El Capitán Juan Luis Guerra Translation Meaning and Lyrics

Song Meaning

'El Capitán' means 'The Captain' in English. It is a name of a song by 'Juan Luis Guerra' human translated here by a native speaker.

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Lyrics and Translations

'El Capitán' 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

Song is in Spanish which is has full support in the Cloudlingo system. Use the controls below to turn on and off different views of the lyrics and their translations.

Display: Lyrics Word by Word Translations Aligned Translations Free Translations

Test: Typing Test; click in the text boxes on each line and start typing the words! Speech Test; click the links and then say the words!

Lingo Script Icons

Line 1
Original Lyrics: Salí en mi botecito a navegar

Typing Test:          

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: I got out on my little boat to sail

Free Translation: I went out on my little boat to sail

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Line 2
Original Lyrics: A recorrer las olas de la mar

Typing Test:            

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: To go through the waves of the sea

Free Translation: To ride the waves of the sea

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Line 3
Original Lyrics: Llevaba mi varita de pescar

Typing Test:        

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: I carried my wand of fishing

Free Translation: I carried my fishing wand

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Line 4
Original Lyrics: Mi cuerda y mi guitarra pa' tocar

Typing Test:           '  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: My string and my guitar to play

Free Translation: My string and my guitar in order to play

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Line 5
Original Lyrics: Y de pronto vino un vendaval

Typing Test:          

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And suddenly a windstorm came

Free Translation: And suddenly a strong wind came

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Line 6
Original Lyrics: Y con fuerzas comencé a gritar

Typing Test:          

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And I began to scream with strengths

Free Translation: And I started screaming strongly

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Line 7
Original Lyrics: lo que quieres que yo busque a mi capitán

Typing Test:                  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: What you want that I get to my captain

Free Translation: You want me to go for my captain

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Line 8
Original Lyrics: Jesús está en el bote, eh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Jesus is on the boat, hey

Free Translation: Jesus is on the boat, hey

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Line 9
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 10
Original Lyrics: Aunque los vientos soplen, eeh

Typing Test:       ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Even if the winds blow, hey

Free Translation: Even if the winds blow, hey

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Line 11
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 12
Original Lyrics: Mi ancla y mi soporte, eh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: My anchor and my support, hey

Free Translation: My anchor and my support, hey

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Line 13
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 14
Original Lyrics: Y el capitán del bote, eeh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And the captain of the boat, hey

Free Translation: And the captain of the boat, hey

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Line 15
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 16
Original Lyrics: Y continué mi viaje sin temor

Typing Test:          

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And I continued my journey without fear

Free Translation: And I continued my journey without fear

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Line 17
Original Lyrics: Con nubecitas bellas de estribor

Typing Test:        

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: With beautiful little clouds of starboard

Free Translation: With little beautiful clouds ahead of me

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Line 18
Original Lyrics: Y vi gaviotas bailando valet, eh-eh

Typing Test:         ,   -

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And I saw seagulls dancing ballet, hey-hey

Free Translation: And I saw seagulls dancing ballet, hey-hey

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Line 19
Original Lyrics: Y un delfín haciendo un gran piruet

Typing Test:            

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And a dolphin doing a great piruet

Free Translation: And a dolphin doing a great piruet

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Line 20
Original Lyrics: Y de pronto vino un tiburón

Typing Test:          

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And suddenly a shark came

Free Translation: And suddenly a shark came

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Line 21
Original Lyrics: Con cara de pillo y de ladrón

Typing Test:            

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: With face of naughty one and of thief

Free Translation: With the face of a crook and a thief

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Line 22
Original Lyrics: Mira

Typing Test:

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Look

Free Translation: Look

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Line 23
Original Lyrics: lo que quieres que yo busque a mi capitán.

Typing Test:                   .

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: What you want that I get my captain

Free Translation: You want me to look for my captain

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 24
Original Lyrics: Jesús está en el bote, eh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Jesus is on the boat, hey

Free Translation: Jesus is on the boat, hey

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Line 25
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 26
Original Lyrics: No hay tiburón que azote, eeh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: There is no shark that flogs, hey

Free Translation: There's no shark that stalks you, hey

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Line 27
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 28
Original Lyrics: El guía de mi norte, eh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: The guide of my north, hey

Free Translation: The guide of my north, hey

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Line 29
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 30
Original Lyrics: Y el capitán del bote, eeh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And the captain of the boat, hey

Free Translation: And the captain of the boat, hey

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Line 31
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 32
Original Lyrics: Que Jesús está en el bote, lo ves, lo ves

Typing Test:           ,       ,      

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Because Jesus is on the boat, you see him, you see him

Free Translation: 'Cause Jesus is on the boat, you see him, you see him

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Line 33
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 34
Original Lyrics: Y aunque los vientos soplen, eeh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And even if the winds blow, hey

Free Translation: And even if the winds blow, hey

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 35
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 36
Original Lyrics: Mi ancla y mi soporte, eh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: My anchor and my support, hey

Free Translation: My anchor and my support, hey

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 37
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 38
Original Lyrics: Y el capitán del bote, eeh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And the captain of the boat, hey

Free Translation: And the captain of the boat, hey

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 39
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 40
Original Lyrics: Y si viene el ojo de un ciclón

Typing Test:              

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And if the eye of a cyclone comes

Free Translation: And if the eye of a cyclone comes

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Line 41
Original Lyrics: Con más fuerza canto la canción

Typing Test:          

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: I sing the song with more strength

Free Translation: I sing the song more strongly

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Line 42
Original Lyrics: Todo lo puedo en mi Cristo que es mi capitán

Typing Test:                  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Everything I can in my Christ who is my captain

Free Translation: I can do everything in Christ, who is my captain

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 43
Original Lyrics: Jesús está en el bote, eh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Jesus is on the boat, hey

Free Translation: Jesus is on the boat, hey

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Line 44
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 45
Original Lyrics: No hay tiburón que azote, eeh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: There is no shark that flogs, hey

Free Translation: There's no shark that stalks you, hey

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 46
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 47
Original Lyrics: El guía de mi norte, eh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation:

Free Translation: The guide of my north, hey

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 48
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

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Line 49
Original Lyrics: Y el capitán del bote, eeh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And the captain of the boat, hey

Free Translation: And the captain of the boat, hey

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Line 50
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 51
Original Lyrics: Que Jesús está en el bote, lo ves, lo ves

Typing Test:           ,       ,      

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Because Jesus is on the boat, you see him, you see him

Free Translation: 'Cause Jesus is on the boat, you see him, you see him

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 52
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 53
Original Lyrics: Y aunque los vientos soplen, eeh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And even if the winds blow, hey

Free Translation: And even if the winds blow, hey

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 54
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 55
Original Lyrics: Mi ancla y mi soporte, eh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: My anchor and my support, hey

Free Translation: My anchor and my support, hey

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 56
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 57
Original Lyrics: Y el capitán del bote, eeh

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And the captain of the boat, hey

Free Translation: And the captain of the boat, hey

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 58
Original Lyrics: En el bote

Typing Test:    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: On the boat

Free Translation: On the boat

Lingo Script Icons:

Review

Summary of the Lyrics and Interpretation

The lyrics of "El Capitán" by Juan Luis Guerra tell the story of a man embarking on a metaphorical sea voyage in a small boat. He carries simple tools—his fishing rod, a rope, and a guitar. As he sails, a storm suddenly arises, and the protagonist panics, realizing that his only hope is to call on his captain, who is revealed to be Jesus. The lyrics repeatedly emphasize that Jesus is the captain of the boat, offering protection, guidance, and support during life's turbulent moments, symbolized by storms and threatening creatures like sharks. Despite these challenges, the protagonist continues his journey fearlessly, confident that no force, not even a cyclone, can harm him as long as Jesus is by his side. The repeated refrain reinforces this faith, stating that Jesus is the anchor and the ultimate guide for his life's direction.

The song carries a strong message of faith and trust in divine guidance. It speaks of surrendering control to a higher power, especially during times of uncertainty and fear. The symbolism of the boat represents life, with its unpredictable and sometimes dangerous elements, and the recurring storms reflect life's struggles and hardships.

 

How Does It Make You Feel?

The song's message is uplifting and comforting. It evokes a sense of peace and safety, even in the face of challenges. The lyrics, combined with the soothing melody, create a feeling of reassurance, emphasizing that no matter what happens, the protagonist—and by extension, the listener—is not alone. The presence of Jesus, as the captain of the boat, provides strength, stability, and protection. The imagery of nature—birds, dolphins, clouds—adds an element of serenity to the song, balancing the tension of the storm with a sense of beauty and calm.

 

The Story Weaving Technique

The song presents the protagonist embarking on a metaphorical journey at sea, with Jesus as the captain, facing various challenges such as storms and a threatening shark. The boat represents life's journey, navigating through moments of trial, fear, and decision-making, though the specific timeline is left ambiguous. As adversity arises, the protagonist calls on Jesus for protection and guidance, finding strength in his faith. Juan Luis Guerra emphasizes this theme by repeatedly using the phrase "Jesús está en el bote," reinforcing the constant presence and protection of Jesus through life's storms.

 

Explicit Themes and Mood

The song does not include any explicit themes. Instead, it focuses on spiritual and uplifting themes, making it suitable for all audiences. It conveys a deep sense of hope and confidence in faith. Rather than being fun or sad, the song is more spiritual and reassuring. It falls into a category of inspirational music with a clear Christian message, offering solace to those facing difficulties.

 

Relation to the YouTube Video

This song does not have an official music video.

 

Links for Further Discussion and Social Media

For additional discussions on "El Capitán" and the works of Juan Luis Guerra, the following resources may be useful:

- Official Website: [Juan Luis Guerra Official Website](https://www.juanluisguerra.com)

- Twitter: [Juan Luis Guerra Twitter](https://twitter.com/juanluisguerra)

For discussions about the song and its meaning, check the following websites:

- [Genius](https://genius.com/Juan-luis-guerra-el-capitan-lyrics) for a breakdown of the lyrics.

- [SongMeanings](https://songmeanings.com) often has user-generated interpretations and discussions.

These platforms offer deeper insights into the song's meaning and the broader context of Juan Luis Guerra's music.

Submitted by user: HERNANDEZJ

Average Ratings

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

Most words used are in very common daily usage.RAE

El Capitán has 133 BPM (beats per minute)

El Capitán is suitable for DELE Level students in terms of language complexity.

References

RAE Based on a median word frequency of 22 using the frequency database from the Royal Spanish Academy (La Real Academia Española)

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