Hoy Cuando Tú Ya No Estás – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Spanish through this song offers an excellent opportunity to master the use of the present tense and emotional vocabulary related to loss and nostalgia. José José’s clear, emotive enunciation makes it an ideal study piece for those looking to understand the nuance of romantic tragedy in Hispanic music.

[English]

With a winter night

With some withered flowers

You left my soul all alone

Without your presence

...

Part of me was lost

I am dying along with you too

...

Lonely voices and streets

Watch over your memory

Today, now that you are gone

I know what loneliness is

I search for a light and some comfort

But I find nothing

Today, now that you are gone

I want you to watch over my path

I don't know if I can make it to the morning

...

To the morning

Today, now that you are gone

I know what loneliness is

I search for a light and some comfort

But I find nothing

Today, now that you are gone

I want you to watch over my path

I don't know if I can make it to the morning

I don't know if I can make it to the morning

...

[Spanish]

Con una noche de invierno

Con unas flores marchitas

Dejaste solo mi ser

Sin tu presencia

Parte de mí se perdió

Muero contigo también

Voces y calles solitarias

Velan tu recuerdo

Hoy cuando tú ya no estás

Sé lo que es la soledad

Busco una luz y un consuelo

Y nada encuentro

Hoy cuando tú ya no estás

Quiero que cuides mi andar

No sé si pueda llegar a la mañana

A la mañana

Hoy cuando tú ya no estás

Sé lo que es la soledad

Busco una luz y un consuelo

Y nada encuentro

Hoy cuando tú ya no estás

Quiero que cuides mi andar

No sé si pueda llegar a la mañana

No sé si pueda llegar a la mañana

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
invierno in-bjeɾ-no A1	noun - winter
marchitas maɾ-tʃi-tas B2	adjective - withered
presencia pɾe-sen-θja B1	noun - presence
solitarias so-li-ta-ɾjas A2	adjective - lonely, solitary
velan be-lan C1	verb - to watch over, to keep vigil
recuerdo re-kwer-do A1	noun - memory
soledad so-le-dad A2	noun - loneliness
consuelo kon-swe-lo B2	noun - comfort, solace
andar an-daɾ A1	noun - way of walking, path
mañana ma-ɲa-na A1	noun - morning

Key Grammar Structures

• Con una noche de invierno

  ➔ Preposition 'Con' (With)

  ➔ The preposition "Con" is used here to establish the setting or accompanying circumstances of the loss.

• Dejaste solo mi ser

  ➔ Preterite Tense (Tú dejaste)

  ➔ The verb "dejaste" is in the preterite tense, denoting a completed action in the past.

• Muero contigo también

  ➔ Present Indicative (Yo muero)

  ➔ The verb "muero" expresses a current, ongoing emotional state experienced by the subject.

• Hoy cuando tú ya no estás

  ➔ Temporal Clause with 'cuando'

  ➔ The phrase "cuando tú ya no estás" establishes the temporal context for the speaker's feelings.

• Sé lo que es la soledad

  ➔ Substantive clause (lo que es)

  ➔ The structure "lo que es" acts as a noun phrase meaning 'what it is'.

• Busco una luz

  ➔ Indefinite Article ('una')

  ➔ The indefinite article "una" suggests the speaker is looking for any light, not a specific one.

• Quiero que cuides mi andar

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (que cuides)

  ➔ The verb "cuides" is in the subjunctive mood, expressing a wish or desire influenced by the verb "Quiero".

• No sé si pueda llegar

  ➔ Uncertainty with 'si' + Subjunctive (pueda)

  ➔ The structure "si pueda" expresses doubt or uncertainty about a future capability.