Oh how I’ve missed La Oreja de Van Gogh, and I’m so glad to see them releasing music again. So of course I had to get them on this site.

After four years of silence, Spanish pop band La Oreja de Van Gogh released the single “Abrázame” in April of this year. The single will appear on their upcoming album, slated to be released in September. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic the originally planned video was unable to be produced, and the song was instead released with an animated video.

About the Artists

La Oreja de Van Gogh (Van Gogh’s Ear) is a pop band from San Sebastián, (Donostia in Basque), a coastal city located in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. The band was started in 1996 by four college students, Xabi San Martín (keyboard), Pablo Benegas (guitar), Álvaro Fuentes (bass guitar) and Haritz Garde (drums), under the provisional name Los Sin Nombre (The Nameless). They originally performed covers with San Martín as the lead vocalist, but as they began to write songs they decided they wanted to recruit a female lead vocalist, and Amaia Montero was brought in. Montero provided the group name, inspired by the story of Vincent Van Gogh severing one of his ears.

They got their start by winning a local music festival, allowing them to record a 4-song EP. They then sent their songs to local record companies, and were eventually signed by Epic Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music. In 1998 they released their first album Dile al sol which was certified 7-times platinum and won the group the Ondas Award for Best New Act. Their successive albums have also seen success, with numerous international hits in most Spanish-speaking countries, and establishing them as one of the most popular bands in both Spain and Latin America. Their forth album Guapa was Spain’s best-selling album in 2006 and won a Latin Grammy award for Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group. Since their debut, they have sold more than 8 million albums worldwide. In 2007 Amaia Montero left the group and was replaced by Leire Martínez, who was found on the Spanish reality show Factor X.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘tener que’ – While by itself the verb ‘tener’ means ‘to have’, when followed by ‘que’ it means to have to do, for example ‘tengo que irme’ (I have to leave), or ‘tienes que hacer tus deberes’ (you have to do your homework). As opposed to ‘haber que’ below, ‘tener que’ takes a specific subject and the verb ‘tener’ conjugates for that subject.

‘nacer muerto’ – Literally translating as ‘to be born dead’, this phrase often translates as ‘stillborn’. In this context however, as the song is speaking of a thing rather than a person, the translation ‘dead on arrival’ seemed more correct to me.

‘me cuesta’ – When something is difficult or hard, or a struggle to do, in Spanish one says that it ‘costs’ that person to do it using the verb ‘costar’. For example if I find singing to be difficult I could say ‘me cuesta cantar’ (literally singing costs me).

‘caer’ vs ‘caerse’ – are typically translated as ‘to fall’, the reflexive form often suggests that the action was unexpected or accidental rather than deliberate.

‘del’ – This is one of only a couple contractions in Spanish. When ‘de’ is followed by ‘el’ it becomes ‘del’.

‘haber que’ – Like ‘tener que’, ‘haber que’ means to have to do. However ‘haber que’ is used in the more general sense of ‘it is necessary to’, and does not take a subject, rather it will always conjugate in the third person singular (‘hay’). For example ‘Hay que estudiar mucho’, meaning ‘it is necessary to study a lot’ or ‘one must study a lot’.

‘al’ – This is the other contraction in Spanish. When ‘a’ is followed by ‘el’ it becomes ‘al’.

‘ala’ – This is a feminine noun meaning ‘wing’, however it is somewhat unique. As the word begins with an initial stressed ‘a’, the singular form is proceeded by ‘el’ and ‘un’ rather than ‘la’ and ‘una’.

‘Que se lleve la brisa’ – This is an example of the imperative tense being used in the third person to suggest or order that a third party or parties be allowed or made to do something. A famous example of this in English would be “Let them eat cake”. Here the phrase means ‘Let the breeze take…’.

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

Mouse over a term for grammatical information. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.

Abrázameabrazar + mehug, hold, embrace; adopt, espouse + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera

[Verse 1]
Sisiif | conj hashaberto have | verb | sec pers sing pres | aux verb used with the pp in the pret perf tenidotenerto have | verb | pp | tener que = to have to quequethat, than | conj | tener que = to have to pensarpensarto think | verb | infin sisiif | conj mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing lolohim, it | pron | masc sing, neuter dabasdarto give | verb | sec pers sing imperf ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing llegarllegarto reach, arrive | verb | infin
Eseesethat | adj | masc sing besobesokiss | noun | masc sing naciónacerbe born; originate in | verb | third pers sing pret muertomuertodead, deceased | adj | masc sing
Sisiif | conj aato, into, by | prep ununa | indef art | masc sing centímetrocentímetrocentimeter | noun | masc sing dedefrom, of | prep mímíme | pron | first pers sing, obj of prep nononot | adv sesehimself, herself, itself, themselves | pron | reflex, third pers sing and pl arrodillaarrodillarseto kneel | verb | third pers sing pres tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing
Entoncesentoncesthen, so | adv nononot | adv lolohim, it | pron | masc sing, neuter quieroquererwant, wish; like, love | verb | first pers sing pres
Yyand | conj cadacadaeach, every | adj vezveztime | noun | fem sing mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing cuestacostarcost; be difficult/hard, find it difficult/hard, struggle to do | verb | third pers sing pres másmásmore | adv guardarguardarkeep, put away; hang on to; guard, watch over; watch out for; avoid | verb | infin lalathe | def art | fem sing lunalunamoon | noun | fem sing ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing despertardespertarto wake up; come to one's senses | verb | infin
Porqueporquebecause | conj esserto be | verb | third pers sing pres dedefrom, of | prep nochenochenight | noun | fem sing aquíaquíhere, now | adv enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing pechopechochest; breasts | noun | masc sing
Nuestranuestroours | poss adj | fem sing estrellaestrellastar | noun | fem sing sesehimself, herself, itself, themselves | pron | reflex, third pers sing and pl cayócaerfall; drop; catch on | verb | third pers sing pret | caerse = to fall (unexpectedly) yyand | conj nosnosus, to us, for us, ourselves, each other | pron | dir obj, indir obj, reflex, first pers pl partiópartirleave, depart; divide, share | verb | thid pers sing pret lalathe | def art | fem sing casacasahouse | noun | fem sing enenin, on, during | prep dosdostwo | adj
Caminocaminoroad; way, path; journey, trip | noun | masc sing delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing infiernoinfiernohell | noun | masc sing

[Chorus]
Abrázame,abrazar + mehug, hold, embrace; adopt, espouse + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera abrázameabrazar + mehug, hold, embrace; adopt, espouse + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera
Quequethat, than; because | conj elelthe | def art | masc sing solsolsun | noun | masc sing sesehimself, herself, itself, themselves | pron | reflex, third pers sing and pl vairto go | verb | third pers sing pres | irse = to go yyand | conj hayhaberthere is, are | verb | third pers sing impersonal pres | haber que hacer algo = need to do sth, have to do sth, should do sth quequethat, than | conj volvervolverto return, come back | verb | infin
Abrázame,abrazar + mehug, hold, embrace; adopt, espouse + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera quequethat, than; because | conj tengotenerto have | verb | first pers sing pres | tener miedo = to be afraid miedomiedofear, apprehension | noun | masc sing
Aato, into, by | prep nononot | adv volver,volverto return, come back | verb | infin aato, into, by | prep nononot | adv volvervolverto return, come back | verb | infin

[Verse 2]
Fueserto be | verb | third pers sing pret tantanso, such; as | adv bonitobonitopretty, beautiful; nice, lovely | adj | masc sing imaginarimaginarimagine; envision; suppose | verb | infin quequethat, than | conj eraserto be | verb | third pers sing imperf posibleposiblepossible | adj | masc and fem sing caminarcaminarto walk | verb | infin
Descalzosdescalzobarefoot | adj | masc pl porporfor; because of; by; through | prep elelthe | def art | masc sing tiempotiempotime | noun | masc sing
Lalathe | def art | fem sing rutinarutinaroutine | noun | fem sing mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing enseñóenseñarto teach; to show | verb | third pers sing pret entreentreamong, between, in | prep tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl dedosdedofinger | noun | masc pl ununa | indef art | masc sing mechónmechónlock (of hair) | noun | masc sing
Dedefrom, of | prep lolohim, it | pron | masc sing, neuter quequethat, than | conj fueserto be | verb | third pers sing pret querernosquerer + noswant, wish; like, love + each other | verb + pron | infin
Sisiif | conj tengotenerto have | verb | first pers sing pres cielocielosky, heaven | noun | masc sing ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing quequethat, than | conj mirarmirarlook, watch | verb | infin yyand | conj estasestosthese | pron | fem pl dosdostwo | adj alasalawing | noun | fem pl | nouns with initial stressed 'a' are preceeded by 'el' paraparafor, to, in order to | prep volarvolarto fly; to steal | verb | infin
¿Porporfor; because of; by | prep quéquéwhich, what, how | adv | invariable sigoseguirfollow; pursue; understand; continue | verb | first pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep elelthe | def art | masc sing suelo?sueloground, floor; land | noun | masc sing
Seráserto be | verb | third person sing fut quequethat, than | conj pesapesarweigh; regret; influence, carry weight | verb | third pers sing pres elelthe | def art | masc sing corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing despuésdespuésafter, afterwards, then | adv dedefrom, of | prep tanto,tantoso much, so many, so long | pron tantotantoso much, so many, so long | pron amoramorlove | noun | masc sing
Seráserto be | verb | third person sing fut porqueporquebecause | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing quieroquererwant, wish; like, love | verb | first pers sing pres

[Chorus]
Abrázame,abrazar + mehug, hold, embrace; adopt, espouse + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera abrázameabrazar + mehug, hold, embrace; adopt, espouse + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera
Quequethat, than; because | conj elelthe | def art | masc sing solsolsun | noun | masc sing sesehimself, herself, itself, themselves | pron | reflex, third pers sing and pl vairto go | verb | third pers sing pres | irse = to go yyand | conj hayhaberthere is, are | verb | third pers sing impersonal pres | haber que hacer algo = need to do sth, have to do sth, should do sth quequethat, than | conj volvervolverto return, come back | verb | infin
Abrázame,abrazar + mehug, hold, embrace; adopt, espouse + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera quequethat, than; because | conj tengotenerto have | verb | first pers sing pres | tener miedo = to be afraid miedomiedofear, apprehension | noun | masc sing
Aato, into, by | prep nononot | adv volver,volverto return, come back | verb | infin aato, into, by | prep nononot | adv volvervolverto return, come back | verb | infin
Abrázame,abrazar + mehug, hold, embrace; adopt, espouse + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera abrázameabrazar + mehug, hold, embrace; adopt, espouse + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera
Quequethat, than; because | conj elelthe | def art | masc sing solsolsun | noun | masc sing sesehimself, herself, itself, themselves | pron | reflex, third pers sing and pl vairto go | verb | third pers sing pres | irse = to go yyand | conj hayhaberthere is, are | verb | third pers sing impersonal pres | haber que hacer algo = need to do sth, have to do sth, should do sth quequethat, than | conj volvervolverto return, come back | verb | infin

[Outro]
Nononot | adv teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing vayasirto go | verb | sec pers sing impera (neg) | irse = to leave sinsinwithout | prep mí,míme | pron | first pers sing, obj of prep nononot | adv mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing dejesdejarto let, allow; to leave | verb | sec pers sing impera (neg) atrásatrásback, backwards; behind | adv
Quequethat, than | conj supimossaberto know, be familiar with | first pers pl pret querernosquerer + noswant, wish; like, love + each other | verb + pron | infin comocomolike, as since | adv nadienadieno one, nobody | pron lolohim, it | pron | masc sing, neuter haráhacerto do, to make | verb | third pers sing fut
Caminemoscaminarto walk, go walking | verb | first pers pl impera loslosthe | def art | masc pl dosdostwo | adj haciahaciafor, to, towards; around, approximately | prep elelthe | def art | masc sing mismomismosame | adj | masc sing lugarlugarplace | noun | masc sing
Quequethat, than | conj sesehimself, herself, itself, themselves | pron | reflex, third pers sing and pl llevellevarto have spent time; to carry, take; to lead, bring; to wear | verb | third pers sing impera lalathe | def art | fem sing brisabrisabreeze | noun | fem sing laslasthe | def art | fem pl cenizascenizaash | noun | fem pl | cenizas = ashes, remains ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing marmarocean, sea | noun | masc sing

Lyrics with Translation

Songs in any language often leave room for multiple interpretations. Following is my interpretation of the song lyrics.

Abrázame
Hold me

[Verse 1]
Si has tenido que pensar si me lo dabas al llegar
If you had to think if you were giving it to me when you arrived
Ese beso nació muerto
That kiss was dead on arrival
Si a un centímetro de mí no se arrodilla tu corazón
If, when an inch away from me, your heart doesn’t kneel
Entonces no lo quiero
Then I don’t want it
Y cada vez me cuesta más guardar la luna al despertar
And every time it’s harder to put away the moon when I wake up
Porque es de noche aquí en mi pecho
Because it’s night here in my chest
Nuestra estrella se cayó y nos partió la casa en dos
Our star fell and broke our house in two
Camino del infierno
Path of hell

[Chorus]
Abrázame, abrázame
Hold me, hold me
Que el sol se va y hay que volver
Because the sun is leaving and we have to return
Abrázame, que tengo miedo
Hold me, because I’m scared
A no volver, a no volver
Of not coming back, of not coming back

[Verse 2]
Fue tan bonito imaginar que era posible caminar
It was so nice to imagine that it was possible to walk
Descalzos por el tiempo
Barefoot through time
La rutina me enseñó entre tus dedos un mechón
Routine showed me a lock between your fingers
De lo que fue querernos
Of what it was like to love each other
Si tengo cielo al que mirar y estas dos alas para volar
If I have sky to look at and these two wings to fly
¿Por qué sigo en el suelo?
Why am I still on the ground?
Será que pesa el corazón después de tanto, tanto amor
It will be because the heart regrets after so much, so much love
Será porque te quiero
It will be because I love you

[Chorus]
Abrázame, abrázame
Hold me, hold me
Que el sol se va y hay que volver
Because the sun is leaving and we have to return
Abrázame, que tengo miedo
Hold me, because I’m scared
A no volver, a no volver
Of not coming back, of not coming back
Abrázame, abrázame
Hold me, hold me
Que el sol se va y hay que volver
Because the sun is leaving and we have to return

[Outro]
No te vayas sin mí, no me dejes atrás
Don’t leave without me, don’t leave me behind
Que supimos querernos como nadie lo hará
Because we knew how to love each other like no one will
Caminemos los dos hacia el mismo lugar
Let’s both walk to the same place
Que se lleve la brisa las cenizas al mar
Let the breeze take the ashes to the sea