Amor Prohibido Lyrics in English by Selena
Prohibido translates to "forbidden." It's the heart and soul of this iconic Selena song, capturing the central theme of a love that goes against society's rules.
Selena sings about a love that people whisper about in the streets ("murmuran por las calles") because the couple comes from different social classes. The word prohibido instantly sets a dramatic scene of passion, rebellion, and star-crossed lovers, making it a powerful and enticing word to learn.
Selena lays it all on the line in this Tejano classic, telling a straight-up story about two people in love despite coming from totally different worlds. People are gossiping on the sidewalks, and the lovers' families disapprove, but she simply does not care. She opens with "Con unas ansias locas quiero verte hoy" (With crazy longing I want to see you today), setting an urgent, dramatic mood right away. When she sings "Qué importa qué dirán / Tu padre y tu mamá" (What does it matter what your father and your mother will say), she shrugs off all the outside noise because their private bond matters more than anyone else's opinion.
The real conflict here comes down to cash and class. Selena is very direct about being broke, singing "Aunque soy pobre todo esto que te doy / Vale más que el dinero porque sí es amor" (Even though I am poor, all this that I give you is worth more than money because it is truly love). The phrase "Amor prohibido murmuran por las calles / Porque somos de distintas sociedades" (Forbidden love, they murmur in the streets, because we are from different social classes) frames the relationship as a battle between true affection and social status. She insists that money has zero power over the heart, making this a defiant anthem for anyone who ever loved someone they supposedly were not allowed to have.
