Gitana – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Shakira
• Album: She Wolf

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and Shakira's 'Gitana' is a perfect song to start with Spanish. The lyrics are poetic and full of imagery related to freedom and travel, offering a beautiful way to learn new vocabulary and expressions. The song's blend of Latin pop with world music influences also makes it a unique and enjoyable listening experience, reflecting Shakira's diverse musical style.

[English]

I never wore a mask

I pass through this fleeting world

I don't intend to stop

Tell me, who walks when you can fly?

My destiny is to wander

My memories are a trail in the sea

What I have, I give

I say what I think, take me as I am

And it goes lightly

My gypsy heart

That only understands beating against the current

Don't try to tie me down

Or dominate me

I am the one who chooses how to make mistakes

Take advantage of me

Because if I arrived yesterday, I can leave tomorrow

Because I am a gypsy

Because I am a gypsy

...

I still remain a learner

In every kiss and with every scar

I could understand something

From all the stumbling, I already know how to fall

And it goes lightly

My gypsy heart

That only understands beating against the current

Don't try to tie me down

Or dominate me

I am the one who chooses how to make mistakes

Take advantage of me

Because if I arrived yesterday, I can leave tomorrow

Because I am a gypsy

Let's go and see

Because life is a joy

It's normal to fear what you don't know

Take me and let's go

Because life is a joy

It's normal to fear what you don't know

I want to see you fly

I want to see you fly

And it goes lightly

My gypsy heart

That only understands beating against the current

Don't try to tie me down

Or dominate me

I am the one who chooses how to make mistakes

Take advantage of me

Because if I arrived yesterday, I can leave tomorrow

Because I am a gypsy

...

[Spanish]

Nunca usé un antifaz

Voy de paso por este mundo fugaz

No pretendo parar

Dime, ¿quién camina cuando se puede volar?

Mi destino es andar

Mis recuerdos son una estela en el mar

Lo que tengo, lo doy

Digo lo que pienso, tómame como soy

Y va liviano

Mi corazón gitano

Que sólo entiende de latir a contramano

No intentes amarrarme

Ni dominarme

Yo soy quien elige cómo equivocarme

Aprovéchame

Que, si llegué ayer, me puedo ir mañana

Que soy gitana

Que soy gitana

Sigo siendo aprendiz

En cada beso y con cada cicatriz

Algo pude entender

De tanto que tropiezo, ya sé cómo caer

Y va liviano

Mi corazón gitano

Que sólo entiende de latir a contramano

No intentes amarrarme

Ni dominarme

Yo soy quien elige cómo equivocarme

Aprovéchame

Que, si llegué ayer, me puedo ir mañana

Que soy gitana

Vamos y vemos

Que la vida es un goce

Es normal que le temas a lo que no conoces

Tómame y vamos

Que la vida es un goce

Es normal que le temas a lo que no conoces

Quiero verte volar

Quiero verte volar

Y va liviano

Mi corazón gitano

Que sólo entiende de latir a contramano

No intentes amarrarme

Ni dominarme

Yo soy quien elige cómo equivocarme

Aprovéchame

Que, si llegué ayer, me puedo ir mañana

Que soy gitana

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
antifaz /antiˈfahz/ B2	noun - mask
paso /ˈpɑso/ A2	noun - step
mundo /ˈmundo/ A2	noun - world
destino /desˈtino/ B1	noun - destiny
recuerdo /reˈkwerðo/ B1	noun - memory
estela /esˈtela/ B2	noun - wake, trail
digo /ˈdigo/ A2	verb - I say
gitan@ /xɪˈtana/ B2	noun - gypsy
latir /laˈtiɾ/ B2	verb - to beat (heart)
amarrar /amaˈrar/ B2	verb - to tie
dominar /domiˈnar/ B2	verb - to dominate
quien /ˈkjen/ A2	pronoun - who
cómo /ˈkomo/ A2	adverb - how
equivocarme /ekwiboˈkaɾme/ C1	verb - to make mistakes
vivir /biˈβiɾ/ B1	verb - to live
goce /ˈɡoθe/ B2	noun - joy, pleasure
temas /ˈtema/ A2	noun - themes, topics
conoces /koˈnosez/ B1	verb - you know (familiarity)

Key Grammar Structures

• Nunca usé un antifaz

  ➔ Past simple tense to indicate a completed action.

  ➔ The phrase "Nunca usé" means "I never used".

• Dime, ¿quién camina cuando se puede volar?

  ➔ Indirect question structure.

  ➔ The phrase "¿quién camina...?" translates to "who walks...?" in an indirect question.

• Mis recuerdos son una estela en el mar

  ➔ Present simple tense to express a general truth.

  ➔ The phrase "Mis recuerdos son..." means "My memories are..." indicating a state of being.

• Yo soy quien elige cómo equivocarme

  ➔ Relative pronoun 'quien' to introduce a clause.

  ➔ The phrase "Yo soy quien..." translates to "I am the one who..." indicating agency.

• Que la vida es un goce

  ➔ Subjunctive mood to express desire or emotion.

  ➔ The phrase "Que la vida es..." translates to "That life is..." expressing a sentiment.

• Quiero verte volar

  ➔ Infinitive form to express desire.

  ➔ The phrase "Quiero verte..." means "I want to see you..." indicating a wish.