El gran varón [English translation]

In the waiting room of a hospital

at 9:43 Simón was born,

it was the Summer of '56;

he was the pride of Don Andrés

because he was a boy.

He was raised just like the rest,

with strictness, with sternness;

he never had an opinion of his own.

"When you're older you're going to study

the same things that your dad did"

"Listen carefully, you'll have to become

a great man".

Simón went abroad

far away from home he forgot that sermon,

he changed the way he walked;

he wore a skirt, used lipstick and carried a purse.

People say that one day his father

went to visit him without letting him know,

well; that was a mistake.

A woman spoke to him as he passed her,

she said: "Hello, how are you dad? how's it going?

you don't know me, I'm Simón;

your son Simón, the great man".

[Chorus]

Nature can't be changed,

a tree born crooked

will never straighten its trunk. [x3]

He let himself be carried away

by what people had to say,

his father never spoke to him again,

he abandoned him forever.

Nature can't be changed,

a tree born crooked

will never straighten its trunk.

Don't complain Andrés

don't complain about anything,

if life gives you lemons

make lemonade.1

Nature can't be changed,

a tree born crooked

will never straighten its trunk.

And while the years pass by

the old man gave in a little,

Simón didn't even write to him anymore,

Andrés was furious.

Nature can't be changed,

a tree born crooked

will never straighten its trunk.

At last there was news

of where his son was,

Andrés never forgot the day

he received that sad call.

La, la, la, le, le, etc. [x2]

In the waiting room of a hospital

Simón died from a strange illness,

in the Summer of '86

no one cried for the sick man in bed #10,

Simón, Simón, Simón.

Nature can't be changed,

a tree born crooked

will never straighten its trunk.

We must have compassion,

enough with morals,

he who is without sin

let him first cast a stone.

Nature can't be changed,

a tree born crooked

will never straighten its trunk.

He who cannot forgive

his fate is sealed,

to live in the bitter memory

of his own hell.

Nature can't be changed,

a tree born crooked

will never straighten its trunk.

La, la, la, le, le, etc. [x2]

1. lit. "if lemons fall from the sky, learn to make lemonade"

• Artist:Willie Colón
• Album:Top Secrets (1989)