Quien Fuera – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Silvio Rodriguez

Lyrics & Translation

[Spanish]

[English]

Estoy buscando una palabra

I'm searching for a word

En el umbral de tu misterio

At the threshold of your mystery

Quien fuera Alibabá

Who wishes to be Alibaba

Quien fuera el mítico Simbad

Who wishes to be the mythical Sinbad

Quien fuera un poderoso sortilegio

Who wishes to be a powerful spell

Quien fuera encantador

Who wishes to be charming

...

...

Estoy buscando una escafandra

I'm searching for a diving suit

...

...

Al pie del mar de los delirios

At the foot of the sea of delusions

Quien fuera Jacques Coustau

Who wishes to be Jacques Cousteau

Quien fuera Nemo el capitán

Who wishes to be Nemo, the captain

Quien fuera el batiscafo de tu abismo

Who wishes to be the submersible of your abyss

Quien fuera explorador

Who wishes to be an explorer

Corazón, corazón, oscuro

Heart, heart, dark

Corazón, corazón, con muros

Heart, heart, with walls

Corazón, que se esconde

Heart, that hides

Corazón, que está donde

Heart, that is where

Corazón, corazón, en fuga

Heart, heart, fleeing

Herido de dudas de amor

Wounded by doubts of love

...

...

Estoy buscando melodías

I'm searching for melodies

Para tener como llamarte

To have as a way to call you

Quien fuera ruiseñor

Who wishes to be a nightingale

Quien fuera Lennon y McCartney

Who wishes to be Lennon and McCartney

Sindo Garay, Violeta, Chico Buarque

Sindo Garay, Violeta, Chico Buarque

Quien fuera tu trovador

Who wishes to be your troubadour

Corazón, corazón, oscuro

Heart, heart, dark

Corazón, corazón, con muros

Heart, heart, with walls

Corazón, que se esconde

Heart, that hides

Corazón, que está donde

Heart, that is where

Corazón, corazón, en fuga

Heart, heart, fleeing

Herido de dudas de amor

Wounded by doubts of love

Corazón

Heart

...

...

Corazón

Heart

...

...

Oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

...

...

Oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

...

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
buscar /busˈkaɾ/ A2	verb - to look for
palabra /paˈlaβɾa/ A2	noun - word
misterio /misˈtɛɾio/ B1	noun - mystery
mítico /ˈmi.ti.ko/ B2	adjective - mythical
explorador /eksploɾaˈðoɾ/ B2	noun - explorer
corazón /koɾaˈson/ A2	noun - heart
muro /ˈmu.ɾo/ A2	noun - wall
fuga /ˈfu.ɣa/ B1	noun - escape, fleeing
duda /ˈdu.ða/ B1	noun - doubt
amor /aˈmoɾ/ A2	noun - love
melodía /me.loˈðí.a/ B1	noun - melody
ruiseñor /rui.seˈɲor/ B1	noun - nightingale
Lennon /ˈlɛn.ɪn/ C1	proper noun - John Lennon, musician and member of The Beatles
McCartney /ˈmæk.kɑːn.ti/ C1	proper noun - Paul McCartney, musician and member of The Beatles
encantador /en.kãn.taˈðoɾ/ B2	adjective - charming, enchanting

Key Grammar Structures

• Quien fuera Alibabá

  ➔ Imperfect Subjunctive (Past Subjunctive)

  ➔ The phrase uses the imperfect subjunctive form of 'ser' ('fuera') to express a wish or desire that is contrary to reality in the present. It translates to 'If only I were Alibabá' or 'I wish I were Alibabá'. This shows an unreal condition.

• Quien fuera Jacques Coustau

  ➔ Imperfect Subjunctive (Past Subjunctive)

  ➔ Same as above. Expresses a wish to be Jacques Coustau.

• Quien fuera ruiseñor

  ➔ Imperfect Subjunctive (Past Subjunctive)

  ➔ Again, the imperfect subjunctive to express a wish to be a nightingale.

• Corazón, que se esconde

  ➔ Relative Clause with 'que' and reflexive verb 'esconderse'

  ➔ This phrase uses a relative clause introduced by 'que' (that/which) to describe the heart. The verb 'esconderse' is reflexive, meaning 'to hide oneself'. The whole phrase means 'Heart, that hides itself'.