Por una Sonrisa – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

Ready to dive into the language of heartfelt, classic Latin romance? José José's "Por una Sonrisa" is a masterclass in the Spanish *balada romántica*, perfect for learning emotive vocabulary related to love, sincerity, and poetic metaphors. Listen to El Príncipe de la Canción's legendary vocal style and absorb the language used to express deep vulnerability and the priceless value of the simplest human connections.

[English]

I'll give you a clear gaze

Or the pale smile

Of a love-lost castaway

And a warm promise, too

...

The kiss of a tear

As sincere as I am...

I'll give you a sweet kiss with love

And a caress to see

If you're meant for me...

And I'll be honest, I'll tell you

What I truly want

Look at me, woman, and say yes...

That's all I have

Nothing more I can give

Promises and more promises

And hands to love...

That's all I have

And that's what you'll gain

For just one smile from you

And nothing more...

...

I'll give you a sky almost purple

A tiny pearl

As a token of my love

And a languid promise, too

A romantic song

That no one else has sung to you...

...

They'll say I'm crazy, they'll say

I'm worth nothing, believe me

They're telling the truth

Because I

Am thinking, maybe

I live dreaming, believing

That you already love me

That's all I have

Nothing more I can give

Promises and more promises

And hands to love

That's all I have

And that's what you'll gain

For just one smile from you

And nothing more...

...

[Spanish]

Te daré una mirada diáfana

O la sonrisa pálida

De un náufrago de amor

Y además una promesa cálida

Y el beso de una lágrima

Sincera como yo...

Te daré un beso dulce con amor

Y una caricia para ver

Si tú eres para mí...

Y además seré sincero y te diré

Lo que yo quiero

Mírame mujer y di que sí...

Y eso es todo lo que tengo

Nada más te puedo dar

Promesas y más promesas

Y unas manos para amar...

Eso es todo lo que tengo

Y eso es lo que ganarás

Por una sonrisa tuya

Y nada más...

Te daré un cielo casi púrpura

Una perla minúscula

En prenda de mi amor

Y además una promesa lánguida

Y una canción romántica

Que nadie te cantó...

Te dirán que soy un loco, te dirán

Que valgo nada y créeme

Te dicen la verdad

Porque yo

Estoy pensando que quizás

Vivo soñando al creer

Que tú me quieres ya

Eso es todo lo que tengo

Nada más te puedo dar

Promesas y más promesas

Y unas manos para amar

Eso es todo lo que tengo

Y eso es lo que ganarás

Por una sonrisa tuya

Y nada más...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
diáfana diˈafana B2	adjective - clear, transparent, bright
náufrago ˈnaufraɣo B1	noun - shipwrecked person, castaway
cálida ˈkalida A2	adjective - warm
lágrima ˈlaɣɾima A2	noun - tear
sincera sinˈθeɾa A2	adjective - sincere
caricia kaˈɾiθja B1	noun - caress, stroke
loco ˈloko A2	adjective - crazy, mad
valgo ˈbalɣo A2	verb - I am worth
creeme ˈkɾeme A2	verb - believe me
quizás kiˈθas A2	adverb - perhaps, maybe
soñando soɲˈando B1	verb - dreaming
púrpura ˈpuɾpuɾa B1	adjective - purple
perla ˈpeɾla A2	noun - pearl
minúscula miˈnuskula B1	adjective - tiny, minuscule
prenda ˈpɾenda B1	noun - garment, item of clothing, pledge
lánguida ˈlaŋɣwida B2	adjective - languid, weak, fading
romántica roˈmantika A2	adjective - romantic

Key Grammar Structures

• Te daré una mirada diáfana

  ➔ Future tense with 'dar'

  ➔ The verb 'daré' is the future tense of 'dar', indicating a promise or future action.

• De un náufrago de amor

  ➔ Prepositional phrase

  ➔ The phrase 'de un náufrago de amor' uses the preposition 'de' to describe the origin or nature of the smile.

• Y además una promesa cálida

  ➔ Conjunction 'y' and adjective 'cálida'

  ➔ The conjunction 'y' is used to add information, and 'cálida' describes the promise as warm.

• Sincera como yo...

  ➔ Comparative adjective

  ➔ 'Sincera como yo' uses the comparative form to equate the sincerity of the tear with the speaker's own sincerity.

• Mírame mujer y di que sí...

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The verbs 'mírame' and 'di' are in the imperative mood, giving direct commands.

• Eso es todo lo que tengo

  ➔ Present tense with 'ser'

  ➔ The verb 'es' is the present tense of 'ser', stating a current condition or fact.

• Por una sonrisa tuya

  ➔ Prepositional phrase with possessive adjective

  ➔ The phrase uses 'por' and the possessive adjective 'tuya' to indicate the reason for the action.