| Originale | English translation by Riccardo Venturi
|
| CANCIÓN PUERTORRIQUEÑA | PUERTO RICO SONG |
| | |
| ¿Cómo estás, Puerto Rico, | How d'ya feel, Puerto Rico, |
| tú de socio asociado en sociedad? | as an associated associate in society? |
| al pie de cocoteros y guitarras, | Between coconuts and guitars, |
| bajo la luna y junto al mar, | under the moonshine by the seashore, |
| ¡qué suave honor andar del brazo, | what a great honor walking arm in arm, |
| brazo con brazo del Tío Sam! | arm in arm with Uncle Sam! |
| ¿En qué lengua me entiendes, | In what language can you understand me, |
| en qué lengua por fin te podré hablar, | what language should I speak to you, |
| si en yes, | should I say yes |
| si en sí, | or say sí, |
| si en bien, | should I say bien |
| si en well, | or say well, |
| si en mal, | should I say mal |
| si en bad, si en very bad? | or say bad, very bad? |
| | |
| Juran los que te matan | Your killers swear |
| que eres feliz... ¿Será verdad? | you are happy...is it really true? |
| Arde tu frente pálida, | Your pale face is burning with fever, |
| la anemia en tu mirada logra un brillo fatal; | a fatal flash shines in your anemic look; |
| masticas una jerigonza | you stammer sort of lingo |
| medio española, medio slang; | half Spanish, half slang; |
| de un empujón te hundieron en Corea, | you were pushed into Korea |
| sin que supieras por quién ibas a pelear, | without even knowing who you'd fight for... |
| si en yes, | if you'd say yes |
| si en sí, | or you'd say sí, |
| si en bien, | if you'd say bien |
| si en well, | or you'd say well, |
| si en mal, | if you'd say mal |
| si en bad, si en very bad? | or you'd say bad, very bad... |
| | |
| Ay, yo bien conozco a tu enemigo, | Gosh, I know well your enemy, |
| el mismo que tenemos por acá, | he's the same we've to face here, |
| socio en la sangre y el azúcar, | an associate in blood and sugar, |
| socio asociado en sociedad: | an associated associate in society; |
| United States and Puerto Rico | United States y Puerto Rico, |
| es decir New York City with San Juan, | that is, NYC junto with San Juan, |
| Manhattan y Borinquén, soga y cuello, | Manhattan y Borinquén, rope and neck, |
| apenas nada más... | and that's all... |
| No yes, | No yes, |
| no sí, | no sí, |
| no bien, | no bien, |
| no well, | no well, |
| sí mal, | but that's mal, |
| sí bad, sí very bad! | yes mal, very mal! |
