Madrecita – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the emotional depth of Spanish through José José's 'Madrecita.' This song is a perfect tool for learners to master expressive, emotive vocabulary related to family, devotion, and heartfelt sentiment, all delivered through his legendary vocal clarity.

[English]

Dearest little mother

I carry a flower within my heart

Don't mind what color it may be

Because in the end, mother, you are a flower

Your affection is my greatest treasure, mother dear

In my life, you have been and always will be

The refuge for all my sorrows

And the cradle of love and truth

Even if I find many loves in this life

That fill me with happiness

None will ever be like yours, my mother

I will never find another like yours

Even if I find many loves in this life

That fill me with happiness

None will ever be like yours, my mother

I will never find another like yours

Dearest little mother

I carry a flower within my heart

Don't mind what color it may be

Because in the end, mother, you are a flower

Your affection is my greatest treasure, mother dear

In my life, you have been and always will be

The refuge for all my sorrows

And the cradle of love and truth

[Spanish]

Madrecita del alma querida

En mi pecho yo llevo una flor

No te importe el color que ella tenga

Porque al fin tú eres, madre, una flor

Tu cariño es mi bien, madrecita

En mi vida tú has sido y serás

El refugio de todas mis penas

Y la cuna de amor y verdad

Aunque amores yo tenga en la vida

Que me llenen de felicidad

Como el tuyo jamás, madre mía

Como el tuyo no habré de encontrar

Aunque amores yo tenga en la vida

Que me llenen de felicidad

Como el tuyo jamás, madre mía

Como el tuyo no habré de encontrar

Madrecita del alma querida

En mi pecho yo llevo una flor

No te importe el color que ella tenga

Porque al fin tú eres, madre, una flor

Tu cariño es mi bien, madrecita

En mi vida tú has sido y serás

El refugio de todas mis penas

Y la cuna de amor y verdad

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Madrecita ma-dre-si-ta B1	noun - Affectionate term for mother; dear mother.
Alma al-ma A2	noun - Soul
Querida ke-ri-da A1	adjective - Dear / Beloved
Pecho pe-cho A2	noun - Chest / Breast
Flor flor A1	noun - Flower
Cariño ca-ri-ño A2	noun - Affection / Love
Refugio re-fu-hio B2	noun - Refuge / Shelter
Penas pe-nas B1	noun - Sorrows / Pains
Cuna cu-na B1	noun - Cradle
Verdad ver-dad A1	noun - Truth
Felicidad fe-li-ci-dad A2	noun - Happiness
Encontrar en-con-trar A2	verb - To find

Key Grammar Structures

• Madrecita del alma querida

  ➔ Diminutive suffix

  ➔ The suffix "-ita" is added to "Madre" to express affection and tenderness.

• En mi pecho yo llevo una flor

  ➔ Personal pronouns as subjects

  ➔ The use of "yo" emphasizes the subject "I", common in poetic structures for focus.

• No te importe el color que ella tenga

  ➔ Subjunctive mood (present)

  ➔ The verb "tenga" (from tener) is in the subjunctive, used here to express uncertainty or a general condition.

• En mi vida tú has sido y serás

  ➔ Compound tenses (Present Perfect & Future)

  ➔ The song uses "has sido" (present perfect) and "serás" (future) to cover the continuity of the past and future.

• El refugio de todas mis penas

  ➔ Possessive adjectives

  ➔ The word "mis" is the plural form of the possessive "mi", agreeing with the noun "penas".

• Aunque amores yo tenga en la vida

  ➔ Concessive clause (Aunque)

  ➔ "Aunque" introduces a concession meaning "even if", triggering the subjunctive "tenga".

• Como el tuyo jamás

  ➔ Comparative structures

  ➔ "Como el tuyo" is a comparison meaning "like yours", using the possessive pronoun "tuyo".

• No habré de encontrar

  ➔ Periphrastic future (Haber de + infinitive)

  ➔ This construction implies a future action, often with a sense of inevitability or purpose.