by Emily Medlock
Hola, amigos! It’s Emily, back with another Behind the Lyrics post! This week, I’m going to try something a little different. Did you know about 10,000,000 people (and counting) in Texas speak Spanish? Did you also know that over 80% of those people are Christians (either Catholic or Protestant)?
It’s surprisingly difficult to find popular Spanish Christian songs. However, one of my favorite artists (you may know him) has a Spanish album – Danny Gokey, whose “Haven’t Seen it Yet” I covered a few weeks ago. But since I’ve recently covered Gokey, I decided to branch out and touch a song without a prior translation.
This song is called “Se Acaba Todo” by Jesus Adrian Romero. If Spanish is your first language, you may have heard it. The song was released a little over a year ago and now has over 16 million views on YouTube. Let’s break it down (and translate it) now!
No me dejes olvidar el lugar en donde estaba
(Don’t let me forget the place that I was)
No me dejes olvidar la soledad que me rodeaba
(Don’t let me forget the loneliness that surrounded me)
This song is a prayer to God. Romero begins it by asking God to not let him forget how far he has come. This is important for all Christians to remember. Before accepting that relationship with God, there were times when we were alone, it was inevitable. Let us not forget how He transformed our hearts, how He has transformed our lives.
Cuando vagaba sin ti cuando anhelaba vivir
(When I walked without you, I yearned to live)
Cuando me faltabas sé que en ti tengo esperanza
(That was before I had you, now I know that in you I have hope)
Translations can be difficult, but hearing Romero sing this, there is no question what he’s trying to communicate. Those who walk without the Lord are searching for something, searching for life. But those truly with Him…know. We know everything we do has meaning, that we have meaning. God is love and Christ is life.
El manantial de fe que me da Paz me da confianza
(The river (lit. spring) of faith that gives me peace and confidence)
Sé que en ti tengo la fuerza
(I know that in you I have strength)
Is there anything better in this life on earth than a cold drink of fresh spring water? In Spanish, this line is so poetic. There are 100 Bible verses about water, but one of the most popular comes from John 4:14, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
This is the kind of spring Romero speaks about. The spring that gives us strength, peace, and life.
El aire y el calor que me da vida y me sustenta
(You are the air and heat that gives me life and sustenance)
Y si me olvido de ti se acaba todo
(If I forget you, it will be over)
He is everything. Close your eyes and feel the warmth He gives on a cold night. Feel the air He brings into your lungs as you inhale. Feel His love wash over you and be awestruck by it. Now…never forget that. Never forget that feeling. If you do…se acaba todo.
No me dejes olvidar esa paz que me brindaste
(Don’t let me forget the peace that you give me)
No me dejes olvidar es el perdón que me otorgaste
(Don’t let me forget the forgiveness that you gave me)
It’s funny, we can feel His love when we close our eyes at home alone. But what about when we are at work, when we’re frustrated, stressed, or dealing with a crisis. Do you remember His peace then?
What about forgiveness? It’s easy to remember His forgiveness when we’ve just done something we regret and want it to be forgotten. But what about when someone else has wronged you? Do you remember His forgiveness and repeat it 490 times a day as He has commanded? Or are we the only ones worthy of His peace, love, and forgiveness?
Si me olvido de ti se acaba todo
I hope you can enjoy “Se Acaba Todo” regardless of whether you speak Spanish or not. Jesus Adrian Romero is one of the most popular Spanish Christian artists out there. I hope he continues to inspire those who don’t understand MercyMe, Casting Crowns and Lauren Daigle.
I think I’ll add that, strangely, almost everything in our relationship with God applies elsewhere as well. For married couples, don’t forget the love you share. Don’t forget every little quirk you love about each other. Don’t forget where you came from and the strength, peace, and confidence you have in each other. If you do, se acaba todo.
I always like to end things by asking if anyone has any suggestions as to which song I should do next. I’m open to any song that has inspired you! Just send me a link or name an artist below and I’ll check it out!
Emily Medlock is a freelance writer who specializes in video games, movies, viral content, Christianity, music and YouTube video scripts. Visit her online at emilymedlock.com/blog.