Quisiera Ser – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poetic world of José José's "Quisiera Ser," a classic Spanish ballad that perfectly showcases his masterful ability to convey profound longing and devotion. Learning the lyrics will not only enrich your vocabulary with expressions of love and desire but also immerse you in the emotional depth and cultural artistry of one of Latin music's most iconic voices.

[English]

I wish I could be

I wish I could be

I wish I could be, for your life

I wish I could be the first reason for your living

To be in you, in the same way you’re in me

To represent in your life the sun, the emotion, the faith

And that illusion of love that’s lived only once (I wish I could be)

I wish I could be, like the song you love the most (I wish I could be, I wish I could be)

And so be able to stay on your lips and in your dreams

Your humble shadow, and that book

That’s been with you since your childhood

That and a thousand things of yours, my love, I wish I could be

(I wish I could be)

I wish I could be, like the song you love the most (I wish I could be, I wish I could be)

And so be able to stay on your lips and in your dreams

Your humble shadow, and that book

That’s been with you since your childhood

That and a thousand things of yours, my love

I wish I could be (I wish I could be, I wish I could be)

...

[Spanish]

Quisiera ser

Quisiera ser

Quisiera ser, para tu vida

Quisiera ser el primer motivo de tu vivir

Estar en tí, en la misma forma que estás en mí

Representar en tu vida el sol, la emoción, la fé

Y esa ilusión de amor que se vive una sola vez (Quisiera ser)

Quisiera ser, como la canción que tu guste más (Quisiera ser, quisiera ser)

Y así poder estar en tus labios y en tu soñar

Tu humilde sombra, y el libro aquel

Que te acompaña desde tu niñez

Eso y mil cosas tuyas, mi vida, quisiera ser

(Quisiera ser)

Quisiera ser, como la canción que te guste más (Quisiera ser, quisiera ser)

Y así poder estar en tus labios y en tu soñar

Tu humilde sombra, y el libro aquel

Que te acompaña desde tu niñez

Eso y mil cosas tuyas, mi vida

Quisiera ser (Quisiera ser, quisiera ser)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Quisiera kiˈsjeɾa A2	verb - conditional form of 'to want', expressing desire
motivo moˈtivo A2	noun - reason, cause
vivir biˈβiɾ A1	verb - to live, to exist
representar reprezenˈtaɾ B1	verb - to represent, to symbolize
emoción emoˈθjon A2	noun - intense feeling, emotion
ilusión iluˈsjon B1	noun - hope, illusion, fantasy
sombra ˈsombra A1	noun - shadow, darkness cast by an object
humilde umˈilde A2	adjective - humble, modest, without arrogance
niñez niˈñez A2	noun - childhood, stage of life from birth to adolescence
canción kanˈθjon A1	noun - song, musical composition with lyrics
guste ˈguste A2	verb - subjunctive form of 'to like', to please
labios laˈβjos A1	noun - lips, part of the mouth
soñar soˈɲaɾ A2	verb - to dream, to desire intensely
libro ˈliβɾo A1	noun - book, printed or digital work with written content
acompaña akomˈpaɲa A2	verb - conjugated form of 'to accompany', to go with someone

Key Grammar Structures

• Quisiera ser el primer motivo de tu vivir

  ➔ Conditional tense with 'quisiera'

  ➔ The verb 'quisiera' is the conditional form of 'querer', expressing a wish or desire. Here, it conveys the speaker's longing to be the first reason for the listener's existence.

• Estar en tí, en la misma forma que estás en mí

  ➔ Present tense with 'estar'

  ➔ The verb 'estar' is used in the present tense to describe a state of being. Here, it expresses the desire to be in the listener in the same way the listener is in the speaker.

• Representar en tu vida el sol, la emoción, la fé

  ➔ Infinitive 'representar' with direct objects

  ➔ The infinitive 'representar' is used with direct objects ('el sol, la emoción, la fé') to express the desire to embody these elements in the listener's life.

• Y esa ilusión de amor que se vive una sola vez

  ➔ Relative pronoun 'que' with subclause

  ➔ The relative pronoun 'que' introduces a subclause describing the noun 'ilusión de amor'. It specifies the unique nature of this love illusion.

• Como la canción que tu guste más

  ➔ Comparative structure with 'como'

  ➔ The comparative structure 'como' is used to liken the speaker to the listener's favorite song, emphasizing the desire to be as important and cherished.