Lo Que No Fue No Será – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the evocative world of "Lo Que No Fue No Será," a masterpiece by José José that offers a profound exploration of love, loss, and the strength to move on. Through its rich metaphors and emotional depth, this song provides a unique opportunity for language learners to grasp complex Spanish expressions related to feelings and relationships, while appreciating the artistry of one of Latin music's most iconic voices.

[English]

In your hands I learned to drink water

I was a sparrow trapped in your cage

Because I clipped my own wings for the seed you gave me

It was so little, and yet, I loved you

My song for you was always complete

Without you, I couldn't fly in another sky

But you left me alone, confused, and forgotten

And another hand offered me the fruit I longed for

What once was, will be no more

Don't come looking for me anymore

I have nothing left to give you

I grew tired of your birdseed

Go fly in another sky

And leave your cage door open

Maybe another sparrow will fall in

But give it something to drink

Let me turn on the light, I want nothing

If this had been yesterday, I would take it

The first time you offer for me to stay here

But without loving you now, what would I gain?

What once was, will be no more

Don't come looking for me anymore

I have nothing left to give you

I grew tired of your birdseed

Go fly in another sky

And leave your cage door open

Maybe another sparrow will fall in

But give it something to drink

...

[Spanish]

En tus manos yo aprendí a beber agua

Fui gorrión que se quedó preso en tu jaula

Porque yo corté mis alas y el alpiste que me dabas

Fue tan poco y, sin embargo, yo te amaba

Fue mi canto para ti siempre completo

Sin ti no pude volar en otro cielo

Pero me dejaste solo, confundido y olvidado

Y otra mano me ofreció el fruto anhelado

Lo que un día fue, no será

Ya no vuelvas a buscarme

No tengo nada que darte

De tú alpiste me cansé

Vete a volar a otro cielo

Y deja abierta tu jaula

Tal vez, otro gorrión caiga

Pero dale de beber

Déjame encender la luz, no quiero nada

Si esto hubiera sido ayer, lo tomaría

La primera vez que ofreces para que yo aquí me quede

Pero sin amarte ya, ¿qué ganaría?

Lo que un día fue, no será

Ya no vuelvas a buscarme

No tengo nada que darte

De tú alpiste me cansé

Vete a volar a otro cielo

Y deja abierta tu jaula

Tal vez, otro gorrión caiga

Pero dale de beber

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
aprender a.preN.ˈder A2	verb - to learn
gorrión go.rriˈon A1	noun - sparrow
preso ˈpre.so A2	adjective - imprisoned
jaula ˈxau.la A1	noun - cage
cortar kor.ˈtar A1	verb - to cut
alas ˈa.las A1	noun - wings
alpiste al.ˈpis.te B1	noun - canary seed
canto ˈkan.to A1	noun - song
confundido kon.fun.ˈdi.do A2	adjective - confused
anhelado an.xe.ˈla.do B1	adjective - longed for
vuelvas ˈbwel.bas A2	verb - to return
cansé kan.ˈse A2	verb - to get tired
encender en.then.ˈder A2	verb - to light
ganaría ga.na.ˈri.a B1	verb - to win

Key Grammar Structures

• En tus manos yo aprendí a beber agua

  ➔ Preterite tense

  ➔ The verb 'aprendí' is in the preterite tense, indicating a completed action in the past ('I learned').

• Fui gorrión que se quedó preso en tu jaula

  ➔ Preterite tense with reflexive verb

  ➔ The verb 'quedó' is in the preterite tense, and 'se quedó' is a reflexive construction ('stayed').

• Pero me dejaste solo, confundido y olvidado

  ➔ Preterite tense with multiple adjectives

  ➔ The verb 'dejaste' is in the preterite tense, followed by multiple adjectives describing the state ('alone, confused, forgotten').

• Lo que un día fue, no será

  ➔ Future tense negation

  ➔ The phrase uses 'no será' to negate the future tense, meaning 'will not be'.

• Vete a volar a otro cielo

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The verb 'vete' is in the imperative mood, giving a direct command ('go fly').

• Tal vez, otro gorrión caiga

  ➔ Subjunctive mood

  ➔ The verb 'caiga' is in the subjunctive mood, expressing uncertainty or possibility ('may fall').