No Tengo Dinero – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Juan Gabriel

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Spanish through 'No Tengo Dinero' is a wonderful way to connect with a story of love and resilience. The song's simple, direct lyrics about love triumphing over a lack of material wealth make it easy to follow and emotionally resonant. Its classic status in Latin music makes it a great introduction to the cultural heart of the Spanish-speaking world.

[English]

I walk down the street hand in hand

Talking with my love

And I remember serious things

That could happen to me

Well, she asks me

When are we going to get married

And I answer her that I am poor

That she has to wait for me

I have no money or anything to give

The only thing I have is love to give

If that's how you want me, I can love you

But if you can't, then what can I do

I have no money or anything to give

The only thing I have is love to give

If that's how you want me, I can love you

But if you can't, then what can I do

I know that by my side you feel

Very, very happy

And I know that when I tell you I'm poor

You no longer smile

What can I say, I wish I had everything

And lay it at your feet

But I was born poor and that's why

You can't love me

I have no money or anything to give

The only thing I have is love to give

If that's how you want me, I can love you

But if you can't, then what can I do

I have no money or anything to give

The only thing I have is love to give

If that's how you want me, I can love you

But if you can't, then what can I do

No, I have no money or anything to give

The only thing I have is love to give

If that's how you want me, I can love you

But if you can't, then what can I do

No, I have no money or anything to give...

...

[Spanish]

Voy por la calle de la mano

Platicando con mi amor

Y voy recordando cosas serias

Que me pueden suceder

Pues ya, me pregunta

Que hasta cuándo nos iremos a casar

Y yo le contesto que soy pobre

Que me tiene que esperar

No tengo dinero ni nada que dar

Lo único que tengo es amor para amar

Si así tú me quieres, te puedo querer

Pero si no puedes ni modo, qué hacer

No tengo dinero ni nada que dar

Lo único que tengo es amor para amar

Si así tú me quieres, te puedo querer

Pero si no puedes ni modo, qué hacer

Yo sé que a mi lado tú te sientes

Pero mucho, muy feliz

Y sé que al decirte que soy pobre

No vuelves a sonreír

Qué va, yo quisiera tener todo

Y ponerlo a tus pies

Pero yo nací pobre y es por eso

Que no me puedes querer

No tengo dinero ni nada que dar

Lo único que tengo es amor para amar

Si así tu me quieres, te puedo querer

Pero si no puedes ni modo, qué hacer

No tengo dinero ni nada que dar

Lo único que tengo es amor para amar

Si así tu me quieres, te puedo querer

Pero si no puedes ni modo, qué hacer

No, no tengo dinero ni nada que dar

Lo único que tengo es amor para amar

Si así tú me quieres, te puedo querer

Pero si no puedes ni modo, qué hacer

No, no tengo dinero ni nada que dar...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dinero /diˈneɾo/ A2	noun - money
amor /aˈmoɾ/ A1	noun - love
pobre /ˈpɔβɾe/ A2	adjective - poor
querer /keˈɾeɾ/ A2	verb - to want
todo /ˈtoðo/ A2	noun/adjective - everything; all
poner /poˈneɾ/ B1	verb - to put
querer /keˈɾeɾ/ A2	verb - to want
feliz /feˈliθ/ A2	adjective - happy
casa /ˈka.sa/ A1	noun - house
reír /reˈiɾ/ A2	verb - to laugh
futuro /fuˈturo/ B1	noun - future
siento /ˈsjento/ B1	verb - I feel
casar /kaˈsaɾ/ B1	verb - to marry

Key Grammar Structures

• Que me tiene que esperar

  ➔ Use of the subjunctive mood with 'que' to express obligation or necessity.

  ➔ The phrase 'que me tiene que esperar' uses the subjunctive 'tiene' in the context of necessity or obligation.

• No tengo dinero ni nada que dar

  ➔ Use of 'ni... ni...' to express 'neither... nor...' in Spanish.

  ➔ 'ni... ni...' connects two negative ideas, indicating the absence of both.

• Que va, yo quisiera tener todo

  ➔ Use of the imperfect subjunctive 'quisiera' to express a polite or hypothetical desire.

  ➔ 'Quisiera' is the imperfect subjunctive of 'querer' used to politely express wishes or hypothetical situations.

• Sé que a mi lado tú te sientes

  ➔ Use of the indicative 'sé' to express certainty, and reflexive verbs 'te sientes' to indicate how the subject feels.

  ➔ 'Sé' is the first person singular present indicative form of 'saber,' used here to affirm certainty, while 'te sientes' is a reflexive verb form indicating the subject's feelings.

• Pero yo nací pobre

  ➔ Use of the preterite tense 'nací' to indicate a completed past action, reflecting a fact of birth.

  ➔ 'Nací' is the first person singular preterite form of 'nacer' (to be born), used here to state a fact about one's origin.

• Que no vuelves a sonreír

  ➔ Use of the present indicative 'vuelves' in a negative sentence with 'no' to indicate habitual or future negation.

  ➔ 'Vuelves' is the second person singular present form of 'volver' (to return), and 'no' negates the action, indicating that the person no longer smiles.

• Pero yo quisiera tener todo

  ➔ Use of the imperfect subjunctive 'quisiera' to express a polite or hypothetical desire.

  ➔ 'Quisiera' is the imperfect subjunctive of 'querer' used to politely express wishes or hypothetical situations.