Mariposa Traicionera – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Maná

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the emotional depth of Maná's iconic song "Mariposa Traicionera." This Latin rock anthem delves into themes of betrayal and heartbreak, using vivid metaphors to express the pain of a love that cannot be reciprocated faithfully. Discover the intricate blend of rock and flamenco influences that make this song a timeless classic.

[English]

You are like a butterfly

You fly and you perch, you go from mouth to mouth

Easy and light from whoever provokes you

...

I am a mouse in your mousetrap

A trap that doesn't kill but doesn't free

I live dying as a prisoner

Treacherous butterfly

The wind takes everything away

Butterfly, I'm not coming back

Oh, butterfly of love

My butterfly of love

I'm not coming back to you anymore

Oh, butterfly of love

My butterfly of love

Never ever next to you

Fly, love

Fly, pain

And don't come back here

Now go from flower to flower

Seducing

The pistils

And fly close to the sun

So you can feel what pain is

...

Oh, woman, how you hurt

The minutes pass as if they were years

Look, this jealousy is killing me

...

Oh, woman, how easy you are

You open your little wings, thighs of colors

Where your loves perch

Treacherous butterfly

The wind takes everything away

Butterfly, I'm not coming back

Oh, butterfly of love

My butterfly of love

I'm not coming back to you anymore

Oh, butterfly of love

My butterfly of love

Never ever next to you

Fly, love

Fly, pain

May you have luck in your life

Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, pain

I cried you a whole river

Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, love

You're going to fly away from me

...

[Spanish]

Eres como una mariposa

Vuelas y te posas, vas de boca en boca

Fácil y ligera de quien te provoca

Yo soy ratón de tu ratonera

Trampa que no mata pero no libera

Vivo muriendo prisionero

Mariposa traicionera

Todo se lo lleva el viento

Mariposa, no regreso

Ay, mariposa de amor

Mi mariposa de amor

Ya no regreso contigo

Ay, mariposa de amor

Mi mariposa de amor

Nunca jamás junto a ti

Vuela amor

Vuela dolor

Y no regreses a un lado

Ya vete de flor en flor

Seduciendo

A los pistilos

Y vuela cerca del sol

Pa' que sientas lo que es dolor

Ay, mujer cómo haces daño

Pasan los minutos cual si fueran años

Mira, estos celos, me están matando

Ay, mujer qué fácil eres

Abres tus alitas, muslos de colores

Donde se posan tus amores

Mariposa traicionera

Todo se lo lleva el viento

Mariposa, no regreso

Ay, mariposa de amor

Mi mariposa de amor

Ya no regreso contigo

Ay, mariposa de amor

Mi mariposa de amor

Nunca jamás junto a ti

Vuela amor

Vuela dolor

Que tengas suerte en tu vida

Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay dolor

Yo te lloré todo un río

Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, amor

Tú te me vas a volar

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
mariposa /maɾiˈposa/ A2	noun - butterfly
traicionera /tɾai̯θjoˈneɾa/ B2	adjective - treacherous, unfaithful
vuela /ˈbwela/ A1	verb - flies
posa /ˈposa/ B1	verb - perches, lands
ratón /raˈton/ A1	noun - mouse
ratonera /ratoˈneɾa/ B2	noun - mousetrap
trampa /ˈtɾampa/ B1	noun - trap
mata /ˈmata/ A1	verb - kills
libera /liˈβeɾa/ B1	verb - frees, liberates
prisionero /pɾisioˈneɾo/ B1	noun - prisoner
viento /ˈbjento/ A2	noun - wind
amor /aˈmoɾ/ A1	noun - love
dolor /doˈloɾ/ A2	noun - pain, sorrow
flor /floɾ/ A1	noun - flower
sol /sol/ A1	noun - sun
daño /ˈdaɲo/ B1	noun - harm, damage
celos /ˈθelos/ B2	noun - jealousy
muslos /ˈmuslos/ B2	noun - thighs
suerte /ˈsweɾte/ A2	noun - luck
rio /ˈrio/ A1	noun - river

Key Grammar Structures

• Eres como una mariposa

  ➔ Ser + como + noun: expressing comparison

  ➔ This uses the verb "ser" (to be) to make a comparison. The subject "you" are being compared to a butterfly.

• Vuelas y te posas, vas de boca en boca

  ➔ Use of present tense to describe habitual actions; Reflexive verb "posar" (to perch/land) used reflexively.

  ➔ The present tense indicates that these are regular actions. "Te posas" is the reflexive form of "posar," indicating the butterfly is landing on herself/itself. "Vas de boca en boca" describes the action of going from mouth to mouth, suggesting gossip or fleeting affection.

• Fácil y ligera de quien te provoca

  ➔ Use of adjectives to describe qualities; Relative pronoun "quien" referring to a person.

  ➔ "Fácil" and "ligera" describe the butterfly's behavior. "Quien te provoca" indicates 'the one who provokes you'.

• Yo soy ratón de tu ratonera

  ➔ Ser + noun phrase: Defining identity. Use of possessive pronoun “tu”.

  ➔ This line uses "ser" to define the speaker's identity as a "ratón" (mouse) within the other person's "ratonera" (mousetrap). "Tu ratonera" means 'your mousetrap'.

• Trampa que no mata pero no libera

  ➔ Relative clause using "que"; Use of "pero" to contrast two negative conditions.

  ➔ "Que no mata" modifies the noun "trampa" (trap). The use of "pero" creates a contrast: the trap doesn't kill, but it also doesn't free.

• Vivo muriendo prisionero

  ➔ Gerund phrases ("muriendo") used to describe a state of being; Adjective used as noun (prisionero).

  ➔ "Muriendo" is a gerund describing how the speaker is living. "Prisionero" (prisoner) is used as a noun, even though it's derived from an adjective.

• Todo se lo lleva el viento

  ➔ Impersonal construction with "se"; Use of indirect object pronoun "lo".

  ➔ This is an impersonal construction meaning 'Everything is taken by the wind'. "Se lo lleva" emphasizes that the wind is taking it away. The "lo" refers to "todo" (everything).

• Ay, mujer cómo haces daño

  ➔ Exclamatory sentence; Interrogative adverb "cómo" used in exclamation; verb "hacer" + noun to express causing damage.

  ➔ This is an exclamatory sentence showing strong emotion. The "cómo" expresses surprise or intensity. "Hacer daño" is an idiom for 'to cause harm'.