Inocente Pobre Amigo – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Juan Gabriel
• Album: En Vivo [Desde el Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes]

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the poignant lyrics and emotional delivery of Juan Gabriel's "Inocente Pobre Amigo." This classic ranchera song offers a window into the complexities of love, betrayal, and resignation, allowing listeners to connect with universal themes of heartbreak and empathy. Learn the nuances of Spanish emotional expression through this timeless masterpiece.

[English]

(música)

You look so much like me

That you can't

That you can't fool me

How much you earn

Who pays you to lie

Just tell me the truth

Finally I know that you - are going to abandon me

And I know very well who you're doing it for

You think

You think I don't realize

The thing is I no longer want - more trouble with your love

That you're going to run off with him

I hope you're happy, you see

But I must warn you

That if you come back again

You think I - didn't notice

The truth is I no longer - wanted more trouble with your love

There's a fool I know who loves you

And who (fell in love with you)

And I know well that both - of you understand each other

And both - of you laugh at me

You think I - didn't realize

Well, you see that's not true

music

I've known for a long time

And I never told you anything

Even though your betrayal

Gave me the chance

To reconsider

You think I didn't notice

The truth is I already - no longer wanted trouble

With your damn-shitty love

music

silence

And that fool who loves you

And who (fell in love with you)

And who fell in love with you

Doesn't even know what he's gotten into and - thinks he will be happy

Innocent, poor friend, - you don't know you're going to suffer

Forewarned is forearmed

And I know very well that you're leaving

So tell that one who loves you today - that to love you, that's all he needs

What he lacks

Is what I have

It’s just that I sweat a lot now

What heat

What I have more of

applause

You look so much like me

That you can't

That you couldn't, nor - can, nor will you

Fool me

music

[Spanish]

(música)

Te pareces tanto a mí

Que no puedes

Que no puedes engañarme

Cuánto ganas

Quién te paga por mentir

Mejor dime la verdad

Al fin ya sé que tú me vas a abandonar

Y sé muy bien por quién lo haces

Crees

Crees que yo no me doy cuenta

Lo que pasa es que ya no quiero más problemas con tu amor

Que te vas a ir con él

Te deseo seas feliz, fíjate

Pero te voy a advertir

Que si vuelves otra vez

Tú crees que yo no me daba cuenta

Lo que pasa es que ya no quise más problemas con tu amor

Yo sé de un tonto que te quiere

Y que (se enamoró de ti)

Y sé bien que los dos se entienden

Y que los dos se ríen de mí

Tú crees que yo no me daba cuenta

Pues ya ves que no es así

(música)

Hace tiempo que lo sé

Y yo jamás te dije nada

Si a pesar de tu traición

Te di la oportunidad

De que recapacitaras

Tú crees que no me daba cuenta

Lo que pasa es que yo ya no quise más problemas

Con tu requeté-mugroso amor

(música)

(silencio)

Y ese tonto que te quiere

(Y que se enamoró de ti)

(Y que se enamoró de ti)

No sabe ni lo que se lleva y piensa que va a ser feliz

Inocente, pobre amigo, no sabe que va a sufrir

Sobre aviso no hay engaño

Y sé muy bien que ya te vas

Pues dile a ese que hoy te ama que para amarte nada más

Que para eso a él

Le falta lo que yo

Es que sudo mucho ya

Qué calor

Lo que yo tengo de más

(aplausos)

Tú te pareces tanto a mí

Que no puedes

Que no pudiste, ni puedes, ni podrás

Engañarme

(música)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
engañarme /eŋɡaˈɲaɾme/ B1	verb - to deceive or cheat me
pobre /ˈpobe/ A2	adjective - poor, not rich
amigo /aˈmiɣo/ A2	noun - friend
traición /tɾa.iˈθjon/ (Spain), /tɾaˈsjon/ (Latin America) B2	noun - betrayal
problemas /pɾoˈβle.mas/ A2	noun - problems, difficulties
querer /keˈɾeɾ/ A2	verb - to want, to love
felicidad /feliθiˈðað/ (Spain), /feliðiðad/ (Latin America) B2	noun - happiness
mentir /menˈtiɾ/ B1	verb - to lie
verdad /berˈðað/ A2	noun - truth
abandonar /aβan.ðoˈnaɾ/ B1	verb - to abandon, to leave behind
señor /ˈseɲoɾ/ A2	noun - sir, mister, man
quiero /ˈkjeɾo/ A2	verb - I want
corazón /koɾaˈθon/ (Spain), /koɾaˈson/ (Latin America) B1	noun - heart
vivir /biˈβiɾ/ B1	verb - to live

Key Grammar Structures

• Te pareces tanto a mí

  ➔ Reflexive verbs in the present tense.

  ➔ The phrase uses the reflexive verb 'parecerse' to indicate similarity.

• Que si vuelves otra vez

  ➔ Conditional sentences.

  ➔ The phrase introduces a condition using 'si' (if).

• Lo que pasa es que ya no quiero

  ➔ Use of 'lo que' to introduce a clause.

  ➔ This structure allows for the explanation of a situation.

• Tú crees que yo no me daba cuenta

  ➔ Imperfect tense for past actions.

  ➔ The imperfect tense indicates an ongoing action in the past.

• Inocente, pobre amigo

  ➔ Use of adjectives for description.

  ➔ Adjectives 'inocente' and 'pobre' describe the noun 'amigo'.

• Que para eso a él le falta lo que yo

  ➔ Use of 'que' to introduce a subordinate clause.

  ➔ This structure connects two ideas, indicating a condition.

• Y sé bien que los dos se entienden

  ➔ Present tense for stating facts.

  ➔ The present tense is used to express a general truth.