“Canción Bonita” is a collaboration between Colombian singer Carlos Vives and Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was released in April of 2021 and is a mixture of Latin pop and vallenato, a popular folk music genre of Colombia.  The song was successful throughout Latin America, reaching number one in 12 countries, including Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. It reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.

Song information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘tengo razones’ – I have seen numerous translations of this song that translate this phrase as “I’m right”, but I don’t feel this is a correct translation. While ‘tener razón’ does mean ‘to be right’, here ‘razón’ appears in the plural ‘razones’. Also, in context this phrase is continued onto the next line ‘para buscarte y volverte a hablar’. I have therefore translated this as ‘I have reasons to look for you’.

‘Calle San Sebastián’ – This is a street in the old part of San Juan, Puerto Rico, best known for Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián (San Sebastían Street Festival), a street fair that ends the Christmas season. It’s Puerto Rico’s most popular festival.

‘Alaska’ – This is the northernmost and westernmost state in the United States.

‘Buenos Aires’ – this is the capital and largest city of Argentina.

‘London’ – This is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom.

‘New York’ – This could refer either to the state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States, or the city of New York, which is the most populous city in the United States.

‘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).

‘ir a + infinitive’ – The verb ‘ir’ means ‘to go’. As in English, when this verb is used with a place, it implies movement towards that place. But when it is used with another verb in the infinitive it implies that that action will be performed in the future. For example ‘voy a la tienda’ (I am going to the store) vs ‘voy a comer’ (I am going to eat).

‘volver a hacer’ – Literally translating as ‘to return to do’, this phrase means ‘to do again’. The verb ‘hacer’ can be replaced with any verb, and the meaning is that the action of that verb will be done again. For example, in this song we see ‘vuelvo a caer’ meaning ‘I fall again’ and ‘vuelvo a perder’ meaning ‘I lose again’.

‘apretaíta’ – Full disclosure, I can’t find any dictionary that contains this word. I have found it used on the internet in just a handful of places. In context it seems to me that it must be a version of the adjective ‘apretado’ which means ‘cramped’, ‘tight’, ‘busy’, ‘close’ or ‘narrow’.

‘-ita’ – There are several examples of the diminutive form in this song. It is achieved by adding ‘-ito’ to the end of masculine nouns, or ‘-ita’ to the end of feminine nouns. While the diminutive form can mean less than or smaller than the normal noun (i.e. ‘cosita’ could be understood as ‘little thing’), often it is simply a stylistic change, with no change in meaning. The following are the diminutive examples in this song:

	Diminutive	Term	Meaning
	boquita	boca	mouth
	carita	cara	face; head; look
	cosita	cosa	thing

Activities

We’ve created flashcards, games, and exercises to practice vocabulary and grammatical concepts found in this song. Check out our Activities Page to take your learning further!

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

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

Cancióncanciónsong | noun | fem sing Bonitabonitopretty, beautiful; nice, lovely | adj | fem sing

[Pre-Chorus 1]
Tengotenerto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep unaunaa, an | art, indef | fem sing libretalibretanotebook | noun | fem sing tantastantoso much, so many, so long | pron | fem pl cancionescanciónsong | noun | fem pl
Tienetenerto have | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing nombrenombrename | noun | masc sing yyand | conj tengotenerto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres razone’razónreason | noun | fem pl (razones)
Paraparafor, to, in order to | prep buscartebuscar + telook for, search for + you | verb, spl chg + pron | infin + sec pers sing dir obj yyand | conj volvertevolver + teto return, come back + you | verb + pron | infin + sec per sing indir obj | volver a hacer = to do again aato, into, by | prep hablarhablarto speak | verb, reg | infin
Dicedecirto say, tell | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep esaesethat | adj | fem sing libretalibretanotebook | noun | fem sing sinsinwithout | prep másmásmore, plus | adv razonesrazónreason | noun | fem pl
Lalathe | art, def | fem sing horahorahour, time | noun | fem sing yyand | conj lalathe | art, def | fem sing fechafechadate | noun | fem sing yyand | conj dosdostwo | adj corazone’corazónheart | noun | masc pl (corazones)
Yyand | conj dicedecirto say, tell | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres Callecallestreet | noun | fem sing SanSanSaint | adj | masc and fem sing SebastiánSebastiánSebastián | noun, prop | name

[Chorus]
Yyand | conj sisiif | conj tengotenerto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres | tener que = to have to quequethat, than; because; let | conj | | tener que = to have to escogerescogerto pick, choose | verb, spl chg | infin
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex | quedarse = to stay, remain quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex | quedarse = to stay, remain quedoquedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain contigocontigowith you | pron
Yyand | conj sisiif | conj yoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub vuelvovolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres aato, into, by | prep SanSanSaint | adj | masc and fem sing JuanJuanJuan | noun, prop | name
YoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub bailo,bailarto dance | verb, reg | first pers sing pres yoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub bailobailarto dance | verb, reg | first pers sing pres contigocontigowith you | pron
Yyand | conj sisiif | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing tengotenerto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres | tener que = to have to quequethat, than; because; let | conj | | tener que = to have to olvidarolvidarto forget | verb, reg | infin
Tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing sabessaberto know | verb, irreg | sec pers sing pres quequethat, than; because; let | conj nononot | adv vairto go | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres | ir a + infin = to be going to do aato, into, by | prep pasarpasarto go ahead, proceed; cross; pass; happen | verb, reg | infin
Yyand | conj sisiif | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing vuelvovolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres | volver a hacer = to do again aato, into, by | prep ververto see | verb, irreg | infin
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedoquedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain contigocontigowith you | pron

[Verse]
Contigocontigowith you | pron desdedesdesince, from | prep AlaskaAlaskaAlaska | noun, prop | US state name aato, into, by | prep Buenos AiresBuenos AiresBuenos Aires | noun, prop | city in Argentina
Contigocontigowith you | pron desdedesdesince, from | prep LondresLondresLondon | noun, prop | city in England hastahastaeven | adv Nueva YorkNueva YorkNew York | noun, prop | US city and state
“Malditomalditocursed, damned; wicked | adj | masc sing castigo”castigopunishment, penalty; burden, pain, headache | noun | masc sing lele(to) him, (to) her, (to) them, it, you | pron | third pers sing, indir obj gritogritarto shout, yell (at) | verb, reg | first pers sing pres ala + elto the | prep + def art aireaireair, wind, breeze; resemblance, look, demeanour | noun | masc sing
Sisiif | conj yoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub sésaberto know | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres quequethat, than; because; let | conj contigocontigowith you | pron siempresiempreevery time, whenever, always | adv estoyestarto be | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres mejormejorbetter; best | adj | masc and fem sing

[Refrain 1]
Tengotenerto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | adj, poss | masc and fem sing libretalibretanotebook | noun | fem sing esaesethat | adj | fem sing cancióncanciónsong | noun | fem sing boricuaboricuaPuerto Rican | adj | masc or fem sing
Esaesethat one | pron | fem sing quequethat, than; because; let | conj escribíescribirto write | verb, reg | first pers sing pret pensandopensarto think | verb, stm chg | ger enenin, on, during | prep tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing boquitabocamouth | noun | fem sing | dim form
YoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub quieroquererto want | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres bailarlabailar + lato dance + it | verb, reg + pron | infin + third pers fem sing dir obj bienbienwell; very | adv apretaíta’Tooltip content
Caritacaraface; head; look | noun | fem sing | dim form conconwith | prep carita,caraface; head; look | noun | fem sing | dim form cositacosathing | noun | fem sing | dim form ricaricorich, wealthy; delicious, tasty | adj | fem sing
Tengotenerto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | adj, poss | masc and fem sing libretalibretanotebook | noun | fem sing esaesethat | adj | fem sing cancióncanciónsong | noun | fem sing bonitabonitopretty, beautiful; nice, lovely | adj | fem sing
Lalashe, it | pron | third pers fem sing quequethat, than; because; let | conj siempre,siempreevery time, whenever, always | adv siempresiempreevery time, whenever, always | adv fueserto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pret tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing favoritafavoritofavorite | adj | fem sing
Lalashe, it | pron | third pers fem sing quequethat, than; because; let | conj siempre,siempreevery time, whenever, always | adv siempresiempreevery time, whenever, always | adv muevemoverto move | verb, stm chg | third pers sing pres tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing boquitabocamouth | noun | fem sing | dim form

[Chorus]
Yyand | conj sisiif | conj tengotenerto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres | tener que = to have to quequethat, than; because; let | conj | | tener que = to have to escogerescogerto pick, choose | verb, spl chg | infin
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex | quedarse = to stay, remain quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex | quedarse = to stay, remain quedoquedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain contigocontigowith you | pron
Yyand | conj sisiif | conj yoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub vuelvovolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres aato, into, by | prep SanSanSaint | adj | masc and fem sing JuanJuanJuan | noun, prop | name
YoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub bailo,bailarto dance | verb, reg | first pers sing pres yoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub bailobailarto dance | verb, reg | first pers sing pres contigocontigowith you | pron
Yyand | conj sisiif | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing tengotenerto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres | tener que = to have to quequethat, than; because; let | conj | | tener que = to have to olvidarolvidarto forget | verb, reg | infin
Tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing sabessaberto know | verb, irreg | sec pers sing pres quequethat, than; because; let | conj nononot | adv vairto go | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres | ir a + infin = to be going to do aato, into, by | prep pasarpasarto go ahead, proceed; cross; pass; happen | verb, reg | infin
Yyand | conj sisiif | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing vuelvovolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres | volver a hacer = to do again aato, into, by | prep ververto see | verb, irreg | infin
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedoquedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain contigocontigowith you | pron

[Pre-Chorus 2]
Guardoguardarkeep, put away; hang on to; guard, watch over; watch out for; avoid | verb, reg | first pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep unaunaa, an | art, indef | fem sing libretalibretanotebook | noun | fem sing dedefrom, of | prep direccione’direccióndirection; address; management | noun | fem pl
Tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing nombrenombrename | noun | masc sing escritoescribirto write | verb, reg | pp yyand | conj unasunasa few | art, indef | fem pl cancione’canciónsong | noun | fem pl (canciones)
Yyand | conj sientosentirto feel; sense; hear; taste; feel about, think about; feel sorry about | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres gana’gana (ganas)desire, interest, urge | noun | fem pl dedefrom, of | prep irteir + teto go + you | verb, irreg | infin | irse = to leave aato, into, by | prep buscarbuscarlook for, search for | verb, spl chg | infin
Dicedecirto say, tell | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep esaesethat | adj | fem sing libretalibretanotebook | noun | fem sing sinsinwithout | prep másmásmore, plus | adv razonesrazónreason | noun | fem pl
Lalathe | art, def | fem sing horahorahour, time | noun | fem sing yyand | conj lalathe | art, def | fem sing fechafechadate | noun | fem sing yyand | conj dosdostwo | adj corazone’corazónheart | noun | masc pl (corazones)
Yyand | conj dicedecirto say, tell | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres Callecallestreet | noun | fem sing SanSanSaint | adj | masc and fem sing SebastiánSebastiánSebastián | noun, prop | name

[Chorus]
Yyand | conj sisiif | conj tengotenerto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres | tener que = to have to quequethat, than; because; let | conj | | tener que = to have to escogerescogerto pick, choose | verb, spl chg | infin
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex | quedarse = to stay, remain quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex | quedarse = to stay, remain quedoquedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain contigocontigowith you | pron
Yyand | conj sisiif | conj yoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub vuelvovolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres aato, into, by | prep SanSanSaint | adj | masc and fem sing JuanJuanJuan | noun, prop | name
YoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub bailo,bailarto dance | verb, reg | first pers sing pres yoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub bailobailarto dance | verb, reg | first pers sing pres contigocontigowith you | pron
Yyand | conj sisiif | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing tengotenerto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres | tener que = to have to quequethat, than; because; let | conj | | tener que = to have to olvidarolvidarto forget | verb, reg | infin
Tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing sabessaberto know | verb, irreg | sec pers sing pres quequethat, than; because; let | conj nononot | adv vairto go | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres | ir a + infin = to be going to do aato, into, by | prep pasarpasarto go ahead, proceed; cross; pass; happen | verb, reg | infin
Yyand | conj sisiif | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing vuelvovolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres | volver a hacer = to do again aato, into, by | prep ververto see | verb, irreg | infin
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedoquedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain contigocontigowith you | pron

[Bridge]
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedoquedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain contigocontigowith you | pron

[Refrain 2]
Tengotenerto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | adj, poss | masc and fem sing libretalibretanotebook | noun | fem sing esaesethat | adj | fem sing cancióncanciónsong | noun | fem sing boricuaboricuaPuerto Rican | adj | masc or fem sing
Esaesethat one | pron | fem sing quequethat, than; because; let | conj escribíescribirto write | verb, reg | first pers sing pret pensandopensarto think | verb, stm chg | ger enenin, on, during | prep tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing boquitabocamouth | noun | fem sing | dim form
YoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub quieroquererto want | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres bailarlabailar + lato dance + it | verb, reg + pron | infin + third pers fem sing dir obj bienbienwell; very | adv apretaíta’Tooltip content
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedoquedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain contigocontigowith you | pron
Tengotenerto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | adj, poss | masc and fem sing libretalibretanotebook | noun | fem sing esaesethat | adj | fem sing cancióncanciónsong | noun | fem sing bonitabonitopretty, beautiful; nice, lovely | adj | fem sing
Lalashe, it | pron | third pers fem sing quequethat, than; because; let | conj siempre,siempreevery time, whenever, always | adv siempresiempreevery time, whenever, always | adv fueserto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pret tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing favoritafavoritofavorite | adj | fem sing
Lalashe, it | pron | third pers fem sing quequethat, than; because; let | conj siempre,siempreevery time, whenever, always | adv siempresiempreevery time, whenever, always | adv muevemoverto move | verb, stm chg | third pers sing pres tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing boquitabocamouth | noun | fem sing | dim form
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedo,quedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedoquedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | first pers sing pres | quedarse = to stay, remain contigocontigowith you | pron

Lyrics with Translation

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

Canción Bonita
Beautiful Song

[Pre-Chorus 1]
Tengo en una libreta tantas canciones
I have in a notebook so many songs
Tiene tu nombre y tengo razone’
It has your name and I have reasons
Para buscarte y volverte a hablar
To look for you and to talk to you again
Dice en esa libreta sin más razones
It says in that notebook with no other reasons
La hora y la fecha y dos corazone’
The time and the date and two hearts
Y dice Calle San Sebastián
And it says San Sebastián Street

[Chorus]
Y si tengo que escoger
And if I have to choose
Me quedo, me quedo contigo
I’ll stay, I’ll stay with you
Y si yo vuelvo a San Juan
And if I go back to San Juan
Yo bailo, yo bailo contigo
I’ll dance, I’ll dance with you
Y si te tengo que olvidar
And if I have to forget you
Tú sabes que no va a pasar
You know it’s not going to happen
Y si te vuelvo a ver
And if I see you again
Me quedo, me quedo, me quedo, me quedo, me quedo contigo
I’ll stay, I’ll stay, I’ll stay, I’ll stay, I’ll stay with you

[Verse]
Contigo desde Alaska a Buenos Aires
With you from Alaska to Buenos Aires
Contigo desde Londres hasta Nueva York
With you from London to New York
“Maldito castigo” le grito al aire
“Damn punishment” I yell at the air
Si yo sé que contigo siempre estoy mejor
If I know I’m always better with you

[Refrain 1]
Tengo en mi libreta esa canción boricua
I have in my notebook that Puerto Rican song
Esa que escribí pensando en tu boquita
That one that I wrote thinking about your mouth
Yo quiero bailarla bien apretaíta’
I want to dance it close together
Carita con carita, cosita rica
Face with face, rich thing
Tengo en mi libreta esa canción bonita
I have that beautiful song in my notebook
La que siempre, siempre fue tu favorita
The one that was always, always your favorite
La que siempre, siempre mueve tu boquita
The one that always, always moves your mouth

[Chorus]
Y si tengo que escoger
And if I have to choose
Me quedo, me quedo contigo
I’ll stay, I’ll stay with you
Y si yo vuelvo a San Juan
And if I go back to San Juan
Yo bailo, yo bailo contigo
I’ll dance, I’ll dance with you
Y si te tengo que olvidar
And if I have to forget you
Tú sabes que no va a pasar
You know it’s not going to happen
Y si te vuelvo a ver
And if I see you again
Me quedo, me quedo, me quedo, me quedo, me quedo contigo
I’ll stay, I’ll stay, I’ll stay, I’ll stay, I’ll stay with you

[Pre-Chorus 2]
Guardo en una libreta de direccione’
I keep in an address book
Tu nombre escrito y unas cancione’
Your name written and a few songs
Y siento gana’ de irte a buscar
And I feel like going to look for you
Dice en esa libreta sin más razones
It says in that notebook with no other reasons
La hora y la fecha y dos corazone’
The time and the date and two hearts
Y dice Calle San Sebastián
And it says San Sebastián Street

[Chorus]
Y si tengo que escoger
And if I have to choose
Me quedo, me quedo contigo
I’ll stay, I’ll stay with you
Y si yo vuelvo a San Juan
And if I go back to San Juan
Yo bailo, yo bailo contigo
I’ll dance, I’ll dance with you
Y si te tengo que olvidar
And if I have to forget you
Tú sabes que no va a pasar
You know it’s not going to happen
Y si te vuelvo a ver
And if I see you again
Me quedo, me quedo, me quedo, me quedo, me quedo contigo
I’ll stay, I’ll stay, I’ll stay, I’ll stay, I’ll stay with you

[Bridge]
Me quedo, me quedo, me quedo contigo
I’ll stay, I’ll stay, I’ll stay with you

[Refrain 2]
Tengo en mi libreta esa canción boricua
I have in my notebook that Puerto Rican song
Esa que escribí pensando en tu boquita
That one that I wrote thinking about your mouth
Yo quiero bailarla bien apretaíta’
I want to dance it close together
Me quedo, me quedo, me quedo contigo
I’ll stay, I’ll stay, I’ll stay with you
Tengo en mi libreta esa canción bonita
I have that beautiful song in my notebook
La que siempre, siempre fue tu favorita
The one that was always, always your favorite
La que siempre, siempre mueve tu boquita
The one that always, always moves your mouth
Me quedo, me quedo, me quedo contigo
I’ll stay, I’ll stay, I’ll stay with you

Grammatical Concepts Used in this Song

• Possessive Adjectives:
  • Tiene tu nombre y tengo razone’
  • Esa que escribí pensando en tu boquita
  • La que siempre, siempre fue tu favorita
  • La que siempre, siempre mueve tu boquita
  • Tu nombre escrito y unas cancione’
  • Tengo en mi libreta esa canción boricua
  • Tengo en mi libreta esa canción bonita
  • Tengo en mi libreta esa canción boricua
  • Tengo en mi libreta esa canción bonita

• Object Pronoun:
  • Para buscarte y volverte a hablar
  • Y si te tengo que olvidar
  • Y si te vuelvo a ver
  • “Maldito castigo” le grito al aire
  • Yo quiero bailarla bien apretaíta’
  • Y siento gana’ de irte a buscar

• Reflexive Pronouns:
  • Me quedo, me quedo contigo
  • Me quedo, me quedo, me quedo, me quedo, me quedo contigo
  • Me quedo, me quedo, me quedo contigo

• Irregular Verbs:
  • saber:
    • Tú sabes que no va a pasar
    • Si yo sé que contigo siempre estoy mejor
  • ir:
    • Tú sabes que no va a pasar
  • estar:
    • Si yo sé que contigo siempre estoy mejor
• Stem-Changing Verbs:
  • tener (e > ie):
    • Tengo en una libreta tantas canciones
    • Tiene tu nombre y tengo razone’
    • Y si tengo que escoger
    • Y si te tengo que olvidar
    • Tengo en mi libreta esa canción boricua
    • Tengo en mi libreta esa canción bonita
  • decir (e > i):
    • Dice en esa libreta sin más razones
    • Y dice Calle San Sebastián
  • volver (o > ue):
    • Y si yo vuelvo a San Juan
    • Y si te vuelvo a ver
  • querer (e > ie):
    • Yo quiero bailarla bien apretaíta’
  • mover (o > ue):
    • La que siempre, siempre mueve tu boquita
  • sentir (e > ie):
    • Y siento gana’ de irte a buscar

• Near Future (ir a + infin):
  • Tú sabes que no va a pasar

• Reflexive:
  • Me quedo, me quedo contigo
  • Me quedo, me quedo, me quedo, me quedo, me quedo contigo
  • Me quedo, me quedo, me quedo contigo

• Gerund:
  • Esa que escribí pensando en tu boquita

• Preterite:
  • La que siempre, siempre fue tu favorita
  • Esa que escribí pensando en tu boquita