El preso número nueve

[Tyrn]

Hi,

This is the beginning:

El preso número nueve ya lo van a confesar
Esta rezando en la celda con el cura del penal
Porque antes de amanecer la vida le han de quitar
Porque mató a su mujer y a un amigo desleal

Why van a confesar? Why plural?

[Rusty]

plural, impersonal reference (they, he that is, or those that are, receiving the confession)
(the same impersonal reference appears in 'la vida le han de quitar' = 'they're going to take his life')

In English, we also use a plural impersonal reference, even though we know only a single person is being referenced.

[Tyrn]

Originally Posted by Rusty

(the same impersonal reference appears in 'la vida le han de quitar' = 'they're going to take his life')

Thanks!

Oddly, they're going to take his life I figured out on my own. But who are they in the first line? Either the prisoner or the priest are single. Would you care to translate suitably the first line?

[Rusty]

They (impersonal they, no real antecedent is needed, singular or plural) are going to hear the confession of prisoner number nine.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Welcome to the forums, Tyrn.
You might find this discussion useful: http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=14223

[Tyrn]

Thanks!

I'm not the first one to be perplexed about this first line...