Havana – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Willie Colón
• Album: The Hustler

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the evocative world of Willie Colón's "Havana," a foundational Salsa track that beautifully expresses themes of nostalgia and yearning for a beloved city. Learning the Spanish lyrics of this song will not only introduce you to rich poetic language but also to the core emotions and cultural sentiments deeply embedded in Latin music. Its iconic trombone-driven sound, a hallmark of the New York Salsa style, makes it a special piece for understanding the genre's evolution and the vibrant blend of cultures it represents.

[English]

Havana, beautiful Havana

Your sky is beautiful

Your women are lovely

Your sea is beautiful

Havana

Here comes your song

Like the sighing of violins that sing

For you

You can see, in your blue sky, they fly

Doves, like symbols of peace

It is glory for you

Havana

Your sky is beautiful

Your women are lovely

Your valleys are beautiful

Your sea is beautiful

Havana

Here comes your song

Like the sighing of violins that sing

For you

You can see, in your blue sky, they fly

Doves, like symbols of peace

It is glory for you

Havana

Ha!

...

Havana

I will return someday

I will come back

For Havana

I will return someday

I will come back

Havana, beloved land

I cannot live without seeing you

Havana, beloved land

I cannot live without seeing you

Because my purpose is to love you

I will love you forever

For Havana

I will return someday

I will come back

For Havana

I will return someday

I will come back

Listen carefully to my song

The one I dedicate to you

Listen carefully to my song

The one I dedicate to you

I sing to you with my soul

And with all my heart

For Havana

I will return someday

I will come back

For Havana

I will return someday

I will come back

For Havana

I will return someday

I will come back

For Havana

I will return someday

I will come back

For Havana

I will return someday

I will come back

...

[Spanish]

Havana, hermosa Havana

Bello es tu cielo

Lindas tus mujeres

Bello es tu mar

Havana

Aquí llegó tu canto

Como el gemir de violines que cantan

Para ti

Se ven, en tu cielo azul volar

Palomas, como símbolos de paz

Es la gloria para ti

Havana

Bello es tu cielo

Lindas tus mujeres

Bonitos tus valles

Bello es tu mar

Havana

Aquí llegó tu canto

Como el gemir de violines que cantan

Para ti

Se ven, en tu cielo azul volar

Palomas, como símbolos de paz

Es la gloria para ti

Havana

¡Ja!

Havana

Voy a volver algún día

Volveré

Para la Havana

Voy a volver algún día

Volveré

Havana tierra querida

No puedo vivir sin verte

Havana tierra querida

No puedo vivir sin verte

Porque mi fin es quererte

Te amaré toda la vida

Para la Havana

Voy a volver algún día

Volveré

Para la Havana

Voy a volver algún día

Volveré

Escucha bien mi cantar

El que te dedico yo

Escucha bien mi cantar

El que te dedico yo

Yo te canto con el alma

Y con todo el corazón

Para la Havana

Voy a volver algún día

Volveré

Para la Havana

Voy a volver algún día

Volveré

Para la Havana

Voy a volver algún día

Volveré

Para la Havana

Voy a volver algún día

Volveré

Para la Havana

Voy a volver algún día

Volveré

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hermosa er-mo-sa A2	adjective - beautiful
bello be-yo A1	adjective - beautiful
lindas lin-das A1	adjective - pretty
gemir ge-mir B1	verb - to moan
volar bo-lar A1	verb - to fly
palomas pa-lo-mas A1	noun - doves
símbolos sim-bo-los A2	noun - symbols
gloria glo-ria A2	noun - glory
volveré bol-be-ré A2	verb - I will return
querida ke-ri-da A2	adjective - beloved
vivir bi-bir A1	verb - to live
quererte ke-re-rte A2	verb - to love you
amaré a-ma-ré A2	verb - I will love
cantar can-tar A1	verb - to sing
dedico de-di-co B1	verb - I dedicate
alma al-ma A2	noun - soul
corazón co-ra-zón A1	noun - heart

Key Grammar Structures

• Havana, hermosa Havana

  ➔ Adjective Placement

  ➔ In Spanish, adjectives often follow the noun they describe, but 'hermosa' comes before 'Havana' for emphasis and poetic effect.

• Bello es tu cielo

  ➔ Inversion for Emphasis

  ➔ The inversion of the subject and verb ('Bello es' instead of 'Es bello') is used for poetic emphasis.

• Aquí llegó tu canto

  ➔ Past Tense with 'llegó'

  ➔ The verb 'llegó' is in the preterite tense, indicating a completed action in the past.

• Como el gemir de violines que cantan

  ➔ Simile with 'como'

  ➔ The word 'como' introduces a simile, comparing the singing to the sound of violins.

• Se ven, en tu cielo azul volar

  ➔ Present Tense with 'se ven'

  ➔ The verb 'se ven' is in the present tense, describing an action that is currently happening.

• Voy a volver algún día

  ➔ Future Tense with 'voy a'

  ➔ The phrase 'voy a' is used to express future actions, indicating intention to return.

• No puedo vivir sin verte

  ➔ Double Negative

  ➔ The phrase 'no puedo vivir sin verte' uses a double negative, which is common in Spanish to emphasize the inability to live without seeing someone.

• Te amaré toda la vida

  ➔ Future Tense with 'amaré'

  ➔ The verb 'amaré' is in the future tense, expressing a lifelong commitment to love.