Por la boca vive el pez – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Fito & Fitipaldis
• Album: Antes de que cuente Diez

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Spanish through 'Por la boca vive el pez' offers a glimpse into the poetic and emotional side of the language. The song's central metaphor, a twist on a common proverb, provides a unique cultural and linguistic lesson. Its heartfelt lyrics about love and longing make it a compelling and memorable way to connect with Spanish.

[English]

Something that invades me

Everything comes from within

Never what satisfies me

I always want, hungry wolf

Everything is too big for me

In order not to be with you

You know? I'd like to give you

Always a little more than I ask you

You know I'll dream

If you're not there, that I wake up with you

You know I want more

I don't know how to live with only five senses

This sea keeps more sunken ships every time

...

You are air, I'm paper

Wherever you go, I'll go

If I'm left in the dark

Light of madness, come and light me up

Someone said once

The fish lives through its mouth

And I'm saying it

I'm telling you again

...

Tell me why you ask

How much I've missed you

If in every song I write, sweetheart

You're the emphasis

I don't want a wandering star

I don't want to see the dawn

I want to look at your Coca-Cola colored eyes

You know I'll dream

If you're not there, that I wake up with you

You know I want more

I don't know how to live with only five senses

This sea keeps more sunken ships every time

...

You're not with me every time I sing to you

I make songs to be with you

Because I write like I bleed

Because I bleed everything I write

I've realized every time I sing

That if I don't sing, I don't know what I'm saying

Sorrow is dancing with weeping

And whenever it wants, it'll dance with me

Life barely lasts a while

And it's what I have to be with you

To tell you what I never sing

To sing to you what I never say

...

[Spanish]

Algo lo que me invade

Todo viene de dentro

Nunca lo que me sacie

Siempre quiero, lobo hambriento

Todo me queda grande

Para no estar contigo

¿Sabes? quisiera darte

Siempre un poco más de lo que te pido

Sabes que soñaré

Si no estás, que me despierto contigo

Sabes que quiero más

No sé vivir solo con cinco sentidos

Este mar cada vez guarda más barcos hundidos

Tú eres aire, yo papel

Donde vayas, yo me iré

Si me quedo a oscuras

Luz de la locura, ven y alúmbrame

Alguien dijo alguna vez

Por la boca vive el pez

Y yo lo estoy diciendo

Te lo estoy diciendo otra vez

Dime por qué preguntas

Cuánto te he echa'o de menos

Si en cada canción que escribo, corazón

Eres tú el acento

No quiero estrella errante

No quiero ver la aurora

Quiero mirar tus ojos del color de la Coca-Cola

Sabes que soñaré

Si no estás que me despierto contigo

Sabes que quiero más

No sé vivir solo con cinco sentidos

Este mar cada vez guarda más barcos hundidos

No estás conmigo siempre que te canto

Yo hago canciones para estar contigo

Porque escribo igual que sangro

Porque sangro todo lo que escribo

Me he dado cuenta cada vez que canto

Que si no canto, no sé lo que digo

La pena está bailando con el llanto

Y cuando quiera bailará conmigo

La vida apenas solo dura un rato

Y es lo que tengo para estar contigo

Para decirte lo que nunca canto

Para cantarte lo que nunca digo

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
invade /ɪnˈveɪd/ B2	verb - to enter forcefully as an enemy
sací /saˈsi/ B1	verb - I satisfy
quiero /ˈkiero/ A2	verb - I want
despertar /despeɾˈtaɾ/ B2	verb - to wake up
camino /kaˈmi.no/ A2	noun - way, path
aire /ˈaiɾe/ A2	noun - air, atmosphere
papel /paˈpel/ A2	noun - paper
oscuras /osˈkuɾas/ B1	adjective - dark, obscured
dentro /ˈdentro/ A2	adverb - inside
canto /ˈkanto/ A1	noun - song, singing
vida /ˈbi.ðað/ A2	noun - life

Key Grammar Structures

• Nunca lo que me sacie

  ➔ Use of 'nunca' (never) to express negation.

  ➔ The phrase means 'never satisfies me', indicating a continuous desire.

• Sabes que quiero más

  ➔ Use of 'que' to introduce a subordinate clause.

  ➔ This means 'You know that I want more', indicating a desire for more.

• La pena está bailando con el llanto

  ➔ Use of present continuous tense to describe an ongoing action.

  ➔ This means 'The sorrow is dancing with the weeping', indicating a vivid imagery of emotions.

• Porque escribo igual que sangro

  ➔ Use of 'igual que' to express similarity.

  ➔ This means 'Because I write like I bleed', indicating a deep emotional connection to writing.

• La vida apenas solo dura un rato

  ➔ Use of 'apenas' to indicate limitation.

  ➔ This means 'Life only lasts a short while', emphasizing the fleeting nature of life.