¿Y para Qué? – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the emotional depth of Spanish with José José's "¿Y para Qué?". This classic ballad, penned by José María Napoleón, offers a poignant lesson in the language of deep sorrow and unreciprocated love, showcasing the powerful vocal delivery that earned José José the title 'El Príncipe de la Canción'.

[English]

Like a wave without restraint

Wild yet calm, without complaint

I loved you just the way you wanted

Gave you my strength, my pride unhaunted

For that great love you claimed to own

Filled with you, I left it unknown

In tenderness, I held you near

Opened my arms, cast out all fear

Gave you my love, my faith so true

So you’d never feel the morning’s chill

In the dawn, I held you still

By your side, I found my place

And for what, and for what?

And for what, and for what?

If you never gave a thing

Never cared when I would sing

Never asked why I’d cry

And for what, and for what?

And for what, and for what?

What was gained by being your rest?

Truth is, it cost you nothing at best

For what, for what?

When you needed me, I was there

Always faithful, beyond compare

Like water to quench your thirst

You picked my finest rose, the best

Bled my heart, left it dry

Only to say goodbye

And for what, and for what?

And for what, and for what?

If you never gave a thing

Never cared when I would sing

Never asked why I’d cry

And for what, and for what?

And for what, and for what?

What was gained by being your rest?

Truth is, it cost you nothing at best

For what, for what?

[Spanish]

Como una ola sin freno

Desbocado y sereno

Como quisiste te amé

Te di mi fuerza y mi orgullo

Por ese gran amor tuyo

Lleno de ti lo olvidé

Entre ternuras te puse

Te abrí entre mis brazos

Te di mi amor y mi fé

Para que no te faltara

Calor en la madrugada

Junto a ti me acurruqué

Y para qué y para qué

Y para qué y para qué

Si tu jamás diste nada

No te importó que llorara

Ni preguntaste por qué

Y para qué y para qué

Y para qué y para qué

De que sirvió ser tu almohada

Verdad no cuesta nada

Para qué, para qué

Cuando me necesitaste

Siempre fiel me encontraste

Como agua para beber

Mi mejor rosa cortaste

Mi corazón desangraste

Para marcharte después

Y para qué y para qué

Y para qué y para qué

Si tú jamás diste nada

No te importó que llorara

Ni preguntaste por qué

Y para qué y para qué

Y para qué y para qué

De qué sirvió ser tu almohada

Verdad no cuesta nada

Para qué, para qué

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
ola o.la A1	noun - wave
desbocado des.bo.ka.do B1	adjective - unrestrained
sereno se.re.no A2	adjective - serene
amé a.ˈme A1	verb - I loved
fuerza ˈfwer.θa A1	noun - strength
orgullo or.ˈgu.ʎo A2	noun - pride
ternuras ter.ˈnu.ras B1	noun - tenderness
abrí a.ˈbri A1	verb - I opened
acurruqué a.ku.rru.ˈke B2	verb - I cuddled up
marcharte mar.ˈçar.te B1	verb - to leave
almohada al.mo.ˈa.da A1	noun - pillow
cortaste kor.ˈtas.te A2	verb - you cut
desangraste de.san.ˈgra.ste C1	verb - you bled
servió ser.ˈβjo A2	verb - it served
verdad ber.ˈðað A1	noun - truth

Key Grammar Structures

• Como una ola sin freno

  ➔ Prepositional phrase with 'como'

  ➔ The phrase 'Como una ola sin freno' uses 'como' to compare the subject to 'a wave without restraint,' emphasizing a metaphorical description.

• Te di mi fuerza y mi orgullo

  ➔ Direct object pronoun 'te'

  ➔ The pronoun 'te' is used as a direct object, receiving the action of the verb 'di' (gave). It refers to the person being addressed.

• Lleno de ti lo olvidé

  ➔ Past tense with 'olvidé'

  ➔ The verb 'olvidé' is in the preterite tense, indicating a completed action in the past. It means 'I forgot.'

• Y para qué y para qué

  ➔ Repetition for emphasis

  ➔ The phrase 'Y para qué y para qué' is repeated for emphasis, expressing frustration or rhetorical questioning.

• No te importó que llorara

  ➔ Subjunctive mood with 'llorara'

  ➔ The verb 'llorara' is in the subjunctive mood, used after 'importó que' to express uncertainty or emotion. It means 'that I cried.'