El recuerdo

Y dice que a menudo

And he says that often

se le ve mirando un cuadro

You can see him looking at a painting

que le cuelga en la pared

That hangs on the wall

y dice que se levanta muy cansa

And he says that he gets up very tired

dice que el tiempo lo ha maltratado

He says that time has mistreated him

que el sol da vida, a su pelito plateado

That the sun gives life to his silver hair

y dice que tiene ganas de recordar el pasado

And he says he wants to remember the past

que muchas veces hace soñar

That many times makes him dream

amargo ahora con sus despertar

Bitter now with his awakenings

dice que apenas existen bajeras

He says that there are hardly any bottom sheets

que se prefiere america a las habichuelas

That he prefers America to beans

que no hay telera ni mantequita colora

That there is no bread or colored butter

dice que el hambre es boniato

He says hunger is sweet potato

el pelearte con un mes para unos zapatos

Fighting with a month for a pair of shoes

el acostarte y porque viene Baltasar amargo...

Going to bed and because Baltasar comes bitter...

amargo con su despertar

Bitter with his awakening

recuerdos de gente pobre

Memories of poor people

y humildad que se pintaba con cal la casa

And humility painted with lime on the house

un caballo de cartón una muñeca de trapo

A cardboard horse, a rag doll

cambiar en el cole un boli por estampas

Trading a pen for stamps at school

soñar despierto por un beso enamorado

Daydreaming for a lover's kiss

dice que el sereno de la calle

He says the night watchman on the street

no esta pendiente a quien entra o a quien sale

Isn't paying attention to who comes or goes

que ya, los vientos no secan la ropa moja

That now, the winds don't dry the wet clothes

dice que se hacía en un lebrillo

He says it was done in a basin

unos pesquiños que comían los chiquillos

Some little fish that the kids ate

que al de los dulces le ha tocado el gordo de navidad

That the one with sweets won the Christmas lottery

amargo.. amargo son sus despertar

Bitter... bitter are his awakenings

recuerdo de tiempos pobres y humildad

Memory of poor and humble times

hablo de un plato de sopa de tomate

Talking about a plate of tomato soup

de esas macetas de geranios con lunares

Those pots of geraniums with polka dots

y el del almendro tampoco vuelve a casa por Navidad

And the almond tree doesn't come home for Christmas either

ser el inocente de una broma

Being the innocent one in a joke

compra maiz, tener una foto con palomas

Buying corn, having a photo with doves

dejar fiado lo que no te llega

Leaving credit for what doesn't reach you

para comprar amargo...amargo son sus despertar...

To buy bitter... bitter are his awakenings...

recuerdo de tiempos pobres y humildad

Memory of poor and humble times

recuerdo que te hacen soñar...

Memories that make you dream...