Lyrics & Translation
Discover the story behind ABBA's timeless hit, "Chiquitita," a song of comfort and resilience that has touched hearts worldwide. Explore its message of hope and learn how its legacy extends to supporting children through UNICEF, making it a meaningful and enduring piece of music history. By exploring the Spanish term of endearment of the title, you can also expand your knowledge of the Spanish language.
You're trapped by your own sorrow
In your eyes, there is no hope for tomorrow
How I hate to see you like this
There is no way you can deny it
I can see that you're so sad, so quiet
Chiquitita, tell me the truth
I'm a shoulder you can cry on
Your best friend, I'm the one you can rely on
You were always confident in yourself
Now I see you've lost your spark
I hope we can mend it together
Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and go and the scars they leave behind
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You won't have time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
So the walls came tumbling down
And your love's a blown-out candle
All is gone and it seems too hard to handle
Chiquitita, tell me the truth
There is no way you can deny it
I see that you're so sad, so quiet
Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and go and the scars they leave behind
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You won't have time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
|
chiquitita /tʃɪkɪˈtiːtə/ A1 |
|
|
sorrow /ˈsɔːroʊ/ B2 |
|
|
hope /hoʊp/ A2 |
|
|
truth /truːθ/ A2 |
|
|
friend /frɛnd/ A1 |
|
|
dance /dæns/ A1 |
|
|
pain /peɪn/ A2 |
|
|
scars /skɑːrz/ B1 |
|
|
cry /kraɪ/ A1 |
|
|
shoulder /ˈʃoʊldər/ B1 |
|
|
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ B1 |
|
|
together /təˈɡɛðər/ A2 |
|
|
time /taɪm/ A1 |
|
|
sing /sɪŋ/ A1 |
|
|
walls /wɔːlz/ A2 |
|
|
candle /ˈkændl/ A2 |
|
What does “chiquitita” mean in the song "Chiquitita"?
Learn fast – go deep – and remember longer with interactive exercises in the app!
Key Grammar Structures
-
There is no way you can deny it
➔ Modal verb + base form
➔ "can" is a modal verb expressing ability or possibility, combined with the base form "deny" to indicate ability to refuse.
-
You're enchained by your own sorrow
➔ Passive voice with present tense
➔ The sentence uses the passive voice "are enchained" to emphasize the state of being restrained, with "by your own sorrow" indicating the agent.
-
How I hate to see you like this
➔ Infinitive form of purpose (to + verb)
➔ The infinitive "to see" expresses purpose or desire, showing the speaker's feelings about witnessing the subject's condition.
-
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
➔ Imperative mood
➔ The phrase is a command or instruction, urging the listener to perform the action of singing a new song.
-
The sun is still in the sky and shinin' above you
➔ Present simple tense
➔ The sentence uses the present simple tense "is" and "shinin'" (colloquial form of "shining") to describe a current, ongoing situation.
-
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
➔ Imperative + infinitive clause
➔ The phrase is an imperative command "Let me hear you" followed by a wish or request in an infinitive clause.
-
So the walls came tumblin' down
➔ Simple past tense (passive voice)
➔ The phrase uses simple past tense "came" and implies a passive construction, describing the walls falling down.
-
Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on
➔ Relative clause with modal verb (must rely on)
➔ The sentence contains a relative clause "the one you must rely on" describing "the one" as someone dependable, with "must rely on" indicating obligation or necessity.
