ironman

Today my wife gave me one of the best presents anyone has ever give me, she gave me Joaquin Sabina's complete discography. I know most of the people here has never heard of him being an Spanish singer, that more than a singer and song writer, is a poet, a genius of his time, a guy that sings and lives what most of us only dare to dream.

What makes this present so special is that Sabina is my favorite artist, I love his music, his lyrics, his poetry and his way of life and my wife doesn't like him that much (I think it's understandable when he sings of extramarital sex, prostitution, drug abuse, one night stands, and so on), so I know it's not that easy for her to give me a present like that, I guess this shows how much she loves me.

Anyhow, there is one Sabina's song that she loves, it's called Y SIN EMBARGO (something like AND YET...,) and the lyrics go like this, my attempt of translation is next to each verse in parenthesis and the video of the song is at the bottom:

De sobras sabes que eres la primera, (You know without a doubt that you are the first)
que no miento si juro que daría (that I'm not lying if I swear that i'd give)
por ti la vida entera, (for you my whole life)
por ti la vida entera; (for you my whole life)
y, sin embargo, un rato, cada día, (and yet, a moment, each day)
ya ves, te engañaría (you see, I'd cheat on you)
con cualquiera, (with anyone)
te cambiaría por cualquiera. (I'd trade you for anyone)

Ni tan arrepentido ni encantado (Neither repented, nor enchanted)
de haberme conocido, lo confieso. (of getting to know me, I confess)
Tú que tanto has besado (You that so much have kissed)
tú que me has enseñado, (you that have taught me,)
sabes mejor que yo que hasta los huesos (you know better than me that down to the bones)
sólo calan los besos (only reach the kisses)
que no has dado, (that you haven't give,)
los labios del pecado. (the lips of sin.)

Porque una casa sin ti es una emboscada, (Because a house without you is an ambush,)
el pasillo de un tren de madrugada, (the corridor of a dawn's train,)
un laberinto (a maze)
sin luz ni vino tinto, (without light nor red wine)
un velo de alquitrán en la mirada. (a veil of tar on the sight.)

Y me envenenan los besos que voy dando (And the kisses that I go giving away poison me)
y, sin embargo, cuando (and yet, when)
duermo sin ti contigo sueño, (I sleep without you, with you I dream)
y con todas si duermes a mi lado, (and with all the other women I dream if you sleep by my side)
y si te vas me voy por los tejados (and if you leave I go by the roofs)
como un gato sin dueño (like a cat without owner)
perdido en el pañuelo de amargura (lost in the scarf of bitterness)
que empaña sin mancharla tu hermosura. (that tarnishes without dirtying your beauty.)

No debería contarlo y, sin embargo, (I shouldn't say it, and yet)
cuando pido la llave de un hotel (when I ask for the hotel's key)
y a media noche encargo (and at midnight I ask)
un buen champán francés (a good French champagne)
y cena con velitas para dos, (and dinner with candles for two,)
siempre es con otra, amor, (It's always with other woman, my love,)
nunca contigo, (never with you,)
bien sabes lo que digo. (very well you know what I say.)

Porque una casa sin ti es una oficina, (Because a house without you is an office,)
un teléfono ardiendo en la cabina, (a phone burning in the booth,)
una palmera (a palmtree)
en el museo de cera, (in the wax museum,)
un éxodo de oscuras golondrinas. (an exodus of dark swallows.)

Y cuando vuelves hay fiesta (And when you return there's a party)
en la cocina (in the kitchen)
y bailes sin orquesta (and dances without orchestra)
y ramos de rosas con espinas, (and bouquets of roses with thorns,)
pero dos no es igual que uno más uno (but two is not the same as one plus one)
y el lunes al café del desayuno (and on Monday during morning coffee)
vuelve la guerra fría (the cold war returns)
y al cielo de tu boca el purgatorio (and to the heaven of your mouth the purgatory)
y al dormitorio (and to the bedroom)
el pan de cada día. (the daily bread.)

__________________
If I agreed with you we´d both be wrong