Translation of the song Princesa artist Joan Manuel Serrat
Princesa
Princess
Tú no. princesa, Tú eres distinta.
Not you, princess, you're different.
no eres como las demás chicas del barrio
You're not like the other girls of suburb
Así los hombres te mira como te miran
That's how the men look at you that way
Así murmura el envidioso vecindario
That's how the neighborhood murmurs with envy.
Tú no princesa. Tú no. Tú eres la rosa
Not you, princess, not you. You're the rose
que fue a nacer entre cardos como revancha
who was born among thistles as a revenge
a un arrabal despiadado en donde el día
to a heartless suburb where the day
se ocupa de echar por tierra toda esperanza.
takes charge in destroying any hope.
Tú no has de ser consumida,
You won't be consumed,
como la vida pasó de largo.
like life passed by.
maltratada y mal querida,
Mistreated and disliked
sin ver cumplida ni una promesa
without seeing a single promise kept.
le dice mientras cepilla el pelo
She says while brushes the hair
de su princesa.
of her princess.
Tú no, princesa, Tú no. Tú no has nacido
Not you, princess, not you. You weren't born
para pasar las fatigas que yo pasé
to suffer the fatigues I suffered
sacandole al dobladillo a un miserable
taking off to a miserable's turn-up
salario que no alcanza a fin de mes.
an income that can't make ends meet.
Tú no, princesa. tú no: por Dios te lo juro
Not you, princess, not you: I swear for God
tú no andarás de rodillas fregando pisos,
you won't end on your knees mopping floors,
no acabaras hecha un zarrio como tu madre
you won't end like a rag like your mother
cansada de quitar mierda y de parir hijos.
tired of cleaning shit and giving birth.
Tú saldrás de esta cochambre
You'll get out of this filth
de muertos de hambre. Ya me imagino
of starving people. I imagine now
la cara de las vecinas
the faces of the neighbors
cuando aparezcas en limusina
when you appear in a limousine
a por esta vieja
for this old woman.
le dice mientras cepilla el pelo
She says while brushes the hair
de su princesa
of her princess.
Tú no, princesa, tú no; vuelve temprano...
Not you, princess, not you; come back soon...
Y la sigue un paso atrás hasta la calle
And she follows her one step behind to the street
planchandole con la palma de la mano
ironing with the palm of the hand
una arruga que el vestido le hace en el talle.
a wrinkle that the dress does in her waist.
Y como quien ve a la virgen
And as who sees the virgin
subir al cielo la ve alejarse
going to heaven, she sees her walking away
camino a su primer casting
going to her first casting
para un anuncio en televisión
for a television ad
La nena vale la nena estudia
The girl worth it, the girl studies
danza moderna y declamación
modern dance and declamation.