La casa por el tejado – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Fito & Fitipaldis
• Album: Antes de que cuente Diez

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the lyrical depth of "La casa por el tejado" by Fito & Fitipaldis, a quintessential rock anthem that offers a unique perspective on life's most valuable lessons. This song is an excellent choice for Spanish learners, as its clear narrative and thought-provoking metaphors will help you grasp colloquial expressions related to personal growth and unconventional wisdom. Explore themes of introspection, authenticity, and the beauty of learning from real-life experiences, all while immersing yourself in the rich vocabulary and emotional landscape of Spanish rock music.

[English]

Now it seems that I’m starting to understand

The important things here

Are the ones that are behind the skin

And everything else...

Starts where my feet end

After a long time I learned

That there are things better left unlearned.

School taught me little... if it’s from those books I never learn to:

Grab the sky with my hands

To laugh and cry what I sing to you

To mend my broken soul

To lose the fear of looking like a fool

And to start the house from the roof

To be able to sleep when you’re not by my side

Thank goodness I was a bit of a rascal

Everything I know, a witch taught me

Ruins... don’t you see that inside I’m in ruins?

My cigarette is burning time,

Time that turned to ashes

Strange!... I don’t say different, I say strange!

I no longer know if the world is upside down

Or if it’s me who’s upside down

School taught me little...

If it’s from the teacher I never learn to:

Grab the sky with my hands...

To laugh and cry what I sing to you

To mend my broken soul

To lose the fear of looking like a fool

And to start the house from the roof

To be able to sleep

When you’re by my side

Thank goodness I was a bit of a rascal

Everything I know, a witch taught me.

...

[Spanish]

Ahora sí, parece que ya empiezo a entender

Las cosas importantes aquí

Son las que están detrás de la piel

Y todo lo demás...

empieza donde acaban mis pies

después de mucho tiempo aprendí

que hay cosas que mejor no aprender.

El colegio poco me enseño... si es por esos libros nunca aprendo a:

Coger el cielo con las manos

a reír y a llorar lo que te canto

a coser mi alma rota

a perder el miedo a quedar como un idiota

y a empezar la casa por el tejado

a poder dormir cuando tú no estás a mi lado

menos mal que fui un poco granuja

todo lo que se me lo enseñó una bruja

Ruinas... ¿no ves que por dentro estoy en ruinas?

Mi cigarro va quemando el tiempo,

tiempo que se convirtió en cenizas

Raro!... no digo diferente digo raro!

ya no sé si el mundo está al revés

o soy yo el que está cabeza abajo

El colegio poco me enseñó...

si es por el maestro nunca aprendo a:

coger el cielo con las manos...

a reír y a llorar lo que te canto

a coser mi alma rota

a perder el miedo a quedar como un idiota

y a empezar la casa por el tejado

a poder dormir

cuando tú mi estás a mi lado

menos mal que fui un poco granuja

todo lo que sé, me lo enseñó una bruja.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
entender /ɛntɛnˈdar/ B1	verb - to comprehend or understand
importantes /importanˈtes/ B1	adjective - important, significant
detrás /deˈtɾas/ A2	adverb/preposition - behind
piel /pjeɣl/ A2	noun - skin
empieza /ɛmˈpjeθa/ A2	verb - starts
pie /pje/ A2	noun - foot
apprendí /apɾenˈdi/ B2	verb - learned (past of aprender)
colegio /koleˈxjo/ A2	noun - school
enseñó /enˈseɲo/ B1	verb - taught
libros /ˈliβɾos/ A2	noun - books
cielo /ˈθje.lo/ (Spain), /ˈsje.lo/ (LA) B1	noun - sky, heaven
llorar /ʝoˈɾaɾ/ A2	verb - to cry
cantar /kanˈtaɾ/ A2	verb - to sing

Key Grammar Structures

• Son las que están detrás de la piel

  ➔ Use of the relative pronoun 'que' to introduce a defining clause.

  ➔ 'Que' functions as a relative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'which' in English.

• empieza donde acaban mis pies

  ➔ Use of 'donde' as a relative adverb to introduce a place clause.

  ➔ 'Donde' means 'where' and introduces a relative clause indicating location.

• a poder dormir cuando tú no estás a mi lado

  ➔ Use of 'cuando' as a conjunction meaning 'when' to introduce a subordinate clause.

  ➔ 'Cuando' means 'when' and introduces a subordinate adverbial clause specifying the time.

• a perder el miedo a quedar como un idiota

  ➔ Use of 'a' + infinitive to express purpose or intention.

  ➔ 'A' followed by an infinitive verb indicates purpose or goal.

• a empezar la casa por el tejado

  ➔ Use of the phrase 'empezar por' to indicate starting with the wrong or unconventional order.

  ➔ 'Empezar por' means 'to start with,' often used metaphorically to describe starting with the wrong approach.

• todo lo que se me lo enseñó una bruja

  ➔ Use of indirect object pronouns 'se' and 'me' to indicate the indirect object of 'enseñó' (taught).

  ➔ 'Se' and 'me' are indirect object pronouns, here used to clarify who received the teaching.

• si es por esos libros nunca aprendo a

  ➔ Use of 'si es por' + noun phrase indicating the reason or cause.

  ➔ 'Si es por' means 'if it's because of' or 'due to,' introducing a reason.