El Elefante – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Caifanes
• Album: Caifanes II: El Diablito

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a journey of profound meaning and rich symbolism with "El Elefante" by Caifanes. This iconic rock en español track offers a unique opportunity to delve into the poetic depth of Spanish lyrics, exploring themes of truth, freedom, and self-discovery through the captivating metaphor of a wise elephant. Its evocative language and atmospheric sound will not only enhance your appreciation for Spanish rock but also deepen your understanding of cultural storytelling.

[English]

The other day I got to talk

With the wise old pachyderm

He shared so many secrets with me

But only one he wanted me to see, and it was to fly

Fly and fly

Until I reached nothingness

Under the sun

...

I’m ready to destroy

Everything that isn’t true

I’m ready to set aside

Everything that isn’t real for you

For me, to keep on searching

For the headdress under the moon

...

I’m ready to imagine

That repression doesn’t exist

After so much demanding

Under his trunk, he lay on the ground

And he left, he left

From his cage, into nothingness

Over the moon.

...

[Spanish]

El otro día pude hablar

Con el sabiondo paquidermo

Muchos secretos me contó

Pero uno solo quiso ver y fue volar

Volar y volar

Hasta llegar, a la nada

Bajo el sol

Estoy dispuesto a destruir

Todo lo que no sea verdad

Estoy dispuesto a marginar

Todo lo que no sea real para ti

Para mí, para seguir buscando

El penacho bajo la luna

Estoy dispuesto a imaginar

Que no existe represión

Después de tanto reclamar

Bajo su trompa y se echo al suelo

Y se fue, se fue

De su jaula, hacia a la nada

Sobre la luna.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hablar a.βˈlaɾ A1	verb - to speak
sabiondo sa.βiˈon.do B2	adjective - know-it-all
paquidermo pa.kiˈðeɾ.mo B2	noun - pachyderm
secretos se.ˈkre.tos A2	noun - secrets
volar bo.ˈlaɾ A1	verb - to fly
destruir des.tɾuˈiɾ A2	verb - to destroy
verdad beɾ.ˈðað A1	noun - truth
marginar maɾ.xiˈnaɾ B1	verb - to marginalize
real reˈal A1	adjective - real
penacho pe.ˈna.tʃo B2	noun - plume
imaginar i.ma.xiˈnaɾ A2	verb - to imagine
represión re.pɾe.ˈsjon B1	noun - repression
reclamar reklaˈmaɾ A2	verb - to complain
trompa ˈtɾom.pa A2	noun - trunk (of an elephant)
jaula ˈxau.la A2	noun - cage