Canto a Borinquen – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe
• Album: Asalto Navideño

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the richness of the Spanish language and Puerto Rican culture through this anthem. By listening to 'Canto a Borinquen,' learners can discover poetic vocabulary related to nature and patriotism, while experiencing the infectious energy of salsa music.

[English]

Greetings to my Borinquen at Christmas time

Borinquen, I love you because I was born in you

And it was in you that I first saw the light

I am sincere with you, passionate cradle

You will be blessed, even though I will die in you

But I will sing to you from the afterlife

But I will sing to you, Borinquen, from the afterlife

Hospitable land, that is Borinquen

Land of my Eden, hear my prayers

Essential land, oh, sleeping heron

My song is inspired, it will never forget you

And I am going to sing to you from the afterlife

And I am going to sing to you, Borinquen, from the afterlife

When I die one day, I will not forget you

And I am going to sing to you all my joy

In my agonies, dear Borinquen

My dazed soul will not forget you

And I am going to sing to you from the afterlife

And I am going to sing to you, Borinquen, from the afterlife

Today, as I dedicate memories to you, I demand

Borinquen, I am your son, and I am not going to forget you

That is why upon leaving you, my soul breathes in you

It will not be lost, tropical land

But I must sing to you from the afterlife

I must sing to you, Puerto Rico, from the afterlife

Hospitable land, that is Borinquen

Land of my Eden, take my prayers

Essential land, oh, sleeping heron

My heartfelt song will not forget you

And I am going to sing to you, Borinquen, from the afterlife

And I am going to sing to you, Borinquen, from the afterlife

[Spanish]

Saludo a mi Borinquen, en navidad

Borinquen te quiero, porque en ti nací

Y en ti fue que vi resplandor primero

Yo te soy sincero, cuna enardecida

Será bendecida, aunque en ti moriré

Pero yo te cantaré, desde la otra vida

Pero yo te cantaré, Borinquen, desde la otra vida

Tierra hospitalaria, esa es Borinquen

Tierra de mi Eden, oye mis plegarias

Tierra necesaria, oh, garza dormida

Mi canción se inspira, no te ha de olvidar

Y yo te voy a cantar, desde la otra vida

Y yo te voy a cantar, Borinquen, desde la otra vida

Al morirme un día, yo no he de olvidarte

Y yo voy a cantarte toda mi alegria

En mis agonias, Borinquen querida

Mi alma aturdida no te olvidará

Y yo te voy a cantar, desde la otra vida

Y yo te voy a cantar, Borinquen, desde la otra vida

Hoy al dedicarte recuerdos, te exijo

Borinquen soy tu hijo, y no voy a olvidarte

Por eso al dejarte, mi alma en ti respira

No será perdida, tierra tropical

Pero yo te he de cantar, desde la otra vida

Yo te he de cantar, Puerto Rico, desde la otra vida

Tierra hospitalaria, esa es Borinquen

Tierra de mi Eden, coje mis plegarias

Tierra necesaria, oh, garza dormida

Mi canción sentida, no te ha de olvidar

Y yo te voy a cantar, Borinquen, desde la otra vida

Y yo te voy a cantar, Borinquen, desde la otra vida

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
resplandor res-plan-ˈðor C1	noun - brightness, radiance
sincero sin-ˈse-ro A2	adjective - sincere, honest
cuna ˈku-na B1	noun - cradle, birthplace
enardecida enaɾdeˈθiða C2	adjective - inflamed, passionate, stirred up
bendecida ben-deˈθiða B1	adjective - blessed
hospitalaria ospitalaˈɾia B2	adjective - welcoming, hospitable
plegarias pleˈɣaɾjas C1	noun - prayers, pleas
garza ˈɡaɾθa B2	noun - heron
inspirar inspiˈɾaɾ B1	verb - to inspire
agonías aɣoˈnias B2	noun - agonies, intense suffering
aturdida atuɾˈðiða C1	adjective - dazed, stunned
exijo eˈxiɣo B2	verb - to demand, to require
respira resˈpiɾa A2	verb - to breathe
tropical troˈpikal A2	adjective - tropical

Key Grammar Structures

• Y en ti fue que vi resplandor primero

  ➔ Cleft sentence (Énfasis / Enfasi)

  ➔ The structure "fue que" is used to emphasize the adverbial phrase "en ti".

• Será bendecida, aunque en ti moriré

  ➔ Future tense + Concessive clause (Aunque)

  ➔ "Aunque" introduces a concession; "moriré" is the future tense denoting a future event.

• Pero yo te cantaré, desde la otra vida

  ➔ Simple Future (Futuro próximo/simple)

  ➔ The verb "cantaré" (first person singular) expresses a commitment or future intention.

• No te ha de olvidar

  ➔ Periphrastic construction: Haber + de + infinitive

  ➔ This construction implies a sense of obligation, certainty, or future intention.

• Mi canción se inspira

  ➔ Reflexive verb (Verbo reflexivo)

  ➔ The pronoun "se" makes the verb "inspirar" pronominal, meaning "to be inspired".

• Al morirme un día

  ➔ Temporal structure: Al + infinitive

  ➔ "Al" + infinitive expresses "upon [doing something]" or "when [doing something]".

• Hoy al dedicarte recuerdos, te exijo

  ➔ Direct Object pronoun (Pronombre de objeto directo)

  ➔ The "te" in "dedicarte" and "exijo" refers to "Borinquen" as the direct recipient of the action.

• No será perdida

  ➔ Passive Voice with "ser"

  ➔ The past participle "perdida" agrees in gender and number with the subject (implied Puerto Rico/Borinquen).