Released July 25th, 1995, “La Tierra del Olvido” by Colombian singer Carlos Vives just turned 25. This song was the first single off the album of the same name, and is regarded as one of Vives’s signature songs. The album made him Colombia’s most famous musician at the time of its release, and the single reached number one on the Billboard Latin Pop Songs chart and number five on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.
Song information from Wikipedia (song and album pages)
Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo is a singer, songwriter and actor from Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia. When he was 12 his family moved to Bogotá, where he would aquire a taste for rock, and would eventually start performing in bars and cafés around the city. In 1982 he released his first album Por Fuera y Port Dentro, containing mainly ballads. This album and the following two were, also primarily ballads, were mostly unsuccessful.
In 1991 is life was forever changed when he was cast in the leading role in the series Escalona, about the life of Vallenato composer Rafael Escalona. The part included singing Escalona’s songs, and he gained national recognition for the Telenovela’s two soundtrack albums. His next album Clásicos de la Provincia in 1993 fused Vallenato with rock, pop, and other Carribbean Colombian ethnic rhythms. This style and the album’s lead single La Gota Fría were successful in Colombia and all over Latin America. The album won Best Album at the Billboard Latin Music Awards, and became a classic in Colombian and Latin American music, credited with introducing Vallenato to the world. Vives’s following albums would continue in this style. He has won 2 Grammy awards, 11 Latin Grammy awards, and 5 Nuestra Tierra awards, which recognize outstanding achievement in the Colombian music industry.
‘esperar’ – This verb can mean both ‘to hope’ or ‘to wait for’, and honestly I could see either interpretation fitting this context. I have chosen to go with the meaning of ‘to wait for’.
‘morir’ vs ‘morirse’ – These are very similar, but tend to be used in slightly different ways. ‘Morir’ is used more matter-of-factly and tends to be more formal sounding. It also gets used for violent or sudden deaths. ‘Morirse’ tends to sound a little less formal or serious-sounding. It is often used with natural deaths and when speaking of family members passing. When death is being spoken of figuratively ‘morirse’ is also used, for example ‘me muero de ganas de ir a la playa’ (I’m dying to go to the beach).
Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown
Mouse over a term for grammatical information. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.
Lalathe | def art | fem sing | Tierratierraland; soil; ground, floor; homeland; country | noun | fem sing | delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing | Olvidoolvidooblivion | noun | masc sing |
[Verse 1] Comocomolike, as, since | adv | lalathe | def art | fem sing | lunalunamoon | noun | fem sing | quequethat, than | conj | alumbraalumbrarilluminate, light up; figure out, clarify | verb | third pers sing pres | porporfor; because of; by | prep | lalathe | def art | fem sing | nochenochenight | noun | fem sing | loslosthe | def art | masc pl | caminoscaminoroad; way, path; journey, trip | noun | masc pl | Comocomolike, as, since | adv | laslasthe | def art | fem pl | hojashojaleaf; sheet | noun | fem pl | ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing | viento,vientowind | noun | masc sing | comocomolike, as, since | adv | elelthe | def art | masc sing | solsolsun | noun | masc sing | espantaespantarscare, frighten | verb | third pers sing pres | ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing | fríofríocold | noun | masc sing | Comocomolike, as, since | adv | lalathe | def art | fem sing | tierratierraland; soil; ground, floor; homeland; country | noun | fem sing | aato, into, by | prep | lalathe | def art | fem sing | lluvia,lluviarain | noun | fem sing | comocomolike, as, since | adv | elelthe | def art | masc sing | marmarocean, sea | noun | masc sing | esperaesperarto wait (for); hope, expect | verb | third pers sing pres | ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing | ríoríoriver, stream | noun | masc sing | Asíasílike this, like that, this way, that way | adv | esperoesperarto wait (for); hope, expect | verb | first pers sing pres | tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing | regresoregresoreturn | noun | masc sing | aato, into, by | prep | lalathe | def art | fem sing | tierratierraland; soil; ground, floor; homeland; country | noun | fem sing | delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing | olvidoolvidooblivion | noun | masc sing |
[Verse 2] Comocomolike, as, since | adv | naufragannaufragarbe shipwrecked, sink; flounder, fail, go under | verb | third pers sing pres | mismismy | poss adj | masc and fem pl | miedosmiedofear | noun | masc pl | sisiif | conj | navegonavegarsail; navigate; surf, browse (internet) | verb | first pers sing pres | enenin, on, during | prep | tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing | miradamiradalook, glance, gaze | noun | fem sing | Comocomolike, as, since | adv | alertasalertarto alert, warn | verb | sec pers sing pres | mismismy | poss adj | masc and fem pl | sentidossentidosense; meaning; direction | noun | masc pl | conconwith | prep | tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing | vozvozvoice | noun | fem sing | enamoradaenamoradoin love | adj | fem sing | Conconwith | prep | tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing | sonrisasonrisasmile | noun | fem sing | dedefrom, of | prep | niñaniñachild, daughter | noun | fem sing | comocomolike, as, since | adv | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | muevesmuevesto move | verb | sec pers sing pres | elelthe | def art | masc sing | almaalmasoul | noun | masc sing | Comocomolike, as, since | adv | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | quitasquitarto take, take from, remove | verb | sec pers sing pres | elelthe | def art | masc sing | sueño,sueñosleep; sleepiness, drowsiness; dream | noun | masc sing | comocomolike, as, since | adv | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | robasrobarto steal, rob, take | verb | sec pers sing pres | lalathe | def art | fem sing | calmacalmacalm | noun | fem sing |
[Chorus] Tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing | tienestenerto have | verb | sec pers sing pres | lalathe | def art | fem sing | llavellavekey; wrench; tap, faucet; switch; chokehold | noun | fem sing | dedefrom, of | prep | mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing | corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing | quieroquererwant, wish; like, love | verb | first pers sing pres | Másmásmore, plus | adv | quequethat, than | conj | mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing | vidavidalife | noun | fem sing | porqueporquebecause | conj | sinsinwithout | prep | tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing | amoramorlove | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die Tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing | tienestenerto have | verb | sec pers sing pres | lalathe | def art | fem sing | llavellavekey; wrench; tap, faucet; switch; chokehold | noun | fem sing | dedefrom, of | prep | mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing | corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing | quieroquererwant, wish; like, love | verb | first pers sing pres | Másmásmore, plus | adv | quequethat, than | conj | mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing | vidavidalife | noun | fem sing | porqueporquebecause | conj | sinsinwithout | prep | tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing | amoramorlove | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die
[Verse 1] Comocomolike, as, since | adv | lalathe | def art | fem sing | lunalunamoon | noun | fem sing | quequethat, than | conj | alumbraalumbrarilluminate, light up; figure out, clarify | verb | third pers sing pres | porporfor; because of; by | prep | lalathe | def art | fem sing | nochenochenight | noun | fem sing | loslosthe | def art | masc pl | caminoscaminoroad; way, path; journey, trip | noun | masc pl | Comocomolike, as, since | adv | laslasthe | def art | fem pl | hojashojaleaf; sheet | noun | fem pl | ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing | viento,vientowind | noun | masc sing | comocomolike, as, since | adv | elelthe | def art | masc sing | solsolsun | noun | masc sing | espantaespantarscare, frighten | verb | third pers sing pres | ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing | fríofríocold | noun | masc sing | Comocomolike, as, since | adv | lalathe | def art | fem sing | tierratierraland; soil; ground, floor; homeland; country | noun | fem sing | aato, into, by | prep | lalathe | def art | fem sing | lluvia,lluviarain | noun | fem sing | comocomolike, as, since | adv | elelthe | def art | masc sing | marmarocean, sea | noun | masc sing | esperaesperarto wait (for); hope, expect | verb | third pers sing pres | ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing | ríoríoriver, stream | noun | masc sing | Asíasílike this, like that, this way, that way | adv | esperoesperarto wait (for); hope, expect | verb | first pers sing pres | tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing | regresoregresoreturn | noun | masc sing | aato, into, by | prep | lalathe | def art | fem sing | tierratierraland; soil; ground, floor; homeland; country | noun | fem sing | delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing | olvidoolvidooblivion | noun | masc sing |
[Chorus] Tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing | tienestenerto have | verb | sec pers sing pres | lalathe | def art | fem sing | llavellavekey; wrench; tap, faucet; switch; chokehold | noun | fem sing | dedefrom, of | prep | mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing | corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing | quieroquererwant, wish; like, love | verb | first pers sing pres | Másmásmore, plus | adv | quequethat, than | conj | mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing | vidavidalife | noun | fem sing | porqueporquebecause | conj | sinsinwithout | prep | tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing | amoramorlove | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die Tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing | tienestenerto have | verb | sec pers sing pres | lalathe | def art | fem sing | llavellavekey; wrench; tap, faucet; switch; chokehold | noun | fem sing | dedefrom, of | prep | mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing | corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing | quieroquererwant, wish; like, love | verb | first pers sing pres | Másmásmore, plus | adv | quequethat, than | conj | mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing | vidavidalife | noun | fem sing | porqueporquebecause | conj | sinsinwithout | prep | tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing | amoramorlove | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die
[Post-Chorus] YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die
[Chorus] Tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing | tienestenerto have | verb | sec pers sing pres | lalathe | def art | fem sing | llavellavekey; wrench; tap, faucet; switch; chokehold | noun | fem sing | dedefrom, of | prep | mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing | corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing | quieroquererwant, wish; like, love | verb | first pers sing pres | Másmásmore, plus | adv | quequethat, than | conj | mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing | vidavidalife | noun | fem sing | porqueporquebecause | conj | sinsinwithout | prep | tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing | amoramorlove | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die Tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing | tienestenerto have | verb | sec pers sing pres | lalathe | def art | fem sing | llavellavekey; wrench; tap, faucet; switch; chokehold | noun | fem sing | dedefrom, of | prep | mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing | corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing | quieroquererwant, wish; like, love | verb | first pers sing pres | Másmásmore, plus | adv | quequethat, than | conj | mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing | vidavidalife | noun | fem sing | porqueporquebecause | conj | sinsinwithout | prep | tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing | amoramorlove | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die
[Outro] Ay, DiosDiosGod | noun | masc sing | YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die YoyoI | pron | first pers sing | mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing | mueromorirto die | verb | first pers sing pres | morirse = to die
Lyrics with Translation
Songs in any language often leave room for multiple interpretations. Following is my interpretation of the song lyrics.
La Tierra Del Olvido The Land Of Oblivion
[Verse 1] Como la luna que alumbra por la noche los caminos Like the moon that lights the roads at night Como las hojas al viento, como el sol espanta al frío Like leaves in the wind, like the sun frightens the cold Como la tierra a la lluvia, como el mar espera al río Like the earth for the rain, like the sea waits for the river Así espero tu regreso a la tierra del olvido In this way I wait for your return to the land of oblivion
[Verse 2] Como naufragan mis miedos si navego en tu mirada Like my fears sink if I sail in your gaze Como alertas mis sentidos con tu voz enamorada Like you alert my senses with your loving voice Con tu sonrisa de niña como me mueves el alma With your little girl smile as you move my soul Como me quitas el sueño, como me robas la calma Like you take away my sleep, like you steal my calm
[Chorus] Tú tienes la llave de mi corazón You have the key to my heart Yo te quiero I love you Mas que mi vida porque sin tu amor More than my life because without your love Yo me muero I’m dying Tú tienes la llave de mi corazón You have the key to my heart Yo te quiero I love you Mas que mi vida porque sin tu amor More than my life because without your love Yo me muero I’m dying
[Verse 1] Como la luna que alumbra por la noche los caminos Like the moon that lights the roads at night Como las hojas al viento, como el sol espanta al frío Like leaves in the wind, like the sun frightens the cold Como la tierra a la lluvia, como el mar espera al río Like the earth for the rain, like the sea waits for the river Así espero tu regreso a la tierra del olvido In this way I wait for your return to the land of oblivion
[Chorus] Tú tienes la llave de mi corazón You have the key to my heart Yo te quiero I love you Mas que mi vida porque sin tu amor More than my life because without your love Yo me muero I’m dying Tú tienes la llave de mi corazón You have the key to my heart Yo te quiero I love you Mas que mi vida porque sin tu amor More than my life because without your love Yo me muero I’m dying
[Post-Chorus] Yo me muero I’m dying Yo me muero I’m dying Yo me muero I’m dying Yo me muero I’m dying
[Chorus] Tú tienes la llave de mi corazón You have the key to my heart Yo te quiero I love you Mas que mi vida porque sin tu amor More than my life because without your love Yo me muero I’m dying Tú tienes la llave de mi corazón You have the key to my heart Yo te quiero I love you Mas que mi vida porque sin tu amor More than my life because without your love Yo me muero I’m dying
[Outro] Ay, Dios Oh, God Yo me muero I’m dying Yo me muero I’m dying Yo me muero I’m dying Yo me muero I’m dying
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