Flaca – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Andrés Calamaro

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and Andrés Calamaro's "Flaca" is a perfect starting point for Spanish learners. The song's clear, narrative-driven lyrics and use of common, emotionally charged vocabulary offer a window into the nuances of Argentine Spanish. Its poetic metaphors and expressions of love and heartbreak make it a memorable and engaging way to improve your listening skills and connect with the heart of Latin rock culture.

[English]

Skinny, don't stab me with your daggers

So deeply in the back

They don't hurt me, they don't do me harm

...

Far away, in the center of the earth

The roots of love

Where they were, they will remain

Among "don't forget me," I left our forgotten springs

In the back of the guest room closet

They were golden times, a better past

...

Although I almost make a mistake and tell you little by little

"Don't lie to me, don't tell me the truth

Don't stay silent, don't raise your voice or ask me for forgiveness"

...

Although I almost confess to you that I have also been a companion dog

An ideal dog that learned to bark

And to return home to be able to eat

Skinny, don't stab me with your daggers

So deeply in the back

They don't hurt me, they don't do me harm

Far away, in the center of the earth

The roots of love

Where they were, they will remain

...

[Spanish]

Flaca, no me claves tus puñales

Por la espalda tan profundo

No me duelen, no me hacen mal

Lejos, en el centro de la tierra

Las raíces del amor

Donde estaban, quedarán

Entre "no me olvides", me dejé nuestros abriles olvidados

En el fondo del placard del cuarto de invitados

Eran tiempos dorados, un pasado mejor

Aunque casi me equivoco y te digo poco a poco

"No me mientas, no me digas la verdad

No te quedes callada, no levantes la voz ni me pidas perdón"

Aunque casi te confieso que también he sido un perro compañero

Un perro ideal que aprendió a ladrar

Y a volver al hogar para poder comer

Flaca, no me claves tus puñales

Por la espalda tan profundo

No me duelen, no me hacen mal

Lejos, en el centro de la tierra

Las raíces del amor

Donde estaban, quedarán

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
flaca /ˈfla.ka/ A2	noun - skinny girl, thin woman adjective - thin, skinny
puñales /puˈɲa.les/ B2	noun - daggers, knives
espalda /esˈpal.da/ A2	noun - back
profundo /pɾoˈfun.do/ B1	adjective - deep
duelen /ˈdwe.len/ A2	verb - to hurt, to ache
lejos /ˈle.xos/ A2	adverb - far away
tierra /ˈtje.ra/ A1	noun - earth, land
raíces /raˈi.θes/ B1	noun - roots
amor /aˈmoɾ/ A1	noun - love
abriles /aˈβɾi.les/ B2	noun - Aprils, springtimes (poetic)
olvidados /ol.βiˈða.ðos/ B1	adjective - forgotten
fondo /ˈfon.do/ A2	noun - bottom, back, depth
cuarto /ˈkwar.to/ A1	noun - room
tiempos /ˈtjem.pos/ A1	noun - times
dorados /doˈɾa.ðos/ B2	adjective - golden, gilded
pasado /paˈsa.ðo/ A2	noun - past
perro /ˈpe.ro/ A1	noun - dog
hogar /oˈɣaɾ/ A2	noun - home

Key Grammar Structures

• Flaca, no me claves tus puñales

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The phrase "no me claves" is an imperative form, used to give a command or request.

• Por la espalda tan profundo

  ➔ Adverbial phrase

  ➔ The phrase "por la espalda tan profundo" describes the manner in which the action is performed, emphasizing depth.

• Las raíces del amor

  ➔ Definite article usage

  ➔ The definite article "las" specifies that the roots being referred to are known or specific.

• Eran tiempos dorados

  ➔ Imperfect tense

  ➔ The use of the imperfect tense "eran" indicates a past situation that was ongoing or habitual.

• Aunque casi me equivoco

  ➔ Conjunction usage

  ➔ The conjunction "aunque" introduces a subordinate clause, indicating contrast or concession.

• No te quedes callada

  ➔ Negative imperative

  ➔ The phrase "no te quedes" is a negative imperative, instructing someone not to remain silent.

• Un perro compañero

  ➔ Noun phrase

  ➔ The phrase "un perro compañero" is a noun phrase that describes a specific type of dog, emphasizing companionship.