"Mi Niña Lola" by Concha Buika, English translation of lyrics
"My Girl Lola"
Album: Mi Niña Lola, 2006
Style: Copla, soul with flamenco influence, sweet, about paternal love for a daughter
Country: Spain
Listen:
This is a song about a father trying to console his sad daughter. He is telling her that she can tell him all her troubles and that she will never be alone as long as he is around. Happy upcoming Father’s Day! Hear the song at YouTube here.
[Expand embedded video]
Translation:
Dime por qué tienes carita de pena.
¿Qué tiene mi niña siendo santa y buena?
Cuéntale a tu padre lo que a ti te pasa.
Dime lo que tienes, reina de mi casa.
Tell me why your little face is full of sorrow.
What could my girl have, being saintly and good?
Tell your father what is going on (with you).
Tell me what (burden) you bear, queen of my house.
Tu madre, la pobre, no sé donde está.
Dime lo que tienes, dime lo que tienes,
Dime lo que tienes, dime la verdad.
Your mother, poor woman, I do not know where she is.
Tell me what is wrong, tell me what is wrong,
Tell me what is wrong, tell me the truth.
Mi niña Lola, mi niña Lola,
Ya no tiene la carita del color de la amapola.
(x2)
My girl Lola, my girl Lola,
You no longer have a face the color of poppies.
(x2)
Tú no me ocultes tu pena,
Pena de tu corazón,
Cuéntame tu amargura
Pa’ consolártela yo.
You should not hide your sorrow from me,
Sorrow in your heart,
Tell me of your grief
So that I can soothe it (for you) myself.
Mi niña Lola, mi niña Lola,
Se le ha puesto la carita del color de la amapola.
(x2)
My girl Lola, my girl Lola,
Her face has gained the color of poppies.
(x2)
Siempre que te miro, mi niña bonita,
Le rezo a la virgen que está en la ermita.
Cuéntale a tu padre lo que te ha pasa’o [pasado].
Dime si algún hombre a ti te ha engaña’o [engañado].
Every time I look at you, my beautiful girl,
I pray to the virgin (who is) in the shrine.
Tell your father what has happened to you.
Tell me if some man has tricked you.
Niña de mi alma, no me llores más.
Dime lo que tienes, dime lo que tienes,
Dime lo que tienes, dime la verdad.
Girl of my soul, do not cry anymore.
Tell me what is wrong, tell me what is wrong,
Tell me what is wrong, tell me the truth.
Mi niña Lola, mi niña Lola,
Mientras que viva tu padre, no estás en el mundo sola.
(x4)
My girl Lola, my girl Lola,
As long as your father lives, you are not alone in the world.
(x4)
Translation Notes:
Dime por qué tienes carita de pena
Tell me why your little face is full of sorrow
Tell me why you have a little face of sorrow [*lit.]
The -ita suffix means small and little, but it is also used to add affection.
---
Dime lo que tienes
Tell me what is wrong [*idiomatic]
Tell me what you have [*literal]
---
Se le ha puesto la carita del color de la amapola.
Her face has gained the color of poppies.
(Se le ha puesto) (la carita) {del color} (de la amapola)
(Her ____ has put on) (her face) {of the color} (of the poppy)
---
Niña de mi alma, no me llores más.
Girl of my soul, do not cry anymore.
Girl of my soul, do not cry on me anymore. [*alt.]
The second translation accounts for all the words, but the first is better because it is more clear. The line says "do not cry on me" in the sense of "do not cry while I am taking care of you" or "do not weep on me now," definitely not in the sense of "do not cry and get my clothes wet."
Album: Mi Niña Lola, 2006
Style: Copla, soul with flamenco influence, sweet, about paternal love for a daughter
Country: Spain
Listen:
This is a song about a father trying to console his sad daughter. He is telling her that she can tell him all her troubles and that she will never be alone as long as he is around. Happy upcoming Father’s Day! Hear the song at YouTube here.
[Expand embedded video]
Translation:
Dime por qué tienes carita de pena.
¿Qué tiene mi niña siendo santa y buena?
Cuéntale a tu padre lo que a ti te pasa.
Dime lo que tienes, reina de mi casa.
Tell me why your little face is full of sorrow.
What could my girl have, being saintly and good?
Tell your father what is going on (with you).
Tell me what (burden) you bear, queen of my house.
Tu madre, la pobre, no sé donde está.
Dime lo que tienes, dime lo que tienes,
Dime lo que tienes, dime la verdad.
Your mother, poor woman, I do not know where she is.
Tell me what is wrong, tell me what is wrong,
Tell me what is wrong, tell me the truth.
Mi niña Lola, mi niña Lola,
Ya no tiene la carita del color de la amapola.
(x2)
My girl Lola, my girl Lola,
You no longer have a face the color of poppies.
(x2)
Tú no me ocultes tu pena,
Pena de tu corazón,
Cuéntame tu amargura
Pa’ consolártela yo.
You should not hide your sorrow from me,
Sorrow in your heart,
Tell me of your grief
So that I can soothe it (for you) myself.
Mi niña Lola, mi niña Lola,
Se le ha puesto la carita del color de la amapola.
(x2)
My girl Lola, my girl Lola,
Her face has gained the color of poppies.
(x2)
Siempre que te miro, mi niña bonita,
Le rezo a la virgen que está en la ermita.
Cuéntale a tu padre lo que te ha pasa’o [pasado].
Dime si algún hombre a ti te ha engaña’o [engañado].
Every time I look at you, my beautiful girl,
I pray to the virgin (who is) in the shrine.
Tell your father what has happened to you.
Tell me if some man has tricked you.
Niña de mi alma, no me llores más.
Dime lo que tienes, dime lo que tienes,
Dime lo que tienes, dime la verdad.
Girl of my soul, do not cry anymore.
Tell me what is wrong, tell me what is wrong,
Tell me what is wrong, tell me the truth.
Mi niña Lola, mi niña Lola,
Mientras que viva tu padre, no estás en el mundo sola.
(x4)
My girl Lola, my girl Lola,
As long as your father lives, you are not alone in the world.
(x4)
Translation Notes:
Dime por qué tienes carita de pena
Tell me why your little face is full of sorrow
Tell me why you have a little face of sorrow [*lit.]
The -ita suffix means small and little, but it is also used to add affection.
---
Dime lo que tienes
Tell me what is wrong [*idiomatic]
Tell me what you have [*literal]
---
Se le ha puesto la carita del color de la amapola.
Her face has gained the color of poppies.
(Se le ha puesto) (la carita) {del color} (de la amapola)
(Her ____ has put on) (her face) {of the color} (of the poppy)
---
Niña de mi alma, no me llores más.
Girl of my soul, do not cry anymore.
Girl of my soul, do not cry on me anymore. [*alt.]
The second translation accounts for all the words, but the first is better because it is more clear. The line says "do not cry on me" in the sense of "do not cry while I am taking care of you" or "do not weep on me now," definitely not in the sense of "do not cry and get my clothes wet."