El Universo sobre mí [English translation]

Only one candle remains

lit in the center of the cake

and it wants to burn out.1

The guests are leaving now,

you and I look at each other,

without really knowing what to say.

There’s nothing that gives away how I feel,2

‘cause this day was perfect

and I seem so happy.

There hasn’t been anything to hint at how I feel for a long time,3

‘cause it’s hard for me to smile.

I want to live,

I want to shout,

I want to feel

the universe around me.

I want to run free,

I want to find my place.

A trick of fate,

a sped-up melody

in a song that never ends.

I’ve had enough,

I need someone who understands

that I’m alone in the middle of a crowd.

What can I do?

I want to live,

I want to shout,

I want to feel

the universe around me,

I want to run free,

I want to weep for joy.

I want to live,

I want to feel

the universe around me

like a castaway at sea,

I want to find my place,

just find my place.

All the broken toys,

all the crazy lovers,

all the patent leather shoes,

All the little dollhouses,

where I would throw parties,

where I was the only one there.

The forgotten spirit

of the Summer of Love returns.

I want to live,

I want to shout,

I want to feel

the universe around me,

I want to run free,

I want to weep for joy.

I want to live,

I want to feel

the universe around me

like a castaway at sea,

I want to find my place,

just find my place.

I want to live,

I want to shout,

I want to feel

the universe around me,

I want to run free,

I want to weep for joy.

I want to live,

I want to feel

the universe around me

like a castaway at sea,

I want to find...

...my place...

Only one candle remains

lit in the center of the cake

and it wants to burn out.4

1. Literally, “and it wants to eat itself.” This doesn’t seem to be a common or fixed way to refer to something about to go out / burn out; here she’s making the line interesting by ascribing intent to an inanimate object. We do the same in English sometimes.2. This seems to be a shortening of “No hay nada…”. You could assume another change here and say that “nada” is really “nadie,” meaning that no one finds out how she feels, but I think she intends “nada” and is meaning that nothing external “discovers” or reveals how she’s feeling inside.3. This is a tricky one. Here’s my best guess: she’s using “[no hay] nada como que” to refer a couple lines back, saying there isn’t anything “como que” / like that which “descubra lo que siento”. Hace mucho tiempo puts the time element there, saying that emotional openness hasn’t been present in her life for a long time. If anyone can lend more clarity to this, please do!4. One thing she’s doing with this bit about the candle is drawing a parallel with how isolated she feels in the middle of a crowd – “en medio de la tarta” / “en medio de un montón de gente” – they’re both solitary, and appear to be shining bright, yet don’t have much inner reserve left. This probably explains why she’s giving the candle personality, saying it wants to burn out – the narrator of the song probably does too.

• Artist:Amaral
• Album:Pájaros en la cabeza