Gavilán o Paloma – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

José José's 'Gavilán o Paloma' is an iconic *balada romántica* and a gateway to the emotional depth of Spanish-language music. The lyrics use vivid, idiomatic language—such as the metaphor of the 'hawk' and 'dove'—which will help you understand the poetic ways Spanish expresses vulnerability and the unpredictable nature of love and seduction.

[English]

You wouldn’t stop looking, you were alone

...

Completely beautiful and sensual

Something pulled me toward you, like a wave

And I went and said, "Hi, how are you?"

That night, in your arms, I fell into the trap

You caught the apprentice seducer

And you fed me from your palm

Making me your humble servant

Friend, you’ve got to see how love is

It turns on whoever takes it, hawk or dove

Poor fool, naive, chatterbox

I was a dove for wanting to be a hawk

Friend, you’ve got to see how love is

It turns on whoever takes it, hawk or dove

...

I slowly lowered your dress

...

And you didn’t even let me speak

You just sighed, "I need you"

Hold me tighter, more

Looking at you, I felt disillusioned

Your warmth only gave me chills

Slowly, I let you go from my arms

And I said, "Please, stay still"

Friend, you’ve got to see how love is

It turns on whoever takes it, hawk or dove

Poor fool, naive, chatterbox

I was a dove for wanting to be a hawk

Friend, you’ve got to see how love is

It turns on whoever takes it, hawk or dove

Poor fool, naive, chatterbox

I was a dove for wanting to be a hawk

Friend

...

[Spanish]

No dejabas de mirar, estabas sola

Completamente bella y sensual

Algo me arrastró hacia ti, como una ola

Y fui y te dije: "hola, ¿qué tal?"

Esa noche, entre tus brazos, caí en la trampa

Cazaste al aprendiz de seductor

Y me diste de comer sobre tu palma

Haciéndome tu humilde servidor

Amiga, hay que ver cómo es el amor

Que vuelve a a quien lo toma, gavilán o paloma

Pobre tonto, ingenuo, charlatán

Que fui paloma por querer ser gavilán

Amiga, hay que ver cómo es el amor

Que vuelve a a quien lo toma, gavilán o paloma

Fui bajando, lentamente, tu vestido

Y tú no me dejaste ni hablar

Solamente suspirabas "te necesito"

Abrázame más fuerte, más

Al mirarte, me sentí desengañado

Sólo me dio frío tu calor

Lentamente, te solté de entre mis brazos

Y dije: "estáte quieta, por favor"

Amiga, hay que ver cómo es el amor

Que vuelve a quien lo toma, gavilán o paloma

Pobre tonto, ingenuo, charlatán

Que fui paloma por querer ser gavilán

Amiga, hay que ver cómo es el amor

Que vuelve a quien lo toma, gavilán o paloma

Pobre tonto, ingenuo, charlatán

Que fui paloma por querer ser gavilán

Amiga

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dejar deˈxaɾ A2	verb - to leave, to allow
bella ˈbeʎa A2	adjective - beautiful
sensual senˈswal B2	adjective - sensual
arrastrar aˈras.tɾaɾ B1	verb - to drag, to pull
ola ˈola A1	noun - wave
trampa ˈtɾam.pa A2	noun - trap
cazar kaˈθaɾ B1	verb - to hunt, to catch
servidor seɾβiˈðoɾ B1	noun - servant
ingenuo iŋˈxe.nwo B2	adjective - naive
charlatán tʃaɾlaˈtan B2	noun - charlatan, quack
gavilán ɡaβiˈlan B1	noun - hawk
paloma paˈlo.ma A2	noun - dove
bajando baˈxan.do A2	verb - lowering, going down
dejar deˈxaɾ A2	verb - to let
hablar aˈβlaɾ A2	verb - to speak
suspirar suspiˈɾaɾ B1	verb - to sigh
sentir senˈtiɾ A2	verb - to feel
desengañado desenɡaɲaˈðo B2	adjective - disillusioned