Rubén Blades
20 de diciembre lyrics with English translation
- Language
- Spanish
- Level
- Intermediate
- Released
- 1999
- Genre
- Salsa
- Length
- 3:38
Chorrillo ardió, como Berlín. Un fuego intenso,
Chorrillo burned, like Berlin. An intense fire,
Que prendió hasta el zinc. Santa Claus trajo en Navidad
That ignited even the zinc. Santa Claus brought on Christmas
Bombas para Avenida A. Por estar cerca del cuartel,
Bombs for Avenida A. For being close to the barracks,
Se quema el barrio y sus discos de Ismael.
The neighborhood burns along with its Ismael records.
Entre la sombra, un general rinde el machete, sin pelear.
In the shadows, a general lowers his machete, without a fight.
Ahora y siempre, recordemos.
Now and always, let us remember.
Ahora y siempre, compañeros.
Now and always, comrades.
La confusión era infernal. Llovían bengalas, lanzadas
The confusion was hellish. Flares were raining down,
Desde el mar. ¿Cuántos murieron? No lo sé.
Launched from the sea. How many died? I don't know.
Niño Jesús, dígalo usted.
Holy Child, you tell us.
De eso se prefiere no hablar un trauma nacional aún sin sanar.
It's best not to speak of a national trauma still unhealed.
Nunca se podrá resolver sin que enfrentemos al ayer.
It can never be resolved without confronting the past.
Ahora y siempre, recordemos.
Now and always, let us remember.
Ahora y siempre, compañeros.
Now and always, comrades.
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com
Key vocabulary
- ayer
- yesterdayA1
- pelear
- fightA1
- santa
- saintA2
- podrá
- will be ableC1
- prefiere
- prefersA2
- intenso
- intenseB2
- prendió
- caught
- trajo
- broughtC1
- ardió
- burned
- bengalas
- flares
About this song
Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna is an award-winning singer, composer, actor, and activist known for his foundational contributions to salsa music and Latin jazz.