La Nave del Olvido – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the Spanish language through the raw emotion of José José's classic, "La Nave del Olvido." This song is a masterclass in using lyrical repetition and powerful vocal delivery to convey deep sorrow and hope. Learning this song allows you to grasp key vocabulary related to intense pleading and romantic commitment, all set to the timeless, dramatic structure of a classic Latin ballad.

[English]

Wait, the ship of oblivion hasn't set sail yet

Let's not let everything we've lived through go to waste

For our love, for our past, I beg of you

Wait, I still have springs left in my hands

To shower you with caresses, all brand new

That would die in my hands if you left

Wait a little, just a little bit longer

To bring you my happiness

Wait a little, just a little bit longer

I would die if you go

Wait a little, just a little bit longer

To bring you my happiness

Wait a little, just a little bit longer

I would die if you go

Wait, I still have joys left to give you

I have a thousand nights of love to give you

I give you my life in exchange for you staying

Wait, I wouldn't understand my tomorrow if you left

And I'll even admit that even if your love were a lie

I would adore you even if you didn't love me back

Wait a little, just a little bit longer

To bring you my happiness

Wait a little, just a little bit longer

I would die if you go

Wait a little, just a little bit longer

To bring you my happiness

Wait a little, just a little bit longer

I would die if you go

Wait a little, just a little bit longer

To bring you my happiness

Wait a little, just a little bit longer

I would die if you go

[Spanish]

Espera, aún la nave del olvido no ha partido

No condenemos al naufragio lo vivido

Por nuestro amor, por nuestro ayer, yo te lo pido

Espera, aún me quedan en mis manos primaveras

Para colmarte de caricias, todas nuevas

Que morirían en mis manos si te fueras

Espera un poco, un poquito más

Para llevarte mi felicidad

Espera un poco, un poquito más

Me moriría si te vas

Espera un poco, un poquito más

Para llevarte mi felicidad

Espera un poco, un poquito más

Me moriría si te vas

Espera, aún me quedan alegrías para darte

Tengo mil noches de amor que regalarte

Te doy mi vida a cambio de quedarte

Espera, no entendería mi mañana si te fueras

Y hasta te admito que tu amor me lo mintieras

Te adoraría aunque tú no me quisieras

Espera un poco, un poquito más

Para llevarte mi felicidad

Espera un poco, un poquito más

Me moriría si te vas

Espera un poco, un poquito más

Para llevarte mi felicidad

Espera un poco, un poquito más

Me moriría si te vas

Espera un poco, un poquito más

Para llevarte mi felicidad

Espera un poco, un poquito más

Me moriría si te vas

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
espera esˈpeɾa A2	verb - wait
nave ˈnaβe B1	noun - ship
olvido olˈβiðo B1	noun - forgetfulness, oblivion
condenar kondeˈnaɾ B2	verb - to condemn
naufragio nauˈfɾaɣjo B2	noun - shipwreck
vivido biˈβiðo A2	adjective - lived
primaveras pɾimaˈβeɾas A2	noun - springs
colmar kolˈmaɾ B2	verb - to fill to the brim
caricias kaˈɾiθjas A2	noun - caresses
morirían moɾiˈɾjan A2	verb - would die
alegrías aleˈɣɾias A2	noun - joys
regalarte ɾeɣalaɾte A2	verb - to give as a gift
cambio kamˈβjo A2	noun - exchange
admito aðˈmito B1	verb - I admit
adoraría aðoɾaˈɾia B1	verb - I would adore
quisieras kiˈsjeɾas A2	verb - you wanted

Key Grammar Structures

• Espera, aún la nave del olvido no ha partido

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ The phrase "no ha partido" uses the present perfect to indicate an action that started in the past and is relevant to the present.

• Por nuestro amor, por nuestro ayer, yo te lo pido

  ➔ Prepositional Phrases

  ➔ The prepositional phrases "por nuestro amor" and "por nuestro ayer" indicate the reason or cause for the request.

• Espera un poco, un poquito más

  ➔ Imperative Mood with Adverbs

  ➔ The imperative mood is used with adverbs "un poco" and "un poquito más" to soften the command and express a plea.

• Me moriría si te vas

  ➔ Conditional Tense

  ➔ The conditional tense "me moriría" expresses a hypothetical situation dependent on the condition "si te vas".

• Te doy mi vida a cambio de quedarte

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase with Purpose

  ➔ The prepositional phrase "a cambio de" indicates the purpose or exchange for the action "quedarte".