El Almirante Padilla Lyrics in English by Carlos Vives

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Below, I translated the lyrics of the song El Almirante Padilla by Carlos Vives from Spanish to English.

These lyrics have verified word for word translations. Click any lyric word to see the translation and hear the pronunciation!

There in La Guajira up

Where smuggling is born

Admiral Padilla

He swept Puerto Lopez and ruined it.'

Admiral Padilla

He swept Puerto Lopez and ruined it.'

Poor Tite, poor Tite

Poor Tite Socarrás

Now he is very sad

He's lost everything to smuggling.'

Now he is very sad

And he's lost everything by smuggling.'

And now where will he go?

Make a living on Tite Socarrás

And now where will he go?

To earn a living without smuggling'

Ship, pirate, bandit

May St. Thomas believe me

A party I have offered

When a submarine overturned it in Korea

That a party I have offered

When a submarine overturned it in Korea

Poor Tite, poor Tite

The navy came out ready

Ombe' who is now very sad

He has lost everything for a smuggler

Ombe' who is now very sad

He has lost everything for a smuggler

And now where will he go?

Make a living on Tite Socarrás

And now where will he go?

To earn a living without smuggling'

And in Santa Marta

To the admiral of the most beautiful beaches in the world

Frank Lineros

The one who has is the one who loses

That's what Socarrás says

That saying, it's not my saying

Because I Escalona, I have not lost na'

That saying, it's not my saying

Because I Escalona, I have not lost na'

Some lose because they play

Escalona falling in love

But Tite, poor guy

He has lost everything to smuggling

But Tite, poor guy

He has lost everything to smuggling

And now where will he go?

Make a living on Tite Socarrás

And now where will he go?

To earn a living without smuggling'

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contrabando — smuggling

Contrabando translates to "smuggling" or "contraband." It's a central theme in this song, making it a unique and impactful word choice.

The lyrics tell the story of Tite Socarrás, who loses everything due to his involvement in contrabando. The song highlights the consequences of illegal trade, giving the word a significant narrative weight and educational value beyond a simple translation.

Get ready to dive into a fun story from Carlos Vives with "El Almirante Padilla"! This song tells the tale of Tite Socarrás, a smuggler from La Guajira who loses everything when the Admiral Padilla sweeps through Puerto López. You can almost feel Tite's sadness when Carlos Vives sings, "Pobre Tite, pobre Tite / Ahora se encuentra muy triste / Lo ha perdido todo por contrabandea'" [Poor Tite, poor Tite / Now he is very sad / He has lost everything because of smuggling].

The song playfully wonders what Tite will do now to make a living without smuggling, asking, "¿Y ahora pa' dónde irá? / A ganarse la vida el sin contrabandea'" [And now where will he go? / To earn a living without smuggling]. It even has a funny line about offering a party when a submarine flips a pirate ship in Korea! Carlos Vives, through the character of Escalona, makes it clear that while Tite lost everything to smuggling, he hasn't lost anything himself because he's too busy falling in love. It's a lively tune about consequences, a bit of mischief, and finding your way after a setback.

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Carlos Vives El Almirante Padilla Lyrics