔ 'Se' indicates that the verb is reflexive, meaning the subject performs the action on itself.

• deja tus redes y reza

  ➔ Imperative form 'deja' (leave), used for giving commands

  ➔ 'Deja' is in the imperative mood, used here for giving a command or suggestion.

• donde llegó Navidad

  ➔ Preposition 'donde' introducing a relative clause

  ➔ 'Donde' is a relative pronoun used to introduce relative clauses about location or time.

• Haz en tu casa un altar

  ➔ Imperative '+en' (make/do in your house)

  ➔ 'Haz' is the imperative form of 'hacer' (to do/make), followed by 'en' to specify location.

• Porque llegó Navidad

  ➔ Conjunction 'porque' introducing a causal clause

  ➔ 'Porque' is a subordinating conjunction used to introduce clauses explaining the reason for something.

• Y en la misa del Gallo

  ➔ Prepositional phrase 'en la misa del Gallo' (at the Midnight Mass)

  ➔ 'En la misa del Gallo' specifies the location or occasion for the event, referring to the Midnight Mass tradition.

• Deja el odio y ven conmigo

  ➔ Imperative forms 'deja' (leave) and 'ven' (come), both commands

  ➔ 'Deja' and 'ven' are in the imperative mood, instructing someone to leave hatred and come along.