Marionetas del Destino – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poetic world of José José with "Marionetas del Destino." This classic Latin ballad offers a rich vocabulary for expressing melancholy and existential reflection in Spanish. Through its vivid metaphors about life's journey and destiny's hand, you'll learn nuanced expressions that delve deep into human emotions, all while experiencing the masterful vocal delivery of "El Príncipe de la Canción."

[English]

I'm like a bird that nests

for a short season,

always ready are the wings

to set out on the journey,

At times I'm assailed

by nostalgia for my roots,

But those happy dreams

belong to the past

There are people who were born

to forever keep trotting

And so we let ourselves go

life along the roads

Idols that we receive

tinsel tricks,

Puppets of fate,

prey of bramble and thorn,

meat of carriage and hotel.

I'm like that sailor

who keeps adding to the sail

illusions and sighs

that die in the wake,

A modern gentleman

who lives at the foot of the stirrup

dreaming of finding friends

to call comrades.

There are people who were born

to forever keep trotting

And so we

life along the roads.

Idols that we receive

tinsel treats,

Puppets of fate,

prey of bramble and thorn

meat of carriage and hotel

Idols that we receive

tinsel treats,

Puppets of fate,

prey of bramble and thorn

meat of carriage and hotel

...

[Spanish]

Soy como el ave que anida

Una corta temporada,

Siempre dispuestas las alas

Para emprender la partida,

A veces me han asaltado

Nostalgias de mis raíces,

Pero esos sueños felices

Pertenecen al pasado

Hay personas que nacimos

Para andar siempre trotando

Y así nos vamos dejando

La vida por los caminos

Idólos que recibimos

Agazajos de oropel,

Marionetas del destino,

Presas de zarza y espino,

Carne de carro y hotel.

Soy como aquel marinero

Que va poniendo en la vela

Ilusiones y suspiros

Que se mueren en la estela,

Un moderno caballero

Que vive al pie del estribo

Soñando encontrar amigos

A quien llamar compañeros.

Hay personas que nacimos

Para andar siempre trotando

Y así nos vamos dejando

La vida por los caminos.

Idolos que recibimos

Agasajos de oropel,

Marionetas del destino,

Presas de zarza y espino

Carne de carro y hotel

Idolos que recibimos

Agasajos de oropel,

Marionetas del destino,

Presas de zarza y espino

Carne de carro y hotel

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
anida a.ˈni.ða A2	verb - to nest
emprender em.pɾen.ˈðeɾ B1	verb - to undertake
asaltado a.sal.ˈta.ðo A2	verb - to assault
nostalgias nos.tal.ˈxi.as B1	noun - nostalgia
raíces ra.ˈi.θes A2	noun - roots
trotando tɾo.ˈtan.do A2	verb - to trot
ídolos ˈi.ðo.los A1	noun - idols
agazajos a.ɣa.ˈxa.xos B2	noun - attentions
oropel o.ɾo.ˈpel C1	noun - tinsel
marionetas ma.ɾjo.ˈne.tas B1	noun - puppets
presas ˈpɾe.sas A2	noun - prey
zarza ˈθaɾ.θa B1	noun - blackberry bush
espino es.ˈpi.no B1	noun - hawthorn
carne ˈkar.ne A1	noun - meat
marinero ma.ɾi.ˈne.ɾo A2	noun - sailor
estela es.ˈte.la B2	noun - wake
caballero ka.ba.ˈlje.ɾo A2	noun - gentleman
estribo es.ˈtɾi.bo B1	noun - stirrup
compañeros kom.pa.ˈɲe.ɾos A1	noun - companions