Gaviota Traidora – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Flor Silvestre

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the poignant narrative of "Gaviota Traidora" by Flor Silvestre, a song rich in emotion and cultural significance. By listening to this iconic Mexican ranchera, you can delve into themes of love, betrayal, and resilience, gaining insight into the expressive power of Spanish-language music.

[English]

Ay-uh-uh, ajúa!

...

I already know, seagull, that you will offer your love to another

I already know that you will leave me alone, looking at the sky

If that's the case, seagull, test your wings well

And if you're sure, take flight

Just don't come back to me saying that mid-flight

One of your wings starts to fail

...

Ay, ha, ha, ha, ay!

...

Remember, seagull, that I put my heart and soul into your life

Maybe it's not much, that's why you repay me with betrayal

The sea is beautiful seen from above

But no one knows its depth

Only you, seagull, when your wings fail

You will reach the very bottom, dead

...

I want you to hear my last word, if you're already leaving

I'm almost sure that you will return well plucked

Traitorous seagull, if you are decided

Don't think about it so much and take flight

But upon your return, don't come to see me

I don't want to carry your sin

...

[Spanish]

¡Ay-uh-uh, ajúa!

Ya lo sé, gaviota, que tu amor a otra le vas a brindar

Ya lo sé que sola y mirando al cielo me vas a dejar

Si es así, gaviota, prueba bien tus alas

Y si estás segura, échate a volar

Nomás no me salgas de que a medio vuelo

Una de tus alas empieza a fallar

¡Ay, ja, ja,ja, ay!

Recuerda, gaviota, que en tu vida puse alma y corazón

Tal vez sea muy poco, por eso me pagas con una traición

El mar es hermoso visto por encima

Pero nadie sabe su profundidad

Solo tú, gaviota, al fallar tus alas

Hasta el mero fondo muerta llegarás

Quiero que me escuches mi última palabra, si es que ya te vas

Casi estoy segura que bien desplumada tú regresarás

Gaviota traidora, si estás decidida

No lo pienses tanto y échate a volar

Pero a tu regreso, no vengas a verme

Yo con tu pecado no quiero cargar

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
gaviota /ɡaˈβjota/ A2	noun - seagull
amor /aˈmoɾ/ A1	noun - love
traición /tɾaiˈsjon/ B1	noun - betrayal
alas /ˈalas/ A2	noun - wings
cielo /ˈsjelo/ A1	noun - sky
profundidad /pɾofunðiˈðað/ B2	noun - depth
corazón /koɾaˈθon/ A1	noun - heart
vida /ˈbiða/ A1	noun - life
hermoso /eɾˈmoso/ B1	adjective - beautiful
segura /seˈɣuɾa/ B1	adjective - sure
palabra /paˈlaβɾa/ A2	noun - word
regresar /reɡɾeˈsaɾ/ A2	verb - to return
decidida /desiˈðiða/ B1	adjective - determined
pecado /peˈkaðo/ B2	noun - sin

Key Grammar Structures

• Ya lo sé, gaviota, que tu amor a otra le vas a brindar

  ➔ Present tense and future intention.

  ➔ The phrase "Ya lo sé" indicates knowledge in the present, while "vas a brindar" shows a future intention.

• Si es así, gaviota, prueba bien tus alas

  ➔ Conditional sentences.

  ➔ The phrase "Si es así" introduces a condition that affects the following action.

• Recuerda, gaviota, que en tu vida puse alma y corazón

  ➔ Imperative mood.

  ➔ The word "Recuerda" is in the imperative mood, giving a command or request.

• Tal vez sea muy poco, por eso me pagas con una traición

  ➔ Subjunctive mood.

  ➔ The phrase "Tal vez sea muy poco" uses the subjunctive mood to express doubt or uncertainty.

• Quiero que me escuches mi última palabra

  ➔ Noun clause.

  ➔ The phrase "que me escuches" is a noun clause acting as the object of the verb "quiero".

• Gaviota traidora, si estás decidida

  ➔ Present indicative and conditional.

  ➔ The phrase "si estás decidida" uses the present indicative to express a condition.

• Pero a tu regreso, no vengas a verme

  ➔ Imperative mood with a negative form.

  ➔ The phrase "no vengas a verme" is a negative command in the imperative mood.