Quien Fuera – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Silvio Rodriguez

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a journey of cultural immersion, and Silvio Rodríguez's 'Quien Fuera' is a perfect vessel. This song, with its rich tapestry of literary and historical references, offers a unique window into the Latin American cultural psyche. Its poetic and metaphorical language provides a beautiful challenge for learners, helping to grasp the nuances of expressing deep, heartfelt emotions in Spanish. 'Quien Fuera' is special not just for its beautiful melody, but for its power to convey a universal feeling of longing in a way that is both deeply personal and culturally resonant.

[English]

I'm searching for a word

At the threshold of your mystery

Who wishes to be Alibaba

Who wishes to be the mythical Sinbad

Who wishes to be a powerful spell

Who wishes to be charming

...

I'm searching for a diving suit

...

At the foot of the sea of delusions

Who wishes to be Jacques Cousteau

Who wishes to be Nemo, the captain

Who wishes to be the submersible of your abyss

Who wishes to be an explorer

Heart, heart, dark

Heart, heart, with walls

Heart, that hides

Heart, that is where

Heart, heart, fleeing

Wounded by doubts of love

...

I'm searching for melodies

To have as a way to call you

Who wishes to be a nightingale

Who wishes to be Lennon and McCartney

Sindo Garay, Violeta, Chico Buarque

Who wishes to be your troubadour

Heart, heart, dark

Heart, heart, with walls

Heart, that hides

Heart, that is where

Heart, heart, fleeing

Wounded by doubts of love

Heart

...

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

...

[Spanish]

Estoy buscando una palabra

En el umbral de tu misterio

Quien fuera Alibabá

Quien fuera el mítico Simbad

Quien fuera un poderoso sortilegio

Quien fuera encantador

Estoy buscando una escafandra

Al pie del mar de los delirios

Quien fuera Jacques Coustau

Quien fuera Nemo el capitán

Quien fuera el batiscafo de tu abismo

Quien fuera explorador

Corazón, corazón, oscuro

Corazón, corazón, con muros

Corazón, que se esconde

Corazón, que está donde

Corazón, corazón, en fuga

Herido de dudas de amor

Estoy buscando melodías

Para tener como llamarte

Quien fuera ruiseñor

Quien fuera Lennon y McCartney

Sindo Garay, Violeta, Chico Buarque

Quien fuera tu trovador

Corazón, corazón, oscuro

Corazón, corazón, con muros

Corazón, que se esconde

Corazón, que está donde

Corazón, corazón, en fuga

Herido de dudas de amor

Corazón

Corazón

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'.