De Vuelta Pa’ La Vuelta by Daddy Yankee and Marc Anthony

Published by Lyrical Language on May 3, 2021May 3, 2021

And it’s another request! “De Vuelta Pa’ La Vuelta” is a non-album single by Puerto Rican singer Daddy Yankee and American singer of Puerto Rican heritage Marc Anthony. It was released in December of 2020.

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About the Artists

Daddy Yankee

Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, who performs as Daddy Yankee, is a singer, songwriter, rapper, actor and record producer from Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. He is known as the “King of Reggaeton”, and is crediting with coining the term ‘reggaeton’ to describe the musical genre emerging from Puerto Rico in the mid-’90s. He first appeared on DJ Playero’s 1991 mixtape entitled Playero 34 with the song “So’ Persigueme, No Te Detengas”. Throughout the 90’s he would release solo music and appear on several of DJ Playero’s other mixtapes, which would later be regarded as the first reggaeton songs produced. His early music was successful in Puerto Rico, but not throughout Latin America.

His 2004 album Barrio Fino enjoyed international success. It won Billboard’s “Reggaeton Album of the Year” in 2005 and made history as the top-selling Latin music album of the decade for 2000-2009. His 2017 collaboration with Puerto Rican pop singer Luis Fonsi “Despacito” was even more successful. It reached number one on nearly every Latin Billboard chart and is the most-watched YouTube video ever with more than 6.7 billion views as of February 2020. The English remix featuring Justin Bieber is the longest-reigning number one song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 at 16 consecutive weeks. As of 2018 “Despacito” had broken seven Guinness World Records and sold more than 11 million records.

Daddy Yankee has won numerous international awards and is one of the most recognized reggaeton artists within the industry. As of 2017 he had won 5 Latin Grammy Awards, 2 Billboard Music Awards, 14 Billboard Latin Music Awards, 2 Latin American Music Awards, an MTV Video Music Award and 6 ASCAP Awards. He has a star on the Puerto Rican Walk of Fame and was one of Time’s 100 most influential people in 2006. In 2009 he and was named the “Most Influential Hispanic Artist” by CNN and in 2016 he received the “Industry Leader Award” at the Latin Billboard Awards.

Biographical information from Wikipedia

Marc Anthony

Marco Antonio Muñiz, who performs as Marc Anthony, is a singer, songwriter, actor, record executive, television producer and philanthropist from New York City. Born to Puerto Rican parents, Anthony was taught to sing in both English and Spanish by his father, who was a professional guitarist. Named after Mexican singer Marco Antonio Muñiz, he began to perform as Marc Anthony to avoid confusion with his namesake.

Anthony got his start doing freestyle music as a session vocalist for underground acts in New York. He later worked as a songwriter and backup vocalist for pop bands Menudo and Latin Rascals. In 1993 he moved from freestyle to salsa music with the release of his second album, and first Spanish-language album Otra Nota. In 1995 he released another Spanish album entitled Todo a su tiempo, which reached gold certification in the US and Puerto Rico and earned Anthony a Billboard award for Hot Tropical Artist of the Year. The song ” Y Hubo Alguien” from his third Spanish album Contra La Coriente was not only his first number-one single on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart, but was also the first by a salsa musician. The album was the first salsa album to enter the English language Billboard 200 chart.

Having sold more than 12 million albums worldwide, Anthony is the top-selling tropical salsa artist of all time, with numerous gold and platinum certifications. With 32 songs, he has more number-one songs on the Billboard Latin Tropical Airplay chart than any other artist. He holds the Guinness World Records for best-selling tropical/salsa artist and most number-one albums on the Billboard Tropical Albums year-end charts. Among his awards and recognitions are two Grammy Awards, six Latin Grammy Awards, twelve Billboard Latin Music Awards, three Billboard Awards, and 29 Premio Lo Nuestro Latin Music awards, the most for any male artist. He has received the ASCAP Founders Award, was inaugurated into the Billboard Hall of Fame in 2012, and received the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘ni modo’ – This phrase, which would literally translate as ‘not even way’, is used in a couple different ways. It can be used to express resignation about a situation that is out of one’s control and would translate as phrases like, ‘Oh, well’, ‘It is what it is’, ‘No big deal’, or ‘Whatever’. It can also be used to express reluctance or resistance to doing something and would translate with phrases such as ‘There is no way’, ‘There is no point’, or ‘Are you nuts?’.

‘anda y ve’ – The verb ‘ve’ is the second person singular (tú) imperative form of both the verbs ‘ver’ and ‘ir’. Often this phrase will use ‘ver’ and means ‘go and see’, however ‘ir’ can also be used. I feel the second usage makes more sense in this context, as there is nothing to be seen. As both ‘andar’ and ‘ir’ mean ‘go’ we would simply translate this use with one single ‘go’, so ‘anda y ve, dile a la gente’ means ‘go and tell the people’ rather than ‘go and go, tell the people’.

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

‘saber’ vs ‘saberse’ – Both of these verbs mean to know and are virtually interchangeable. However, the pronominal (saberse) often implies that one knows something very well, completely, inside and out, every bit of it, or as we might say, ‘by heart’.

‘temblar el pulso’ – Literally translating as ‘the pulse trembles’, this phrase can either mean that your hands shake or are unsteady, or ‘to not have the nerve’ or ‘to hesitate’. In this context, with the term ‘apunta’ meaning ‘aim’ I chose the first meaning, though either could fit here.

‘gente’ – This term means ‘people’ in Spanish. However, despite the fact that it refers to more than one person, this is a singular noun and conjugates in the third person singular, like ‘él’ or ‘ella’.

‘quedar mal’ – Literally translating as ‘to remain bad’ this phrase means ‘to make a bad impression’.

‘lo que’ – Literally translating as ‘it that’, this phrase better translates as ‘what’, ‘whatever’, or ‘which’.

‘ir a’ – 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 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).

‘estar de vueta’ – Literally translating as ‘to be of return’, as one would likely guess, this phrase means ‘to be back’.

‘el que’ – Literally translating as ‘the that’, this phrase means ‘the one who/that’ or ‘the person who/that’.

‘trampita’ – This is a diminutive form of the term ‘trampa’ meaning ‘trap’ or ‘trick’. 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. ‘little traps’), often it is simply a stylistic change, with no change in meaning.

‘burlarse de’ – The verb ‘burlar’ is one of a number of verbs that change meaning when made pronominal. ‘Burlar’ means ‘to evade’, ‘to get by’, ‘to slip past’, ‘to outwit’, ‘to outsmart’ or ‘to overcome’. ‘Burlarse’ means ‘to make fun of’, ‘to mock’ or ‘to ridicule’.

‘felicidades’ – The term ‘felicidad’ means ‘happiness’, ‘fortune’, or ‘prosperity’. The plural form, when used as an interjections mean ‘congratulations’.

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.

De Vuelta Pa’ La Vuelta

[Verse 1]

[Chorus]

[Post-Chorus 1]

[Verse 2]

[Chorus]

[Post-Chorus 2]

Lyrics with Translation

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

De Vuelta Pa’ La Vuelta
Back for the Return

[Verse 1]
Antes de que digas nada ya tus ojos me confirman todo
Before you say anything your eyes confirm everything to me
E’ verdad lo que me dicen y para negarlo ya e’ muy tarde
What they tell me is the truth and it’s already too late to deny it
Me cuidaba de persona’ como tú, pero al final ni modo
I guarded myself from people like you, but in the end it is what it is, nothing could be done
Soy humano y tengo mucho’ má’ defecto’ de lo que tú sabes
I’m human and I have a lot more flaws than you know
De mí te burlaste y sé que lo hiciste con gusto
You made fun of me and I know you did it with pleasure
Pa’ eso ere’ experta, apunta, si nunca te tiembla el pulso
You’re an expert at that, aim, if your hands don’t shake
Cuando haga’ tus maleta’ no olvide’ llevar tu orgullo
When I pack your suitcases don’t forget to take your pride
Lo vas a necesitar pa’ cuando quiera’ regresar
You’re gonna need it for when you want to come back

[Chorus]
Ya no eres bienvenida aquí
You’re not welcome here anymore
Si tu amor fue una mentira, vete y sé feliz
If your love was a lie, leave and be happy
No te preocupe’ por mí
Don’t worry about me
Que voy a estar mejor sin ti
I’ll be better off without you
Anda y ve, dile a la gente que yo te jodí
Go and tell people I f*cked you
Pa’ que no quede’ mal aquí
So that you don’t make a bad impression here
Y está claro que perdiste cuando me perdiste
And it’s clear that you lost when you lost me
Y yo perdí cuando te conocí
And I lost when I met you

[Post-Chorus 1]
De vuelta pa’ la vuelta
Back for the return
Voy a amarrar a to’a la’ que anden suelta’
I’m going to tie up all those who are loose
De vuelta pa’ la vuelta
Back for the return
Me voy a levantar hasta la’ que anden muerta’
I’m going to lift up even those who are dead
De vuelta pa’ la vuelta
Back for the return
Trampa, trampita, ‘tá descubierta
Trap, trap, it’s exposed
De vuelta pa’ la vuelta
Back for the return
Tú tenía la llave, pero te rompí la puerta
You had the key, but I broke down your door

[Verse 2]
Cúlpame de tu’ dolore’
Blame me for your sorrows
El papel de víctima siempre tiene defensore’
The role of the victim always has defenders
Al que miente lo adoran
The one who lies is adored
Al que dice la verdad lo ahorcan
The one who tells the truth is hanged
Felicidade’, te ganaste un Oscar
Congratulations, you won an Oscar
Dios, que mi camino alumbre de tus costumbre’
God, let my way be lit up by your traditions
Pa’ ti to’ los día’ son 31 ‘e octubre
For you every day is the October 31st
Siempre con la máscara puesta
Always wearing a mask
Si se te cae una, tiene’ otra de respuesta
If one falls, you have another in answer
Ojo’ que no ven, corazón de qué
Eyes that don’t see, heart of what
Si e’ que no te vi, tu’ mentira’, yo me la’ sé, eh
If I didn’t see you, your lies, I know them, eh
Pensé que era’ perfecta, ahora puedo reconocer
I thought you were perfect, now I can recognize
Que tu único defecto fue nacer
That your only fault was being born

[Post-Chorus 2]
De vuelta pa’ la vuelta
Back for the return
No ere’ bienvenida, bienvenida aquí
You’re not welcome, welcome here
De vuelta pa’ la vuelta
Back for the return
Sigue en tu viaje y vete por ahí
Keep on your way and go
De vuelta pa’ la vuelta
Back for the return
Anda y dile a la gente que yo te jodí
Go and tell people I f*cked you
De vuelta pa’ la vuelta
Back for the return
Pero no, pero no, pero no, pero no, pero no, pero no, pero no
But no, but no, but no, but no, but no, but no, but no
Pero no, pero no, pero no, pero no, pero yo no fui el que aquí perdí
But no, but no, but no, but no, but I wasn’t the one who lost here

Grammatical Concepts Used in this Song

Possessive Adjectives: tu, tus, mi
- Cuando haga’ tus maleta’ no olvide’ llevar tu orgullo
- Si tu amor fue una mentira, vete y sé feliz
- Que tu único defecto fue nacer
- Sigue en tu viaje y vete por ahí
- Antes de que digas nada ya tus ojos me confirman todo
- Dios, que mi camino alumbre de tus costumbre’

Object Pronouns:
- E’ verdad lo que me dicen y para negarlo ya e’ muy tarde
- Soy humano y tengo mucho’ má’ defecto’ de lo que tú sabes
- De mí te burlaste y sé que lo hiciste con gusto
- Lo vas a necesitar pa’ cuando quiera’ regresar
- Al que miente lo adoran
- Al que dice la verdad lo ahorcan
- Antes de que digas nada ya tus ojos me confirman todo
- Y está claro que perdiste cuando me perdiste
- Cúlpame de tu’ dolore’
- De mí te burlaste y sé que lo hiciste con gusto
- Pa’ eso ere’ experta, apunta, si nunca te tiembla el pulso
- Anda y ve, dile a la gente que yo te jodí
- Y yo perdí cuando te conocí
- Tú tenía la llave, pero te rompí la puerta
- Si se te cae una, tiene’ otra de respuesta
- Si e’ que no te vi, tu’ mentira’, yo me la’ sé, eh

Reflexive Pronouns:
- Me cuidaba de persona’ como tú, pero al final ni modo
- Me voy a levantar hasta la’ que anden muerta’
- Si e’ que no te vi, tu’ mentira’, yo me la’ sé, eh
- Si tu amor fue una mentira, vete y sé feliz
- No te preocupe’ por mí
- Felicidade’, te ganaste un Oscar
- Sigue en tu viaje y vete por ahí
- De mí te burlaste y sé que lo hiciste con gusto

Disjunctive Pronouns: mí ti
- De mí te burlaste y sé que lo hiciste con gusto
- Pa’ ti to’ los día’ son 31 ‘e octubre

Demonstrative Pronoun:
- Pa’ eso ere’ experta, apunta, si nunca te tiembla el pulso

Irregular Verbs:
- Ser:
  - E’ verdad lo que me dicen y para negarlo ya e’ muy tarde
  - Si e’ (es) que no te vi, tu’ mentira’, yo me la’ sé, eh
  - Pa’ eso ere’ (eres) experta, apunta, si nunca te tiembla el pulso
  - Ya no eres bienvenida aquí
  - No ere’ (eres) bienvenida, bienvenida aquí
  - Soy humano y tengo mucho’ má’ defecto’ de lo que tú sabes
- Saber:
  - Soy humano y tengo mucho’ má’ defecto’ de lo que tú sabes
  - De mí te burlaste y sé que lo hiciste con gusto
- Ir:
  - Que voy a estar mejor sin ti
  - Voy a amarrar a to’a la’ que anden suelta’
  - Me voy a levantar hasta la’ que anden muerta’
  - Lo vas a necesitar pa’ cuando quiera’ regresar
- Estar:
  - Y está claro que perdiste cuando me perdiste
  - Trampa, trampita, ‘tá (está) descubierta
- Caer:
  - Si se te cae una, tiene’ otra de respuesta
- Ver:
  - Ojo’ que no ven, corazón de qué
Stem-Changing Verbs:
- Decir (e > i):
  - E’ verdad lo que me dicen y para negarlo ya e’ muy tarde
  - Al que dice la verdad lo ahorcan
- Tener (e > ie):
  - Soy humano y tengo mucho’ má’ defecto’ de lo que tú sabes
  - El papel de víctima siempre tiene defensore’
  - Si se te cae una, tiene’ (tienes) otra de respuesta
- Temblar (e > ie):
  - Pa’ eso ere’ experta, apunta, si nunca te tiembla el pulso
- Mentir (e > ie):
  - Al que miente lo adoran
- Poder (o > ue):
  - Pensé que era’ perfecta, ahora puedo reconocer

Near Future (ir a + infin):
- Que voy a estar mejor sin ti
- Voy a amarrar a to’a la’ que anden suelta’
- Me voy a levantar hasta la’ que anden muerta’
- Lo vas a necesitar pa’ cuando quiera’ regresar

Reflexive/Pronominal Verbs :
- Me cuidaba de persona’ como tú, pero al final ni modo
- Me voy a levantar hasta la’ que anden muerta’
- Si e’ que no te vi, tu’ mentira’, yo me la’ sé, eh
- Si tu amor fue una mentira, vete y sé feliz
- No te preocupe’ (preocupes) por mí
- Felicidade’, te ganaste un Oscar
- Sigue en tu viaje y vete por ahí
- De mí te burlaste y sé que lo hiciste con gusto
- Si se te cae una, tiene’ otra de respuesta

Imperative:
- Si tu amor fue una mentira, vete y sé feliz
- Anda y ve, dile a la gente que yo te jodí
- Anda y dile a la gente que yo te jodí
- Pa’ eso ere’ experta, apunta, si nunca te tiembla el pulso
- No te preocupe’ (preocupes) por mí
- Cúlpame de tu’ dolore’
- Sigue en tu viaje y vete por ahí

Preterite:
- De mí te burlaste y sé que lo hiciste con gusto
- Si tu amor fue una mentira, vete y sé feliz
- Que tu único defecto fue nacer
- Si e’ que no te vi, tu’ mentira’, yo me la’ sé, eh
- Pero no, pero no, pero no, pero no, pero yo no fui el que aquí perdí
- Anda y ve, dile a la gente que yo te jodí
- Anda y dile a la gente que yo te jodí
- Tú tenía la llave, pero te rompí la puerta
- Felicidade’, te ganaste un Oscar
- Pensé que era’ perfecta, ahora puedo reconocer
- Y yo perdí cuando te conocí
- Y está claro que perdiste cuando me perdiste

Imperfect:
- Tú tenía la llave, pero te rompí la puerta
- Pensé que era’ (eras) perfecta, ahora puedo reconocer
- Me cuidaba de persona’ como tú, pero al final ni modo

Subjunctive: quiera’
- Antes de que digas nada ya tus ojos me confirman todo
- Cuando haga’ (hagas) tus maleta’ no olvide’ llevar tu orgullo
- Pa’ que no quede’ (quedes) mal aquí
- Dios, que mi camino alumbre de tus costumbre’
- Lo vas a necesitar pa’ cuando quiera’ (quieras) regresar