El Americano – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Omar Ruiz
• Album: La Santita

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of "El Americano" by Omar Ruiz, a gripping narcocorrido that offers a glimpse into the life of a drug trafficker. This song is a great way to immerse yourself in the Spanish language while exploring themes of ambition, regret, and the human cost of crime. Discover new vocabulary, improve your listening skills, and gain a deeper understanding of Mexican culture through this powerful narrative.

[English]

I decided as a child that I would never be poor

I was always firm in my decisions

From a young age, I took my path and went to California

Where I started working with marijuana

I made partners and several deals

And this is where my story begins

Resources were running out, we jumped the border to look for it

There in Mexico, I was able to find it

Several pounds and a stolen plane when they caught me

I got away and fought for a while

Like dogs, they were looking for me

They struggled for a couple of years

I lost an important person, I won't forget her

A love that had no hope

I visited my parents because I missed them

But I never imagined it

Agents arrived at the house

And for the first time, they caught me

And the sky is the limit, old timers!

And pure A.D. Records

Prison was a school for me, things changed

Now the kilos were cocaine

I got involved with the big guys and went to Colombia

With Pablito Escobar and the crew

I had a lot of power and respect

And there my limit was the sky

Betrayals also showed up and I fell again

On my birthday, they fell

After I got out, only my princess mattered

And I spent my time with her

I always accompanied her to school

I was happy just to see her

I have some little earrings and we're going to California

That's what I promised my princess

I connected with old friends to take on a job

Quickly, I raised some cash

But they gave me another surprise

And for the third time, behind bars

How many mistakes I've made, I remembered my father

How many times I didn't listen to him

Money isn't real, I finally understood what's important

I really miss the old man

Sixty years, my last sentence

The American is saying goodbye

...

[Spanish]

Decidí desde niño que yo nunca sería pobre

Siempre fui firme en mis decisiones

De muy joven, tomé mi camino y me fui a California

Donde empecé a chambear con la mota

Hice socios y varios negocios

Y aquí es donde comienza mi historia

Se acababa el recurso, brincamos la línea a buscarle

Allá en México pude encontrarle

Varias libras y un avión robado cuando me agarraron

La libré y me peleé por un rato

Como perros, me andaban buscando

Le batallaron un par de años

Se me fue una persona importante, no voy a olvidarla

Un amor que no tuvo esperanza

De visita llegué con mis padres, pues los extrañaba

Pero jamás me lo imaginaba

Agentes llegaron a la casa

Y por primera vez me agarraban

¡Y el cielo es el límite, viejones!

Y puro A.D. Records

La prisión fue para mí una escuela, cambiaron las cosas

Ahora los kilos eran de coca

Me encliqué con la gente de arriba y me fui pa Colombia

Con Pablito Escobar y la bola

Tuve mucho poder y respeto

Y ahí mi límite era el cielo

Las traiciones también se asomaron y caí de nuevo

El día de mi cumpleaños, cayeron

Después de que salí, ya solo importaba mi princesa

Y pasaba mi tiempo con ella

La acompañaba siempre a la escuela

Era feliz tan solo con verla

Tengo unos pendientitos y nos vamos a California

Eso le prometí a mi princesa

Me conecté con viejos amigos pa aventarme un jale

En caliente levanto una feria

Pero me dieron otra sorpresa

Y por tercera vez, tras las rejas

Cuántos errores he cometido, recordé a mi padre

Cuántas veces que no le hice caso

No es real el dinero, por fin comprendí lo importante

Al viejillo de veras lo extraño

Sesenta años, mi última sentencia

Ya se despide el americano

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
decidí /desiˈði/ A2	verb - I decided
pobre /ˈpo.βɾe/ A2	adjective - poor
camino /kaˈmi.no/ A2	noun - path/way
negocios /neˈɣo.sjos/ B1	noun - businesses
historia /isˈto.ɾja/ A2	noun - story/history
esperanza /es.peˈɾan.θa/ B1	noun - hope
agentes /aˈxen.tes/ B2	noun - agents
prisión /pɾiˈsjon/ B1	noun - prison
cielo /ˈsjelo/ A2	noun - sky/heaven
poder /poˈðeɾ/ B1	noun - power
traiciones /tɾaiˈθjones/ B2	noun - betrayals
errores /eˈroɾes/ B1	noun - errors
sentencia /senˈtenθja/ B2	noun - sentence (legal)
princesa /pɾinˈθesa/ A2	noun - princess

Key Grammar Structures

• Decidí desde niño que yo nunca sería pobre

  ➔ Use of the preterite tense to express a decision made in the past.

  ➔ The verb "Decidí" is in the **preterite tense**, indicating a completed action in the past.

• Se acababa el recurso, brincamos la línea a buscarle

  ➔ Use of imperfect tense "se acababa" to describe ongoing or habitual past actions.

  ➔ The phrase "Se acababa" is in the **imperfect tense**, indicating an ongoing situation in the past.

• La prisión fue para mí una escuela, cambiaron las cosas

  ➔ Use of the preterite "fue" to indicate a completed event; indirect object pronoun "para mí".

  ➔ The verb "fue" is in the **preterite tense**, indicating a specific completed event. "Para mí" shows the indirect object.

• Y puro A.D. Records

  ➔ Use of the adjective "puro" (pure) as a descriptive modifier; use of proper noun "A.D. Records" as a brand name.

  ➔ "Puro" is an adjective describing the record label "A.D. Records".

• Al viejillo de veras lo extraño

  ➔ Use of the diminutive "viejillo" (little old man) as a term of endearment; use of the verb "extrañar" in the present tense.

  ➔ "Viejillo" is a diminutive form used as a term of endearment; "extrañar" is in the present tense expressing missing someone.

• Ya se despide el americano

  ➔ Use of the reflexive "se despide" in the present tense to indicate the subject is departs or farewell.

  ➔ The phrase "se despide" is a reflexive verb in the present tense indicating someone is saying goodbye or preparing to leave.