La Vida Es Un Carnaval – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Celia Cruz

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of "La Vida Es Un Carnaval," a timeless salsa classic by the legendary Celia Cruz. This energetic anthem is not just a dance-inducing hit but also a profound lesson in optimism and resilience, making it an excellent choice for Spanish language learners. Its clear and repetitive chorus, coupled with its universal message of embracing life's ups and downs with a positive spirit, offers an engaging way to grasp core Spanish vocabulary and idiomatic expressions related to emotions and daily life. Through its powerful lyrics and infectious rhythm, you can learn to express joy, overcome adversity, and appreciate the beauty of language as sung by the Queen of Salsa herself.

[English]

Anyone who thinks that life is unfair

Has to know that it is not like that

That life is beautiful, you have to live it

Anyone who thinks that he is alone and that he is bad

Has to know that it is not like that

That in life no one is alone, there is always someone

Oh, you don't have to cry (You don't have to cry)

That life is a carnival

And it is more beautiful to live singing

Oh-oh-oh, oh, you don't have to cry (You don't have to cry)

That life is a carnival

And the sorrows go away singing

Oh-oh-oh, oh, you don't have to cry (You don't have to cry)

That life is a carnival

And it is more beautiful to live singing

Oh-oh-oh, oh, you don't have to cry (You don't have to cry)

That life is a carnival

And the sorrows go away singing

...

Anyone who thinks that life is always cruel

Has to know that it is not like that

That there are only bad moments and everything passes

Anyone who thinks that this will never change

Has to know that it is not like that

That in bad times, put on a good face, and everything changes

Oh, you don't have to cry (You don't have to cry)

That life is a carnival

And it is more beautiful to live singing

Oh-oh-oh, oh, you don't have to cry (You don't have to cry)

That life is a carnival

And the sorrows go away singing

Oh-oh-oh, oh, you don't have to cry (You don't have to cry)

That life is a carnival

And it is more beautiful to live singing

Oh-oh-oh, oh, you don't have to cry (You don't have to cry)

That life is a carnival

And the sorrows go away singing

...

(Carnival) It is to laugh

(You don't have to cry) To enjoy

(Carnival) To enjoy

(You have to live singing)

(Carnival) Life is a carnival

(You don't have to cry) We can all sing

(Carnival) Oh, gentlemen

(You have to live singing)

(Carnival) Anyone who thinks

(You don't have to cry) That life is cruel

(Carnival) Will never be alone

(You have to live singing)

God is with him

...

For those who complain so much (Wua)

For those who only criticize (Wua)

For those who use weapons (Wua)

For those who pollute us (Wua)

For those who make war (Wua)

For those who live sinning (Wua)

For those who mistreat us (Wua)

For those who infect us (Wua)

...

[Spanish]

Todo aquel que piense que la vida es desigual

Tiene que saber que no es así

Que la vida es una hermosura, hay que vivirla

Todo aquel que piense que está solo y que está mal

Tiene que saber que no es así

Que en la vida no hay nadie solo, siempre hay alguien

Ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)

Que la vida es un carnaval

Y es más bello vivir cantando

Oh-oh-oh, ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)

Que la vida es un carnaval

Y las penas se van cantando

Oh-oh-oh, ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)

Que la vida es un carnaval

Y es más bello vivir cantando

Oh-oh-oh, ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)

Que la vida es un carnaval

Y las penas se van cantando

Todo aquel que piense que la vida siempre es cruel

Tiene que saber que no es así

Que tan solo hay momentos malos y todo pasa

Todo aquel que piense que esto nunca va a cambiar

Tiene que saber que no es así

Que al mal tiempo, buena cara, y todo cambia

Ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)

Que la vida es un carnaval

Y es más bello vivir cantando

Oh-oh-oh, ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)

Que la vida es un carnaval

Y las penas se van cantando

Oh-oh-oh, ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)

Que la vida es un carnaval

Y es más bello vivir cantando

Oh-oh-oh, ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)

Que la vida es un carnaval

Y las penas se van cantando

(Carnaval) Es para reír

(No hay que llorar) Para gozar

(Carnaval) Para disfrutar

(Hay que vivir cantando)

(Carnaval) La vida es un carnaval

(No hay que llorar) Todos podemos cantar

(Carnaval) Ay, señores

(Hay que vivir cantando)

(Carnaval) Todo aquel que piense

(No hay que llorar) Que la vida es cruel

(Carnaval) Nunca estará solo

(Hay que vivir cantando)

Dios está con él

Para aquellos que se quejan tanto (Wua)

Para aquellos que solo critican (Wua)

Para aquellos que usan las armas (Wua)

Para aquellos que nos contaminan (Wua)

Para aquellos que hacen la guerra (Wua)

Para aquellos que viven pecando (Wua)

Para aquellos que nos maltratan (Wua)

Para aquellos que nos contagian (Wua)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
vida /ˈbiða/ A1	noun - life
carnaval /kaɾ.naˈβal/ A2	noun - carnival
llorar /ʎoˈɾaɾ/ A2	verb - to cry
vivir /biˈβiɾ/ A1	verb - to live
cantar /kanˈtaɾ/ A1	verb - to sing
penas /ˈpe.nas/ B1	noun - sorrows, pains
bello /ˈbeʎo/ B1	adjective - beautiful
cruel /ˈkɾwel/ B2	adjective - cruel
cambiar /kamˈbjaɾ/ A2	verb - to change
dios /ˈdjos/ A1	noun - God
gozar /ɡoˈθaɾ/ B2	verb - to enjoy
disfrutar /dis.fɾuˈtaɾ/ B1	verb - to enjoy
quejar /keˈxaɾ/ B2	verb - to complain
criticar /kɾi.tiˈkaɾ/ B2	verb - to criticize
guerra /ˈɡe.ra/ B1	noun - war

Key Grammar Structures

• Todo aquel que piense que la vida es desigual

  ➔ Subjunctive mood used after expressions of doubt or uncertainty.

  ➔ The phrase "Todo aquel que piense" uses the subjunctive because it expresses doubt about the person's thoughts.

• Que en la vida no hay nadie solo, siempre hay alguien

  ➔ Negative constructions with 'no' to express absence.

  ➔ The phrase "no hay nadie solo" uses 'no' to indicate that there is no one alone.

• Que al mal tiempo, buena cara

  ➔ Idiomatic expression conveying a positive attitude in difficult situations.

  ➔ The phrase "al mal tiempo, buena cara" suggests that one should maintain a good attitude despite bad circumstances.

• Que la vida es un carnaval

  ➔ Use of 'que' to introduce a clause that explains or defines.

  ➔ The phrase "Que la vida es un carnaval" uses 'que' to define life as a carnival.

• Y las penas se van cantando

  ➔ Use of the gerund to indicate an ongoing action.

  ➔ The phrase "se van cantando" uses the gerund to express that the sorrows are leaving through the act of singing.

• Para aquellos que se quejan tanto

  ➔ Use of 'para' to indicate purpose or intention.

  ➔ The phrase "Para aquellos que se quejan tanto" uses 'para' to indicate that the message is intended for those who complain.

• Para aquellos que solo critican

  ➔ Use of 'solo' as an adverb meaning 'only'.

  ➔ The phrase "solo critican" uses 'solo' to emphasize that the focus is only on criticism.