Murciélago – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Porter

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the rich historical and spiritual tapestry of Mexican culture through Porter's "Murciélago." This song offers a captivating way to engage with Spanish, as its lyrics are steeped in references to pre-Hispanic history and the Spanish conquest, making it an excellent resource for understanding cultural vocabulary and narrative storytelling in the language. Its poetic depth and emotional resonance make it a truly special track for language learners.

[English]

Oh, it's so hot!

I want to vomit this pain, this pain

I'm weary from this long journey

(Oaaah, ooooh)

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

With the sacred bird

Guide me, Quetzal

Oe-oh, oh-oh

Take me to the end

Oe-oh, oh-oh

...

Go out to 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

Take me to the end

Oe-oh, ooh

...

Go out to 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

Take me to the end

Oe-oh, oh-oh

Take 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
vomitar bo.miˈtar A2	verb - to vomit
dolor doˈlor A1	noun - pain
cansado kanˈsa.ðo A2	adjective - tired
caminar ka.miˈnar A1	verb - to walk
volar boˈlar A1	verb - to fly
sagrada saˈɣɾa.ða B1	adjective - sacred
guíame ɡiˈa.me A2	verb - guide me
Quetzal keˈtsal B2	noun - a colorful bird from Mesoamerica
viájame bi.ˈa.xa.me B1	verb - take me on a journey
suplico suˈpli.ko B1	verb - I beg
abuelos aˈβwe.los A1	noun - grandparents
naves ˈna.βes A2	noun - ships
Cristo ˈkɾis.to A1	noun - Christ
gritos ˈɡɾi.tos A2	noun - shouts
mar mar A1	noun - sea

Key Grammar Structures

• ¡Ay, qué calor!

  ➔ Exclamatory sentence with interjection and adjective.

  ➔ "¡Ay!" is an interjection expressing feeling (here, discomfort due to heat). "Qué" intensifies the adjective "calor" (heat).

• Cansado voy de este caminar tan largo

  ➔ Inversion of subject and verb for emphasis, use of 'tan' to intensify an adjective.

  ➔ The typical order would be 'Voy cansado...', but inverting it emphasizes the feeling of being tired. "Tan" intensifies "largo" (long).

• Guíame, Quetzal

  ➔ Imperative mood (command), vocative case.

  ➔ "Guíame" is a command (imperative) meaning 'guide me'. "Quetzal" is being directly addressed (vocative).

• No vienen en paz, se oyen gritos

  ➔ Negative present indicative, reflexive verb ('se oyen').

  ➔ "No vienen" is a negative statement about their arrival. "Se oyen" is a passive reflexive construction meaning 'cries are heard'.