Murciélago – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Porter

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Spanish through 'Murciélago' is a unique experience because it helps you master the vowel sounds of the language—the word itself contains all five. Beyond the linguistic interest, the song offers a beautiful, poetic look into Mexican indie rock culture and complex metaphorical songwriting.

[English]

Oh, it's so hot!

I want to throw up this pain, this pain

I am tired of this long walk

(Oaaah, ooooh)

I'm (I'm) going to fly (going to fly)

With the sacred bird

Guide me, Quetzal

Oe-oh, oh-oh

Carry me to the end

Oe-oh, oh-oh

...

Go out to the sea, I beg you

The ancestors had seen it

They don't come in peace, screams are heard

There are three ships, they bring Christ

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh

...

Guide me, Quetzal

Oe-oh, oh-oh

Carry me to the end

Oe-oh, ooh

...

Go out to the sea, I beg you

There are three ships, they bring Christ

They don't come in peace, screams are heard

The ancestors had seen it

Carry me to the end

Oe-oh, oh-oh

Carry me to the end

Oe-oh, ooh

...

[Spanish]

¡Ay, qué calor!

Quiero vomitar este dolor, este dolor

Cansado voy de este caminar tan largo

(Oaaah, ooooh)

Voy (voy) a volar (a volar)

Con el ave sagrada

Guíame, Quetzal

Oe-oh, oh-oh

Viájame al final

Oe-oh, oh-oh

Salgan al mar, les suplico

Los abuelos lo habían visto

No vienen en paz, se oyen gritos

Hay tres naves, traen a Cristo

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh

Guíame, Quetzal

Oe-oh, oh-oh

Viájame al final

Oe-oh, ooh

Salgan al mar, les suplico

Hay tres naves, traen a Cristo

No vienen en paz, se oyen gritos

Los abuelos lo habían visto

Viájame al final

Oe-oh, oh-oh

Viájame al final

Oe-oh, ooh

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
calor ka'lor A1	noun - heat
vomitar bomi'tar B1	verb - to vomit
dolor do'lor A2	noun - pain
cansado kan'sado A1	adjective - tired
caminar kami'nar A1	verb - to walk
volar bo'lar A2	verb - to fly
ave abe B1	noun - bird
sagrada sa'ɣɾaða B1	adjective - sacred
suplico su'pliko B2	verb - to beg
abuelos a'βwelos A1	noun - grandparents
naves naβes A2	noun - ships/vessels
gritos ɣɾitos A2	noun - screams/shouts

Key Grammar Structures

• Quiero vomitar este dolor

  ➔ Verb + Infinitive construction

  ➔ The verb "quiero" (want) is followed directly by the infinitive "vomitar" to express desire.

• Cansado voy de este caminar

  ➔ Periphrastic construction (Ir + Adjective/Participial)

  ➔ Using "voy" (I go) with the adjective "cansado" expresses a state or progression of being tired.

• Guíame, Quetzal

  ➔ Imperative mood (Affirmative)

  ➔ The verb "guía" (guide) takes the suffix "-me" to form the imperative command "guíame".

• Salgan al mar

  ➔ Imperative mood (Plural - Ustedes)

  ➔ The verb "salir" is conjugated as "salgan" to give an order to a group (Ustedes).

• Los abuelos lo habían visto

  ➔ Past Perfect (Pluscuamperfecto)

  ➔ Uses the auxiliary "habían" + past participle "visto" to describe an action before another in the past.

• No vienen en paz

  ➔ Negative adverb + Verb (Present Indicative)

  ➔ Simple negation using "No" before the verb "vienen" (they come).

• Se oyen gritos

  ➔ Passive Reflexive (Pasiva refleja)

  ➔ The "se" particle indicates a passive construction where the subject "gritos" (screams) receives the action.

• Traen a Cristo

  ➔ Personal "a" usage

  ➔ The preposition "a" is used before the direct object "Cristo" because it refers to a specific person/deity.