He Sido – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

Step into the poetic, reflective world of José José with "He Sido" ('I Have Been'). This classic Spanish ballad from 1979 is an excellent piece for language learners to master the Spanish perfect tense and the art of emotional storytelling. You will learn evocative vocabulary related to self-identity and overcoming adversity, perfectly delivered by 'El Príncipe de la Canción' in a tone of profound, soulful reflection.

[English]

I have been

The bird that rose from the ashes

From so many battles now left in the past

I had to suffer to learn

...

I have been

The verse that lost all its poetry

Weaving dreams now forgotten in time

I had to cry to learn to laugh

I have been a man

Who’s found the strength of hope once more

The embrace of a friend, a brother’s "I love you"

Giving love unconditionally, without reserve

I have been a song

That’s tried to share affection with everyone

With the forever lovers, the many left behind

To whoever hears my words

And my voice

[Spanish]

He sido

El ave que brotó de las cenizas

De tantas luchas que han quedado en el pasado

Tuve que sufrir para aprender

He sido

El verso que perdió toda poesía

Tejiendo sueños que han quedado en el olvido

Tuve que llorar para reír

He sido un hombre

Que ha encontrado el valor de una esperanza

El abrazo de un amigo, el "te quiero" de un hermano

El entregarse por amor sin condición

He sido un canto

Que a todos ha querido dar cariño

A los siempre enamorados, a tantos abandonados

A quien lleguen mis palabras

Y mi voz

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
brotó broˈto A2	verb - sprouted
cenizas seˈniθas A1	noun - ashes
luchas ˈlutʃas A2	noun - struggles
sufrir suˈfɾir A2	verb - to suffer
verso ˈberso B1	noun - verse
poesía poeˈsi.a A2	noun - poetry
tejiendo teˈxendo B1	verb - weaving
olvido olˈβiðo A2	noun - oblivion
llorar joˈɾar A1	verb - to cry
valor baˈlor A2	noun - value
esperanza espeˈɾanθa A1	noun - hope
abrazo aˈβɾaθo A1	noun - hug
entregarse enˈtɾeɣaɾse B1	verb - to surrender
cariño kaˈriɲo A2	noun - affection
enamorado enamoˈɾaðo A2	adjective - in love

Key Grammar Structures

• He sido el ave que brotó de las cenizas

  ➔ Past Perfect Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'He sido' is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action that was completed before another past action. Here, it emphasizes the speaker's past state or condition.

• De tantas luchas que han quedado en el pasado

  ➔ Present Perfect in Subordinate Clause

  ➔ The phrase 'han quedado' uses the present perfect tense in a subordinate clause to describe a past action with ongoing relevance. It highlights struggles that remain significant.

• Tuve que sufrir para aprender

  ➔ Past Tense with 'Tener que'

  ➔ The phrase 'Tuve que' is used to express necessity or obligation in the past. It indicates that suffering was required for learning.

• El abrazo de un amigo, el 'te quiero' de un hermano

  ➔ Use of Definite Article with Nouns

  ➔ The definite articles 'el' are used to specify particular instances of 'abrazo' and 'te quiero', emphasizing their significance in the context of friendship and brotherhood.

• A quien lleguen mis palabras y mi voz

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood in Relative Clause

  ➔ The subjunctive mood 'lleguen' is used in the relative clause to express uncertainty or a wish. It indicates the desire for the words and voice to reach someone.