La Ciudad ardio Alejandra Guzmán Translation Meaning and Lyrics

Song Meaning

'La Ciudad ardio' means 'The City Burned' in English. It is a name of a song by 'Alejandra Guzmán' human translated here by a native speaker.

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Lyrics and Translations

'La Ciudad ardio' human translated and annotated. Look for notes about interesting vocabulary, language constructions, idioms, changes to transcribed words, grammar rules and general info that our members have discovered

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Line 1

Original Lyrics: La otra noche vigilaba la luna

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Determiner	Adjective	Noun	Verb	Determiner	Noun
la	otro	noche	vigilaba	la	luna
the	other, another	night (the period between sunset and sunrise)	to watch over	the	moon
			1st Person Singular Indicative Imperfect of the verb vigilar
The	other	night	I was watching	the	moon

Aligned Translation: The other night I was watching the moon

Free Translation: The other night I was moon gazing

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Line 2

Original Lyrics: En la puerta de alcala

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Preposition	Determiner	Noun	Preposition	Proper noun
en	la	puerta ³	de ⁴	Alcalá ⁵
in, at, on	the	gate (doorlike structure outside a house)	of; ’s; (used after the thing owned and before the owner)	The name of a number of places in Spain

At	the	gate	of	Alcalá
^3,4,5 The name of a famous city portal in Madrid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerta_de_Alcal%C3%A1

Aligned Translation: At the Alcala gate

Free Translation: At the Alcalá gate

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Line 3

Original Lyrics: Cuando un coche de color

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Conjunction	Determiner	Noun	Preposition	Noun
cuando	un	coche	de	color
when	a	chiefly:Spain car (a wheeled vehicle that moves independently)	of; ’s; (used after the thing owned and before the owner)	color, colour, hue

When	a	car	of	colour

Aligned Translation: When a colored car

Free Translation: When a colored car

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Line 4

Original Lyrics: Aceituna vino hacia mi

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	Verb	Preposition	Pronoun
	vino	hacia	mí
	to come	toward, towards	me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)
	3rd Person Singular Indicative Preterite of the verb venir
Olive	came	toward	me

Aligned Translation: Olive came to me

Free Translation: Olive came to me

Line 5

Original Lyrics: Y antes de que frenara

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Conjunction	Preposition	Preposition	Conjunction	Verb
y	antes	de ³	que ⁴	frenara ⁵
and	before (earlier than) (triggers the subjunctive in subordinate clauses)	of; ’s; (used after the thing owned and before the owner)	that	transitive to brake (a vehicle)
				3rd Person Singular Subjunctive Imperfect Ra of the verb frenar
And	before	of	that	it braked
^3,4,5 "Antes de que" + triggers the subjunctive

Aligned Translation: And before it stopped

Free Translation: And before it stopped

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Line 6

Original Lyrics: Ya estaban los stones

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Adverb	Verb	Determiner
ya	estaban	los
already, yet	to be (have a (transient) location in space). Compare ser, quedar.	the
	3rd Person Plural Indicative Imperfect of the verb estar
Already	it was	the	stones

Aligned Translation: Already the stones were there

Free Translation: The stones were there.

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Line 7

Original Lyrics: Disparando rock, mmm

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Verb	Noun
disparando	rock
reflexive to rise, to go up, to skyrocket	rock (music style)
Simple Gerund of the verb disparar
rising up	rock	mmm

Aligned Translation: rising up Rock

Free Translation: blasting out rock, mmm

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Line 8

Original Lyrics: Hey pequeña que has tan sola di

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Interjection	Adjective	Pronoun	Verb	Adverb	Adjective	Verb
hey	pequeño	que	has	tan	solo	di ⁷
hey!	small; little	that; whom	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	so, as	lonely, lonesome	to say, to tell
			2nd Person Singular Indicative Present Tuteo of the verb haber			2nd Person Singular Imperative Affirmative Tuteo of the verb decir
Hey	little girl	that	is	so	also	he said
⁷ Note imperative use

Aligned Translation: Hey little girl you're so lonely he said

Free Translation: Hey little girl you're so alone he said

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Line 9

Original Lyrics: Sin nadie que te proteja

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Preposition	Pronoun	Pronoun	Pronoun	Verb
sin	nadie	que	tú	proteja ⁵
without	no one, nobody; anyone, anybody	who; that	(Second person pronoun in singular tense) (informal communication in Spain and Mexico). you; thou (cognate).	to protect, to defend
				2nd Person Singular Imperative Affirmative Polite of the verb proteger
Without	no one	that	you	protects
⁵ Said in same sense as previous phrase, therefore I have selected Imperative mood

Aligned Translation: With no one to protect you

Free Translation: With no one to protect you

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Line 10

Original Lyrics: Si me dejas puedo ser para tí

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Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Verb	Preposition	Pronoun
si	yo	dejas	puedo	ser	para	ti
if	(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	transitive to let, allow	to be able, can	to be (essentially or identified as).	for, to (expressing a recipient)	you, thee (declined form of tú used as the object of a preposition)
		2nd Person Singular Indicative Present Tuteo of the verb dejar	1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb poder	Infinitive
If	you	you let	I can	be	for	you

Aligned Translation: If you let me I can be for you

Free Translation: If you let me I can be for you

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Line 11

Original Lyrics: Como el sombrero es para la cabeza

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Conjunction	Determiner	Noun	Verb	Preposition	Determiner	Noun
como	el	sombrero	es	para	la	cabeza
as (introducing a basis of comparison or equality)	Masculine singular definite article; the.	hat	to be (essentially or identified as).	for, to (expressing a recipient)	the	anatomy head
			2nd Person Singular Indicative Present Polite of the verb ser
Like	the	hat	is	for	the	head

Aligned Translation: As the hat is for the head

Free Translation: As the hat is for the head

Line 12

Original Lyrics: Nunca dije si, pero le seguí

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Adverb	Verb	Noun	Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb
nunca	dije	sí	pero	él	seguí
never	to say, to tell	yes; aye, ay; approbation, acceptance	but	he, him, masculine personal third person subject and disjunctive pronoun (used as a subject and after prepositions)	transitive to follow
	1st Person Singular Indicative Preterite of the verb decir				1st Person Singular Indicative Preterite of the verb seguir
Never	I said	yes	But	him	I followed

Aligned Translation: I never said yes but I followed him.

Free Translation: I never said yes, but I followed him.

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Line 13

Original Lyrics: Y la ciudad ardio, y la ciudad ardio

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Conjunction	Determiner	Noun	Verb	Conjunction	Determiner	Noun	Verb
y	la	ciudad	ardió ⁴	y	la	ciudad	ardió ⁹
and	the	city	intransitive to burn, blaze (to be consumed by fire or in flames)	and	the	city	intransitive to burn, blaze (to be consumed by fire or in flames)
			3rd Person Singular Indicative Preterite of the verb arder				3rd Person Singular Indicative Preterite of the verb arder
And	the	city	burned	and	the	city	burned
^4,9 In both cases the original lyrics missing the accent

Aligned Translation: And the city is burning And the city is burning

Free Translation: And the city is burning, and the city is burning

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Line 14

Original Lyrics: Con sentarme a su vela

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Preposition		Preposition	Adjective	Noun
con		a	suyo	vera ⁵
with		at	His, hers, its, to her.	poetic side, face

With	me sitting	at	your	side
⁵ Should be "vera", meaning side

Aligned Translation: With sitting at your side

Free Translation: With sitting by his side

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Line 15

Original Lyrics: Y la ciudad ardio lo mismo que ardi yo

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Conjunction	Determiner	Noun	Verb	Determiner	Adjective	Pronoun	Verb	Pronoun
y	la	ciudad	ardió	lo	mismo	que	ardí ⁸	yo
and	the	city	intransitive to burn, blaze (to be consumed by fire or in flames)	(neuter definite article used to make abstract nouns from adjectives); the	same; identical; one and the same; (indicates that the two compared noun clauses both represent the one thing)	who; that	intransitive to burn, blaze (to be consumed by fire or in flames)	(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.
			3rd Person Singular Indicative Preterite of the verb arder				1st Person Singular Indicative Preterite of the verb arder
And	the	city	burned	it	same	that	burned	I
⁸ Again missing the í accent

Aligned Translation: And the city burned as I burned

Free Translation: And the city burned as I burned

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Line 16

Original Lyrics: Como alcohol en las venas

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Conjunction	Noun	Preposition	Determiner	Noun
como	alcohol	en	las	vena
as (introducing a basis of comparison or equality)	alcohol	in, at, on	the	vein

Like	alcohol	in	the	veins

Aligned Translation: Like alcohol in the veins

Free Translation: Like alcohol in the veins

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Line 17

Original Lyrics: Luz de velas, vino, musica griega

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Noun	Preposition	Noun	Noun	Noun	Adjective
luz	de	vela	vino	música	griega
light	of; ’s; (used after the thing owned and before the owner)	candle	wine	music	Feminine singular of griego

Light	of	candles	wine	music	Greek

Aligned Translation: Candle light, wine Greek music

Free Translation: Candle light, wine, Greek music

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Line 18

Original Lyrics: Y me quede sin cordura

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Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb	Preposition	Noun
y	yo	quede ³	sin	cordura
and	(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	intransitive to be	without	prudence
		1st Person Singular Subjunctive Present of the verb quedar
And	myself	be	without	caution
³ Subjunctive use as "feeling"

Aligned Translation: And I ran out of sanity

Free Translation: And I lose my sanity

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Line 19

Original Lyrics: Caradura que despues de la cena

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Adjective	Pronoun	Adverb	Preposition	Determiner	Noun
caradura	que	despues ³	de	la	cena
colloquial cheeky, shameless	who; that	Misspelling después	from (with the origin, starting point or initial reference of or at)	the	supper, dinner

Cheeky	that	after	from	the	dinner
³ "después" has accent

Aligned Translation: Cheeky that after dinner

Free Translation: Cheeky that after dinner

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Line 20

Original Lyrics: Me roba a medias la cartera y la vida

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Pronoun	Verb	Preposition	Noun	Determiner	Noun	Conjunction	Determiner	Noun
yo	roba	a ³	media ⁴	la	cartera	y	la	vida
(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	to rob	at	mathematics mean, average	the	handbag	and	the	life
	3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb robar
I	he robs	at	half	the	wallet	and	the	life
^3,4 This expression I guessed was "some" money from the purse, but couldn't be certain

Aligned Translation: He half-steals my wallet and life

Free Translation: He steals some money from my wallet and life

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Line 21

Original Lyrics: Yo fui al tocador, y el desaparecio

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Pronoun	Verb	Contraction	Noun	Noun	Conjunction	Determiner	Verb
yo	fui	al ³	tocador ⁴	tocador	y	el	desapareció
(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	intransitive to go	(contraction of a el) at the, to the.	dressing table	dressing table	and	Masculine singular definite article; the.	intransitive to disappear, to go missing, to vanish, to be gone
	1st Person Singular Indicative Preterite of the verb ir						3rd Person Singular Indicative Preterite of the verb desaparecer
I	went	to the	bathroom		and	he	disappeared
^3,4 The "dressing room" here used in the same sense as American English uses "Bathroom" when they mean the toilet

Aligned Translation: I went to and he disappeared.

Free Translation: I went to the powder room, and he disappeared.

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Line 22

Original Lyrics: Si quieres más dinero

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Conjunction	Verb	Adverb	Noun
si	quieres	más	dinero
if	to desire, to want, to want to	more; -er (used to make comparisons)	money
	2nd Person Singular Indicative Present Tuteo of the verb querer
If	you want	more	money

Aligned Translation: If you want more money

Free Translation: If you want more money

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Line 23

Original Lyrics: Vistete de cuero negro

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Verb	Pronoun	Preposition	Noun	Adjective
viste	te	de	cuero	negro
to dress, to clothe, to attire	reflexive pronoun: yourself	of (expressing composition, substance)	leather	black (absorbing all light and reflecting none; dark and hueless)
2nd Person Singular Imperative Affirmative Tuteo of the verb vestir
Dress	yourself	of	leather	black

Aligned Translation: Dress in black leather

Free Translation: Dress in black leather

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Line 24

Original Lyrics: Y buscame a media noche

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Conjunction	Verb	Pronoun	Preposition	Adjective	Noun
y	busca	yo	a	medio	noche
and	to seek, search for, look for, try to find	(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	at	middle, mid	night (the period between sunset and sunrise)
	2nd Person Singular Imperative Affirmative Tuteo of the verb buscar
And	search for	me	at	middle	night

Aligned Translation: And look for me at midnight

Free Translation: And look for me at midnight

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Line 25

Original Lyrics: Te espero de seda oscura

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Pronoun	Verb	Preposition	Noun	Adjective
tú	espero	de	seda	oscuro
(Second person pronoun in singular tense) (informal communication in Spain and Mexico). you; thou (cognate).	transitive to hope for, hope to (often with a verb in the subjunctive)	of; ’s; (used after the thing owned and before the owner)	silk (fine fiber excreted by the silkworm or other arthropod)	dark (lacking light)
	1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb esperar
You	I wait	of	silk	dark

Aligned Translation: I wait for you in dark silk

Free Translation: I wait for you dark silk

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Line 26

Original Lyrics: Y labios al rojo vivo

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Conjunction	Noun	Contraction	Noun	Adjective
y	labio	al	rojo	vivo
and	anatomy lip (fleshy protrusion around the opening of the mouth)	(contraction of a el) at the, to the.	red (colour)	vivid

And	lips	of the	red	vivid

Aligned Translation: And red-hot lips

Free Translation: And red-hot lips

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Line 27

Original Lyrics: Ven y robame lo que me queda

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Verb	Conjunction	Verb	Pronoun	Determiner	Pronoun	Pronoun	Verb
ven ¹	y	roba	yo	lo	que	yo	queda ⁸
to come	and	to rob	(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	(neuter definite article used to make abstract nouns from adjectives); the	who; that	(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	intransitive to be
2nd Person Singular Imperative Affirmative Tuteo of the verb venir		2nd Person Singular Imperative Affirmative Tuteo of the verb robar					3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb quedar
You come	and	rob me	I	the	that	I	have remaining
¹ You come - imperative
⁸ Referring to [it] what I have left - 3rd person singular "it"

Aligned Translation: Come and steal what is left

Free Translation: Come and steal what's left

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Review

Guzmán is a big girl and she's having a fun night out with a guy. Song has some nice refrains.

Guzmán is the main character and she's hanging out in Madrid near the Álcala gate. Along comes a dude and invites her to come with him. They go out for a romantic dinner. While she's gone to the bathroom he disappears.

There is then a section that I'm not so clear about: It maybe voiced as from the dude - if she wants to see him again she should dress like a whore and meet him at midnight, or maybe it's just "in black leather".

There is a nice grammar rule I discovered: Antes de que + Subjunctive.

Guzmán is very young in this performance for a live studio audience in the YouTube video.

She's wearing some funky clothes and has come equally funky dance-moves. She is confidently strutting her stuff on stage, and vocally giving it some.

Submitted by user: BENDECKO

Average Ratings

Most people find the song lyrics very easy to understand lyrics, lyrics sung very slowly and it has very easy to remember verbs and nouns

Many words used are not in common daily usage.^RAE

La Ciudad ardio has 93 BPM (beats per minute)

References

^RAE Based on a median word frequency of 5333 using the frequency database from the Royal Spanish Academy (La Real Academia Española)

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