Literatura Rusa – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José Madero

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music can be a deeply rewarding experience, and José Madero's “Literatura Rusa” offers a beautiful opportunity to delve into the emotional nuances of Spanish. The song's introspective and poetic lyrics about waiting and longing can help you connect with the language on a more profound level. Its clear and melodic delivery makes it a great song for learners to follow along and appreciate the expressive power of Spanish.

[English]

I think that four never waits for three

I suppose three has never waited for two

You follow that numerical example

The difference is that here, I wait for you

In total, one more time, what does it matter?

Life has already lent me too much

What does it matter?

Give me another chance

Even the worst, I believe, gets one

When it has you close, their heads are pressed together

Everything it whispers to you

Being him is my fantasy, for his words are mine

For you forever

...

I think that Monday never waits for Sunday

It has never waited for me either

It resembles you

I will wait for you here

Like a mountain, mountains do not feel

They do not feel pain, they do not feel emptiness, no

...

Give me a second chance

I truly believe I deserve it

When it has you close, their heads are pressed together

Everything it whispers to you

Being him is my fantasy, for his words are mine

For you forever

...

[Spanish]

Creo que el cuatro nunca espera al tres

Supongo el tres nunca ha esperado al dos

Tú sigues ese ejemplo numérico

La diferencia que aquí, yo te espero

Total, un tiempo más, ¿qué más da?

La vida ya me prestó de más

¿Qué más da?

Dame otra oportunidad

Hasta el peor, creo, se la dan

Cuando te tiene cerca, pegadas sus cabezas

Todo lo que te murmura

Ser él es mi fantasía, pues sus palabras son mías

Para ti para siempre

Creo que el lunes nunca espera al domingo

Tampoco nunca me ha esperado a mí

Se parece a ti

Yo te esperaré aquí

Como montaña, las montañas no sienten

Ellas no sienten dolor, no sienten vacío, no

Dame segunda oportunidad

Realmente creo merecerla

Cuando te tiene cerca, pegadas sus cabezas

Todo lo que te murmura

Ser él es mi fantasía, pues sus palabras son mías

Para ti para siempre

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
espera /esˈpeɾa/ A2	verb - to wait
dame /ˈda.me/ A2	verb - give me
oportunidad /o.por.tu.niˈðað/ B1	noun - opportunity
montaña /monˈtaɲa/ B1	noun - mountain
fantasía /fantaˈsi.a/ B2	noun - fantasy
palabras /paˈla.βɾas/ A2	noun - words
cerca /ˈseɾ.ka/ A2	adjective - close
cabeza /kaˈβe.θa/ A2	noun - head
dolor /doˈloɾ/ B1	noun - pain
vacío /βaˈθi.o/ B2	adjective - empty
vida /ˈβi.ða/ A2	noun - life

Key Grammar Structures

• Creo que el cuatro nunca espera al tres

  ➔ Subjunctive after expressions of belief/doubt/thinking (Creo que)

  ➔ Although "creo que" often indicates certainty, in this case it's used to introduce a subjective thought or opinion. However, since the verb in the subordinate clause (“espera”) is in the indicative mood, it indicates that the speaker believes what they are saying is true. If it was in subjunctive ("creo que... espere"), it would indicate more doubt.

• Supongo el tres nunca ha esperado al dos

  ➔ Present Perfect tense (ha esperado)

  ➔ The present perfect ("ha esperado") is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present. Here, it emphasizes the lack of expectation that continues until the present moment.

• La diferencia que aquí, yo te espero

  ➔ Emphasis with adverbial phrase + pronoun

  ➔ The sentence structure is slightly inverted and uses 'aquí, yo' to emphasize the speaker's position of waiting, contrasting with the previously mentioned lack of waiting.

• La vida ya me prestó de más

  ➔ Preterite of *prestar* + *de más* (more than enough)

  ➔ "De más" means more than enough. It implies that the speaker has already lived longer than expected, or perhaps had more opportunities than they deserved.

• Hasta el peor, creo, se la dan

  ➔ Reflexive verb with indirect object pronoun ("se la dan")

  ➔ "Se la dan" refers to “una oportunidad” (an opportunity). "Se" is the reflexive pronoun, and "la" represents the direct object pronoun (the opportunity). The construction implies that even the worst person eventually gets a chance.

• Ser él es mi fantasía, pues sus palabras son mías

  ➔ Use of "pues" as causal conjunction.

  ➔ "Pues" introduces the reason why being him is the speaker's fantasy - because his words are the same as the speaker's, implying a deep connection and understanding.

• Como montaña, las montañas no sienten

  ➔ Simile using "como" followed by a generalization

  ➔ The speaker compares himself to a mountain to illustrate a state of emotional numbness or resilience. The generalization reinforces the mountain's (and therefore the speaker's) supposed lack of feeling.

• Realmente creo merecerla

  ➔ Use of an adverb to intensify

  ➔ "Realmente" intensifies the verb "creo" (I believe). It indicates a strong conviction on the part of the speaker.