El último en la Fila – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Vicente Fernández

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the heartfelt power of "El último en la Fila" by the legendary Vicente Fernández! This moving mariachi ballad is an excellent way to immerse yourself in Spanish, offering rich vocabulary related to love, humility, and human connection. The song's profound message about valuing the overlooked and its beautiful poetic imagery make it a special and culturally significant piece for any language learner.

[English]

What if you tried with

the last one in line,

the worst of them all,

the one who doesn’t know how to love.

What about this man

that fate sent your way,

the one who scares you

and you don’t want to look at.

Beneath the mud

sometimes there are diamonds,

open your eyes,

I invite you to see

that here in my soul

you shine long before

your stars

begin to glow.

What if you tried with

the last one in line.

Christ said it,

and you can confirm

that the one you ignore

could be the first

to always adore you

and build you an altar.

Beneath the mud

sometimes there are diamonds,

open your eyes,

I invite you to see

that here in my soul

you shine long before

your stars

begin to glow.

And beneath the mud

sometimes there are diamonds,

open your eyes,

I invite you to see

that here in my soul

you shine long before

your stars

begin to glow.

[Spanish]

Que tal si tratas

al último en la fila,

al peor de todos,

al que no sabe amar.

Qué tal este hombre

que te mandó el destino,

este que a ti te asusta

y no quieres mirar.

Que bajo el lodo

a veces hay diamantes,

abre los ojos,

te invito a comprobar

que aquí en mi alma

tú brillas mucho antes

que tus estrellas

empezarán a brillar.

Qué tal si tratas

al último en la fila.

Lo dijo Cristo

y lo puedes constatar

que este que ignoras

podría ser el primero

en adorarte siempre

y ponerte un altar.

Si bajo el lodo

a veces hay diamantes,

abre los ojos,

te invito a comprobar

que aquí en mi alma

tú brillas mucho antes

que tus estrellas

empezarán a brillar.

Y bajo el lodo

a veces hay diamantes,

abre los ojos,

te invito a comprobar

que aquí en mi alma

tú brillas mucho antes

que tus estrellas

empezarán a brillar.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
tratar tɾaˈtaɾ A2	verb - to treat, to deal with
fila ˈfila A1	noun - line, queue
peor ˈpeoɾ A2	adjective - worst
amar aˈmaɾ A2	verb - to love
destino desˈtino B1	noun - destiny, fate
asustar asuˈstaɾ B1	verb - to scare, to frighten
lodo ˈloðo A2	noun - mud
diamantes djaˈmantes B1	noun - diamonds
brillar bɾiˈʎaɾ A2	verb - to shine
constatar konsˈtataɾ B2	verb - to verify, to confirm
ignorar iɣnoˈɾaɾ B1	verb - to ignore
adorar aðoˈɾaɾ B1	verb - to adore
altar alˈtaɾ B1	noun - altar

Key Grammar Structures

• Que tal si tratas al último en la fila,

  ➔ Conditional mood (si + subjunctive) + Direct Object Pronoun

  ➔ The phrase uses the conditional 'si' (if) followed by the subjunctive mood 'tratas' (you treat) to express a hypothetical situation. 'al último' is the direct object, meaning 'the last one'. The sentence asks 'What if you treat the last one in line?'

• Lo dijo Cristo y lo puedes constatar

  ➔ Past Definite + Personal 'a' (implied) + Modal Verb + Infinitive

  ➔ This sentence states a fact ('Christ said it') and then expresses the ability to verify it ('you can confirm it'). 'Lo' is a direct object pronoun referring to what Christ said. 'Puedes constatar' uses the modal verb 'poder' (can) + the infinitive 'constatar' (to confirm).

• Si bajo el lodo a veces hay diamantes,

  ➔ Conditional Clause + Inversion + Existential 'hay'

  ➔ This sentence uses a conditional structure ('si' - if) to introduce a surprising possibility. The phrase 'bajo el lodo' (under the mud) is followed by inversion ('a veces hay') to emphasize the existence of diamonds. 'Hay' is the impersonal form of 'haber' meaning 'there is/are'.

• Abre los ojos, te invito a comprobar

  ➔ Imperative Mood + Direct Object Pronoun + Personal Pronoun + Verb + Infinitive

  ➔ This is a direct command ('Abre los ojos' - Open your eyes). 'Te invito' means 'I invite you' and is followed by 'a comprobar' (to verify), creating a phrase meaning 'I invite you to verify'.