Mi Viejo – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Piero
• Album: MI VIEJO - 1969 Estudios CBS

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the timeless melody of "Mi Viejo" by Piero, a song that beautifully captures the complex emotions of love, respect, and the inevitable march of time within a father-son relationship. Its evocative lyrics offer a window into intergenerational connection and the enduring legacy of paternal influence, making it a touching piece to explore.

[English]

He's a good guy, my old man

...

Walking alone, just waiting

He’s got long sadness

From walking so much

I watch him from afar

But we're so different

He grew up with the century

With streetcars and red wine

...

Old man, my dear old man

...

Now you walk slowly

Like you're forgiving the wind

I am your blood, my old man

Your silence and your time

His eyes are good

And he has a heavy figure

Age has caught up with him

Without carnival or parade

I have the years anew

And he has the old man’s years

...

He carries pain inside

And has stories beyond time

...

Old man, my dear old man

Now you walk slowly

...

Like you're forgiving the wind

...

I am your blood, my old man

Your silence and your time

I am your blood, my old man, yes

Your silence and your time

I am your blood, my old man

...

[Spanish]

Es un buén tipo, mi viejo

Que anda solo y esperando

Tiene la tristeza larga

De tanto venir andando

Yo lo miro desde lejos

Pero somos tan distintos

Es que creció con el siglo

Con tranvía y vino tinto

Viejo, mi querido viejo

Ahora ya caminas lerdo

Como perdonando el viento

Yo soy tu sangre, mi viejo

Soy tu silencio y tu tiempo

El tiene los ojos buenos

Y una figura pesada

La edad se le vino encima

Sin carnaval ni comparsa

Yo tengo los años nuevos

Y el hombre los años viejos

El dolor lo lleva adentro

Y tiene historias sin tiempo

Viejo, mi querido viejo

Ahora ya camina lerdo

Como perdonando el viento

Yo soy tu sangre, mi viejo

Soy tu silencio y tu tiempo

Yo soy tu sangre, mi viejo, yo

Soy tu silencio y tu tiempo

Yo soy tu sangre, mi viejo

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
tranvía /tɾanˈβi.a/ B2	noun - tram, streetcar
viejo /ˈbje.xo/ A2	adjective/noun - old
esperando /espeˈɾan.do/ A2	verb - waiting
tristeza /tɾisˈte.θa/ B1	noun - sadness
andrando /anˈdan.do/ B1	verb (gerund) - walking
sangre /ˈsa.βɾe/ A2	noun - blood
silencio /siˈlen.sjo/ A2	noun - silence
edad /eˈðað/ A2	noun - age
carnaval /kaɾ.naˈβal/ B2	noun - carnival
comparsa /komˈpaɾ.sa/ B2	noun - group of dancers or performers in carnival
dolor /doˈloɾ/ B1	noun - pain, grief
historias /isˈto.ɾjas/ A2	noun - stories

Key Grammar Structures

• Que anda solo y esperando

  ➔ Present indicative tense + 'y' + gerund (progressive action)

  ➔ Shows an ongoing action performed by 'que' (which/he/she).

• Tiene la tristeza larga

  ➔ Present tense 'tener' + noun phrase + adjective

  ➔ Expresses possession or experience of a quality, here 'sadness' that is 'long'.

• Soy tu sangre, mi viejo

  ➔ Present tense 'ser' + possessive pronoun + noun

  ➔ Expresses identification and belonging, 'I am your blood' indicating closeness or importance.

• El tiene los ojos buenos

  ➔ Present tense 'tener' + definite article + plural noun + adjective

  ➔ Describes possession of 'good eyes', emphasizing quality or kindness.

• Yo soy tu sangre, yo / Soy tu silencio y tu tiempo

  ➔ Present tense 'ser' + possessive pronoun + noun; repeated for emphasis

  ➔ Uses repetition to emphasize identity and connection with 'your' (tu).

• El tiene historias sin tiempo

  ➔ Present tense 'tener' + plural noun + prepositional phrase 'sin tiempo'

  ➔ Expresses possession of 'stories' that are timeless or without age.