El Solitario – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of 'El Solitario,' a masterpiece of *balada romántica* by the legendary José José. This track is an excellent window into the most poetic and expressive Spanish for describing deep melancholy and emotional resignation. You'll master vocabulary related to heartbreak, sorrow, and lonely existence while experiencing the power of José José’s peerless vocal interpretation.

[English]

I am always a solitary man

I live without love or faith

I die every sunrise with a face full of anguished sorrow

Ever since she left

I wander the streets now, forever solitary

Only to remember that endless world of tenderness

That went away with her

I never thought I'd feel such unhappiness

So much sadness in me, such cruel loneliness

Today I only know I'm just another vagabond

Who goes his solitary way to silence his pain

Always with my face to the sun, I will never beg for pity

How many others like me must walk

Solitary souls sharing with me the nostalgia for love

Solitary souls sharing with me the nostalgia for love

...

Today I only know I'm just another vagabond

Who goes his solitary way to silence his pain

Always with my face to the sun, I will never beg for pity

How many others like me must walk

Solitary souls sharing with me the nostalgia for love

Solitary souls sharing with me the nostalgia for love

...

[Spanish]

Siempre solitario voy

Vivo sin amor ni fe

Muero cada amanecer con el rostro de pena angustiado

Desde que se fue

Vago por las calles hoy, siempre solitario ya

Sólo para recordar ese mundo sin fin de ternura

Que con ella va

Jamás creí sentir tanta infelicidad

Tanta tristeza en mí, tanta cruel soledad

Hoy sólo sé que soy un vagabundo más

Que solitario voy por mi dolor callar

Siempre con la cara al sol, nunca pediré piedad

Cuántos como yo andarán

Solitarios sufriendo conmigo la nostalgia de amar

Solitarios sufriendo conmigo la nostalgia de amar

Hoy sólo sé que soy un vagabundo más

Que solitario voy por mi dolor callar

Siempre con la cara al sol, nunca pediré piedad

Cuántos como yo andarán

Solitarios sufriendo conmigo la nostalgia de amar

Solitarios sufriendo conmigo la nostalgia de amar

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
solitario so.li.ˈta.ɾjo A2	adjective - lonely
vagabundo ba.ɣa.ˈbun.do B1	noun - wanderer, vagabond
nostalgia nos.tal.ˈxi.a B1	noun - nostalgia
ternura ter.ˈnu.ɾa A2	noun - tenderness
angustiado aŋ.ɡus.ˈtja.ðo B1	adjective - distressed
vago ˈba.ɣo A2	verb - to wander
infelicidad iŋ.fe.li.si.ˈðad A2	noun - unhappiness
tristeza tris.ˈte.θa A2	noun - sadness
cruel kɾu.ˈel A2	adjective - cruel
callar ka.ˈʎaɾ A2	verb - to be silent
piedad pi.e.ˈðad B1	noun - pity
sufriendo su.ˈfɾjen.do A2	verb - suffering
amar a.ˈmaɾ A1	verb - to love

Key Grammar Structures

• Siempre solitario voy

  ➔ Adverb of frequency + adjective + verb

  ➔ “Siempre” is an adverb of frequency, “solitario” is an adjective, and “voy” is a verb. This structure emphasizes the continuous state of being alone.

• Muero cada amanecer con el rostro de pena angustiado

  ➔ Present tense verb + prepositional phrase + noun + adjective

  ➔ “Muero” is in the present tense, “con el rostro de pena angustiado” is a prepositional phrase modifying the subject. This structure highlights the emotional state at dawn.

• Jamás creí sentir tanta infelicidad

  ➔ Adverb of negation + verb in past tense + infinitive verb

  ➔ “Jamás” is an adverb of negation, “creí” is in the past tense, and “sentir” is an infinitive verb. This structure emphasizes the unexpectedness of the emotion.

• Hoy sólo sé que soy un vagabundo más

  ➔ Adverb of time + adverb of exclusivity + verb + adjective

  ➔ “Hoy” is an adverb of time, “sólo” is an adverb of exclusivity, and “vagabundo” is an adjective. This structure emphasizes the speaker’s current state of being just another wanderer.

• Siempre con la cara al sol, nunca pediré piedad

  ➔ Adverb of frequency + prepositional phrase + adverb of negation + verb + object

  ➔ “Siempre” is an adverb of frequency, “con la cara al sol” is a prepositional phrase, “nunca” is an adverb of negation, and “pediré piedad” includes a verb and its object. This structure contrasts persistence with refusal.