La jaula de Oro – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Julieta Venegas
• Album: El Mas Grande Homenaje A Los Tigres Del Norte

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the poignant narrative of 'La Jaula de Oro' by Julieta Venegas. This song offers a powerful exploration of the immigrant experience, touching on themes of longing, identity, and belonging. By listening, you can gain a deeper understanding of the emotional landscape of those navigating life between two cultures, making it a special piece for cultural and linguistic appreciation.

[English]

Here I am settled

In the United States

Ten years have gone by

Since I crossed illegally

I haven't fixed my papers

I'm still an undocumented immigrant

I have my wife and children

Whom I brought here very young

And they’ve already forgotten

My dear Mexico

The one I never forget

And I can't go back

What use is all my money

If I feel like a prisoner

Inside this great nation

When I remember, I cry

Even though the cage is gold

It’s still a prison

...

My children don’t speak with me

They’ve learned another language

And forgotten Spanish

They think like Americans

They deny they’re Mexican

Even though I share their skin

From my work to my home

I don’t know what’s wrong with me

Because even though I’m a man of home

I hardly go outside

Because I’m afraid they’ll find me

And they might deport me

What use is all my money

If I feel like a prisoner

Inside this great nation

When I remember, I cry

Even though the cage is gold

It’s still a prison

What use is all my money

If I feel like a prisoner

Inside this great nation

When I remember, I cry

Even though the cage is gold

It’s still a prison

What use is all my money

What use is it

...

[Spanish]

Aquí estoy establecido

En los Estados Unidos

Diez años pasaron ya

En que crucé de mojado

Papeles no he arreglado

Sigo siendo un ilegal

Tengo mi esposa y mis hijos

Que me los traje muy chicos

Y se han olvidado ya

De mi México querido

Del que yo nunca me olvido

Y no puedo regresar

De qué me sirve el dinero

Si estoy como prisionero

Dentro de esta gran nación

Cuando me acuerdo hasta lloro

Que aunque la jaula sea de oro

No deja de ser prisión

Mis hijos no hablan conmigo

Otro idioma han aprendido

Y olvidado el español

Piensan como americanos

Niegan que son mexicanos

Aunque tengan mi color

De mi trabajo a mi casa

Yo no sé lo que me pasa

Que aunque soy hombre de hogar

Casi no salgo a la calle

Pues tengo miedo que me hallen

Y me puedan deportar

De qué me sirve el dinero

Si estoy como prisionero

Dentro de esta gran nación

Cuando me acuerdo hasta lloro

Que aunque la jaula sea de oro

No deja de ser prisión

De qué me sirve el dinero

Si estoy como prisionero

Dentro de esta gran nación

Cuando me acuerdo hasta lloro

Que aunque la jaula sea de oro

No deja de ser prisión

De qué me sirve el dinero

De qué me sirve

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
establish /ɪsˈtæb.lɪʃ/ B2	verb - to set up or create
established /ɪsˈtæb.lɪʃt/ B2	adjective - set up or recognized
established /ɪsˈtæb.lɪʃt/ B2	verb - past tense of establish
set up /sɛt ʌp/ B2	phrasal verb - to establish or arrange
establishing /ɪsˈtæb.lɪʃɪŋ/ B2	verb (gerund) - the act of setting up or founding
established /ɪsˈtæb.lɪʃt/ B2	adjective - recognized or well-known
legal /ˈliː.ɡəl/ B1	adjective - relating to the law
illegal /ɪˈliː.ɡəl/ A2	adjective - not allowed by law
prisoner /ˈprɪz.ən.ər/ B2	noun - a person confined in prison
prison /ˈprɪz.ən/ B1	noun - a building where criminals are kept
nation /ˈneɪ.ʃən/ B2	noun - a large group of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language
country /ˈkʌn.tri/ B1	noun - a nation with its own government
money /ˈmʌn.i/ A2	noun - currency used to buy goods and services
prison /ˈprɪz.ən/ B1	noun - a building where criminals are kept

Key Grammar Structures

• Aquí estoy establecido

  ➔ Present tense to indicate a current state.

  ➔ The phrase "Aquí estoy" means "Here I am," indicating the speaker's current location.

• Diez años pasaron ya

  ➔ Simple past tense to indicate a completed action.

  ➔ The phrase "Diez años pasaron" means "Ten years have passed," indicating the completion of a time period.

• Sigo siendo un ilegal

  ➔ Present continuous tense to indicate an ongoing state.

  ➔ The phrase "Sigo siendo" means "I continue being," indicating the speaker's ongoing status.

• Que me los traje muy chicos

  ➔ Subjunctive mood to express a wish or uncertainty.

  ➔ The phrase "Que me los traje" implies a wish or desire regarding the speaker's children.

• No deja de ser prisión

  ➔ Negative construction to express denial.

  ➔ The phrase "No deja de ser" means "It does not stop being," indicating a persistent state despite other conditions.

• Tengo miedo que me hallen

  ➔ Present tense with a subordinate clause to express fear.

  ➔ The phrase "Tengo miedo" means "I am afraid," indicating the speaker's fear of being found.

• Que aunque la jaula sea de oro

  ➔ Subjunctive mood to express a condition.

  ➔ The phrase "Que aunque" introduces a condition, indicating that despite the cage being golden, it is still a prison.