Libre Como Antes – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into José José's classic 'Libre Como Antes' to explore the Spanish language as it expresses deep themes of emotional liberation and self-rediscovery. This song showcases the passionate storytelling typical of Latin ballads, teaching valuable vocabulary related to freedom, resolution, and personal boundaries.

[English]

I flew when I could fly,

Without stopping, without stopping

...

And one day I decided to rest,

And let myself be caught

...

I lived a bitter experience

...

When I was, someone’s possession

...

Treated so badly that I felt

...

The urge to escape

...

I won’t suffer anymore, for any love,

...

Because I’m leaving, and I’ll live in silence,

...

I won’t give up, my freedom,

...

And in my solitude, I’ll find peace.

...

I won’t suffer anymore, for any love,

...

Because I’m leaving, and I’ll live like before,

...

I won’t give up, my freedom,

...

And in my solitude, I’ll find peace.

...

I lived a bitter experience,

...

When I was, someone’s possession,

...

Treated so badly that I felt

...

The urge to escape.

...

I won’t suffer anymore, for any love,

...

Because I’m leaving, and I’ll live in silence,

...

I won’t give up, my freedom,

...

And in my solitude, I’ll find peace.

I won’t suffer anymore, for any love,

...

Because I’m leaving, and I’ll live like before,

...

I won’t give up, my freedom,

...

And in my solitude, I’ll find peace.

...

I won’t suffer anymore, for any love,

...

Because I’m leaving, and I’ll live in silence,

...

I won’t give up, my freedom,

...

And in my solitude, I’ll find peace.

...

I won’t suffer anymore, for any love,

...

Because I’m leaving, and I’ll live like before,

...

I won’t give up, my freedom,

...

And in my solitude, I’ll find peace.

...

[Spanish]

Vole cuando pude volar,

Sin parar, sin parar

Y un dia decidi descansar,

Y dejarme atrapar

Amarga experiencia viví

Cuando fui, propiedad

Tratado tan mal que sentí

El deseo de escapar

Ya no sufriré, por ningún amor,

Porque yo me voy, y viviré en silencio,

No renunciaré, a mi libertad,

Y en mi soledad, encontraré la paz.

Ya no sufriré, por ningún amor,

Porque yo me voy, y viviré como antes,

No renunciare, a mi libertad,

Y en mi soledad, encontraré la paz

Amarga experiencia vivi,

Cuando fui, propiedad,

Tratado tan mal que sentí

El deseo de escapar.

Ya no sufriré, por ningun amor,

Porque yo me voy, y viviré en silencio,

No renunciaré, a mi libertad,

Y en mi soledad, encontraré la paz.

Ya no sufriré, por ningún amor,

Porque yo me voy, y viviré como antes,

No renunciaré, a mi libertad,

Y en mi soledad, encontrare la paz.

Ya no sufriré, por ningún amor,

Porque yo me voy, y viviré en silencio,

No renunciaré, a mi libertad,

Y en mi soledad, encontraré la paz.

Ya no sufriré, por ningun amor

Porque yo me voy, y viviré como antes,

No renunciare, a mi libertad,

Y en mi soledad, encontrare la paz.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
volar /boˈlaɾ/ B1	verb - to fly
decidir /deθiˈðiɾ/ B1	verb - to decide
descansar /deskanˈsaɾ/ A2	verb - to rest
atrapar /atɾaˈpaɾ/ B1	verb - to catch
amarga /aˈmaɾɣa/ B2	adjective - bitter
experiencia /ekspeˈɾjensja/ B1	noun - experience
propiedad /pɾo.pjeˈðað/ B2	noun - property
tratar /tɾaˈtaɾ/ A2	verb - to treat
deseo /deˈse.o/ A2	noun - desire
escapar /eskaˈpaɾ/ B1	verb - to escape
sufrir /suˈfɾiɾ/ B1	verb - to suffer
libertad /liβeɾˈtað/ B1	noun - freedom
soledad /soleˈðað/ B1	noun - solitude
paz /paθ/ A2	noun - peace
renunciar /renunˈθjaɾ/ B2	verb - to renounce
encontrar /enkonˈtɾaɾ/ A2	verb - to find
silencio /siˈlenθjo/ A2	noun - silence

Key Grammar Structures

• Vole cuando pude volar,

  ➔ Imperfect Subjunctive + Past Absolute

  ➔ The use of 'pude' (imperfect subjunctive of 'poder') indicates a hypothetical or unrealized ability in the past. It expresses the ability to fly *when* the opportunity arose. 'Volar' is the infinitive. The structure 'cuando + subjunctive' is common for hypothetical situations.

• Amarga experiencia viví

  ➔ Past Absolute + Pronoun Placement

  ➔ The verb 'viví' (lived) is in the past absolute tense. The pronoun 'me' is enclitic (attached to the end of the verb) which is a common feature in Spanish, especially in literary or poetic contexts. This emphasizes the experience.

• Ya no sufriré, por ningún amor,

  ➔ Future Negative + Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The phrase 'ya no sufriré' means 'I will no longer suffer'. 'Ya no' indicates a cessation of an action. 'Por ningún amor' is a prepositional phrase meaning 'for no love', using the negative indefinite article 'ningún'.

• No renunciaré, a mi libertad,

  ➔ Future Negative + Prepositional Object

  ➔ Similar to the previous example, 'no renunciaré' means 'I will not renounce'. The 'a' before 'mi libertad' is a required preposition when 'renunciar' is followed by a specific object. 'Mi libertad' is the object of the preposition 'a'.