Julieta Venegas: Sueños de Sombra

[Ronnmacc80]

Hey everyone

I've got another song that I can't make much sense of. This one uses alot of verb tenses.

Joseph Keenan, who wrote probably the most accredited book for intermediate Spanish students, highly reccommends learning the lyrics for your favorite spanish songs. And you know what? It has worked very well for me.

This song is off Julieta's second album. "Suenos de sombra" (dark dreams?)
The phrasing confuses me:


escurrire como miel en hielo
como velo en fuego
asi te hare venir a mi
asi te hare buscarme a mi

sere intocable al despertar
promesa vana eterno parece
asi te hare creer en mi
asi te hare desearme asi

si quiero estar donde creo desear
sere por siempre sueno de sombras
si quiero estar donde creo desear'
sere por siempre
sueno de sombras

sembrar en ti la duda
cambio de parecer cada minuto
incierta en forma de ser
asi te hare buscarme

[Luna Azul]

Joseph Keenan, who wrote probably the most accredited book for intermediate Spanish students, highly reccommends learning the lyrics for your favorite spanish songs. And you know what? It has worked very well for me.


I couldn't agree more with him. But he should have said that those lyrics should make sense. I'm sorry to say, I don't know this singer, but her lyrics don't make any sense to me.

Language is supposed to be "communication of thoughts and feelings". These songs don't do that.

The only thing I understood in this song is that 'she wants him to come to her, to look for her and desire her'. The way she's doing that is incomprehensible to me.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound nasty, far form it, I'm just answering your question..;)

[benjas]

I've done my best to produce a sincere translation… it's a poetic piece, which means some of the meaning is less than clear.
The english words/expressions I have chosen are different because a direct translation would sound ridiculous.
Anyway, the song is about the desperation of heartbreak. Specifically the insane plans we think of to persuade the return of love lost.



I will ooze slowly like honey over ice
like a burning veil
that's how i'll get you back
that's how I'll rouse your interest

I'll be untouchable as i awaken
a futile mission, i suppose
that's how I'll make you believe me
that's how I'll make you desire me

If I try to get what i think i desire
I'll always be asleep
" "

to sow the seeds of doubt in you
I'll change myself every minute
I'll elude you
that's how I'll get you back

[Ronnmacc80]

Thanks for your help. And for helping me realize something about my favorite Mexican singer: the total understanding of her lyrics is probably going to be unattainable for anyone who isn't fluent in spanish. In my native english, there are only a few of us who can truly interperet great poetry (lyrics) in our own language. Julieta seems to combine too many abstract concepts at once.
I have learned well by translating lyrics from the first Grupo Limite album. They are down to earth and simple, mostly. And there is a song by Grupo Brydis that I'd love to discuss.