Mercedes – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José Madero

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and José Madero's “Mercedes” offers a unique opportunity for Spanish learners. The song's introspective and metaphorical lyrics provide a rich ground for exploring themes of love, pain, and addiction, expressed with poetic depth. Its acoustic nature allows the raw emotion in the vocals and the carefully crafted lyrics to shine through, making it a compelling piece for those looking to connect with the emotional power of the Spanish language.

[English]

The truth

I see her when I inhale your flower

I reason, although I'm stupid

I harden, though soft inside

And it's true

You destroy, gram by gram, the pain

You silence that bad narrator

I light up, though just for a moment

...

You burn me, I already know

But this flame is sweet

You kill me, I already know

And I walk alone in this tunnel

Take me forever and everywhere

Undress me, drag me

Don't let go of my feet

...

Without you, I want to be unknown

Without you, I have nothing to do here anymore

...

Without you, I have nothing to do here anymore

...

It's true

What good is a heart to me?

If it beats with a rhythm in error

Your cadence is constant in my body

When I take

Your hand, I know there will be no direction

I will get lost sitting on the couch

Even if my universe becomes small

You take me to Eden

If you take me to the summit

You incite me to fall

But, you are also my cloud

Take me forever and everywhere

Undress me, drag me

Don't let go of my feet

Contemplate me, turn to see me

Don't be so cruel

Hurt me, feed me

Come, pierce my skin

Come, pierce my skin

Come, pierce my skin

Without you, a when is a why

Without you, when I pray, I omit the amen

...

[Spanish]

La verdad

La veo cuando inhalo tu flor

Razono, aunque estúpido estoy

Me endurezco, aunque suave por dentro

Y es verdad

Destrozas, gramo a gramo, el dolor

Silencias ese mal narrador

Me ilumino, aunque solo un momento

Me quemas, ya lo sé

Pero es dulce esta lumbre

Me matas, ya lo sé

Y voy solo en este túnel

Llévame por siempre y doquier

Desnúdame, arrástrame

No sueltes mis pies

Sin ti me quiero desconocer

Sin ti no tengo aquí ya qué hacer

Sin ti no tengo aquí ya qué hacer

Es verdad

¿De qué me sirve un corazón?

Si palpita con un ritmo en error

Tu cadencia es constante en mi cuerpo

Al tomar

Tu mano sé que no habrá dirección

Me perderé sentado en el sillón

Aunque mi universo se haga pequeño

Me llevas al edén

Si me llevas a la cumbre

Me incitas a caer

Mas, también eres mi nube

Llévame por siempre y doquier

Desnúdame, arrástrame

No sueltes mis pies

Contémplame, voltéame a ver

No seas tan cruel

Lastímame, aliméntame

Ven, punza mi piel

Ven, punza mi piel

Ven, punza mi piel

Sin ti, un cuándo es un por qué

Sin ti, al rezar omito el amén

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
destrozas /destroθas/ B2	verb - to destroy or ruin
ilumino /ilumiˈno/ B2	verb - to illuminate, to light up
quemar /keˈmaɾ/ B2	verb - to burn
matamos /maˈtamos/ B2	verb - to kill
cruel /kɾuˈel/ B2	adjective - causing pain or suffering
lastímame /lasˈtima.me/ B2	verb - to hurt, to cause pain
aliméntame /aleˈmenta.me/ B2	verb - to nourish, to feed
punza /punˈθa/ B2	verb - to prick, to stab
recuerdo /reˈkweɾðo/ B1	noun - memory, remembrance
universo /uniˈβeɾ.so/ B2	noun - universe, cosmos
cumbre /ˈkum.bɾe/ B2	noun - summit, peak
correr /koˈreɾ/ A2	verb - to run

Key Grammar Structures

• Me quemas, ya lo sé

  ➔ Present tense of the verb 'quemar' + 'ya lo sé' (I already know it)

  ➔ The sentence uses the **present tense** to express a current state or realization.

• Llévame por siempre y doquier

  ➔ Imperative form of 'llevar' (to take) with indirect object pronoun 'me' + 'por siempre y doquier' (forever and everywhere)

  ➔ Uses the **imperative mood** to give an energetic or urgent command or request.

• Sin ti no tengo aquí ya qué hacer

  ➔ Negative form with 'sin ti' (without you) + 'no tengo' (I don't have) + 'qué hacer' (what to do)

  ➔ The sentence employs a **negative construction** with 'sin' (without) followed by the pronoun, indicating absence or lack.

• Contémplame, voltéame a ver

  ➔ Imperative form of 'contemplar' (to contemplate, to look at) + direct object pronoun 'me', and 'voltéame' (to turn towards me)

  ➔ Uses the **imperative mood** of verbs to give commands or pleas, with object pronouns attached to indicate the target.

• Razono, aunque estúpido estoy

  ➔ First person singular present tense of 'razonar' (to reason) + 'aunque' (although) + 'estúpido estoy' (I am stupid)

  ➔ Uses the **present tense** of 'razonar' and a subordinate clause introduced by 'aunque' to express contrast.

• Ven, punza mi piel

  ➔ Imperative form of 'venir' (to come) + direct object 'punza mi piel' (prick my skin)

  ➔ Uses the **imperative form** of 'venir' combined with the direct object 'punza mi piel' to give a command or plea.