Cobarde – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José
• Album: Soy Asi

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the emotional depth of José José's "Cobarde," a stunning example of the Spanish language's capacity to express complex internal conflict. Through the heartbreak and self-reflection in this powerful ballad, you can learn evocative vocabulary surrounding fear, courage, and unfulfilled desire, all masterfully delivered by 'El Príncipe de la Canción.'

[English]

How long will you put up with me?

Staying hidden?

If you could see the agony

Of waiting for that day

When you say

No more

But I have my world, whether I like it or not

My stubborn world

Why do you think I hide you

When even my soul burns?

I hide you because I'm

A coward

To stand up and turn on the light

And risk it all for you

Heads or tails

Coward

To love you without any disguise

And give in return whatever it takes

No more, no less

I wish I had the courage

Of a thousand suicides

To become a beggar

Run away with you

And say: it's over

But I won't be cannon fodder

No matter how much I love you

I'm sorry, I'm no good

At being a show-off

I admit I'm

A coward

To stand up and turn on the light

And risk it all for you

Heads or tails

Coward

To love you without any disguise

And give in return whatever it takes

No more, no less

Coward

To stand up and turn on the light

And risk it all for you

Heads or tails

Coward

To love you without any disguise

And give in return whatever it takes

No more, no less

Coward

To stand up and turn on the light

...

[Spanish]

¿Hasta cuando me vas a tolerar

Seguir ocultos?

Si vieras que agonía

Esperar ese día

Que digas

Ya no más

Pero tengo mi mundo, quiera o no

Mi mundo terco

¿Por qué crees que te escondo

Que hasta el alma me arde?

Te escondo porque soy

Cobarde

Para alzarme y prender la luz

Y jugármela por ti del todo

A cara o cruz

Cobarde

Para amarte sin ningún disfraz

Y entregar a cambio lo que sea

Ni menos, ni más

Ojalá que tuviera yo el valor

De mil suicidas

Para hacerme mendigo

Escaparme contigo

Y decir: se acabó

Pero no seré carne de cañón

Por más que te ame

Lo siento, yo no sirvo

Para ser un alarde

Reconozco que soy

Cobarde

Para alzarme y prender la luz

Y jugármela por ti del todo

A cara o cruz

Cobarde

Para amarte sin ningún disfraz

Y entregar a cambio lo que sea

Ni menos, ni más

Cobarde

Para alzarme y prender la luz

Y jugármela por ti del todo

A cara o cruz

Cobarde

Para amarte sin ningún disfraz

Y entregar a cambio lo que sea

Ni menos, ni más

Cobarde

Para alzarme y prender la luz

Key Grammar Structures

• ¿Hasta cuando me vas a tolerar Seguir ocultos?

  ➔ Future tense with 'vas a' and subjunctive mood with 'tolerar'

  ➔ The phrase 'vas a tolerar' uses the future tense to express a future action, while 'seguir ocultos' is in the subjunctive mood, indicating a wish or uncertainty.

• Si vieras que agonía Esperar ese día

  ➔ Imperfect subjunctive with 'vieras'

  ➔ The verb 'vieras' is in the imperfect subjunctive, used to express a hypothetical or uncertain situation in the past.

• Te escondo porque soy Cobarde

  ➔ Present tense with 'escondo' and adjective 'cobarde'

  ➔ The verb 'escondo' is in the present tense, describing a current action, and 'cobarde' is an adjective describing the subject.

• Para alzarme y prender la luz

  ➔ Infinitive used as a purpose clause

  ➔ The infinitive verbs 'alzarme' and 'prender' are used to express the purpose of the action described in the sentence.

• Y jugármela por ti del todo A cara o cruz

  ➔ Pronominal verb 'jugármela' and idiomatic expression 'a cara o cruz'

  ➔ The pronominal verb 'jugármela' emphasizes the subject's involvement in the action, and 'a cara o cruz' is an idiomatic expression meaning to take a risk.