Cinematic Celtic ballad · TWOLODY ORIGINALS
The Cattle Dealer Buys a Broken Harp
“The Cattle Dealer Buys a Broken Harp” brings together English and Spanish. Its musical genre is Cinematic Celtic ballad.
Lyrics & translation ↓
English ↔ Spanish
About this song
The first paired lines are “I knew the price of every calf at auction.” and “Sabía el precio de cada ternero de la subasta.”. Read the complete lyrics in both languages below, then follow the same phrases in the player.
A practical cattle trader buys a damaged harp because its sound reminds him of the sister he stopped speaking to. Cinematic Celtic ballad, lyrical low whistle, intimate harp and guitar, warm orchestral strings, patient expressive lead, rising original refrain
Learn with this song
Listen to each line and compare its translation. Use Twin to switch to the same phrase in the other language; use Echo to recall its meaning before revealing the translation.
Two languages. One melody.
Lyrics & translation
Verse
I knew the price of every calf at auction.
Sabía el precio de cada ternero de la subasta.
A broken harp stood by the furniture stall.
Un arpa rota estaba junto al puesto de muebles.
One string still answered when the seller touched it.
Una cuerda respondía cuando el vendedor la tocaba.
My sister's childhood filled the auction hall.
La infancia de mi hermana llenó el recinto.
Chorus
I paid too much for seven missing strings.
Pagué demasiado por siete cuerdas ausentes.
Too little for the years we spent apart.
Demasiado poco por los años que pasamos separados.
No weighing scale can settle what I owe her.
Ninguna balanza puede saldar lo que le debo.
I brought a broken instrument to start.
Traje un instrumento roto para empezar.
Verse
We'd argued over land behind our parents' house.
Discutimos por tierra detrás de la casa paterna.
I kept the field; Christmas lost my sister.
Conservé el campo; Navidad perdió a mi hermana.
The harp rode home beside my empty cattle crates.
El arpa volvió junto a mis cajas ganaderas vacías.
I found her number underneath old business.
Encontré su número debajo de viejos documentos comerciales.
Chorus
I paid too much for seven missing strings.
Pagué demasiado por siete cuerdas ausentes.
Too little for the years we spent apart.
Demasiado poco por los años que pasamos separados.
No weighing scale can settle what I owe her.
Ninguna balanza puede saldar lo que le debo.
I brought a broken instrument to start.
Traje un instrumento roto para empezar.
Bridge
She said no harp could make the deed disappear.
Dijo que ningún arpa borraría aquella escritura.
I said I knew, and asked about repairing.
Dije que lo sabía y pregunté por la reparación.
We visited a lawyer before the harp maker.
Visitamos primero al abogado, después al constructor de arpas.
For once I listened while she did the sharing.
Por una vez escuché mientras ella hablaba.
Chorus
I paid too much for seven missing strings.
Pagué demasiado por siete cuerdas ausentes.
Too little for the years we spent apart.
Demasiado poco por los años que pasamos separados.
No weighing scale can settle what I owe her.
Ninguna balanza puede saldar lo que le debo.
I brought a broken instrument to start.
Traje un instrumento roto para empezar.
