cagarla — mess it up / screw it up

Cagarla is a very common, informal, and somewhat vulgar Spanish slang term that literally means "to poop it" but is widely used to mean "to mess it up" or "to screw it up."

In the song, the artist sings, "¿Para qué volver? Para volver a cagarla" (Why go back? To mess it up again). This raw and relatable expression captures the frustration of repeating past mistakes in a relationship, making it a memorable and impactful word choice for learners.

Aitana and Ela Taubert open on the question the whole song circles back to: "¿Para qué volver?" [Why come back?] Her own answer is blunt: "Para volver a cagarla" [just to mess it up again]. There's no romance dressed up here, only someone tired of a cycle she already knows the ending to. She won't let herself off the hook either. "El problema no fui yo" [I wasn't the problem], she says, and then, right after, "Fue lo poco que me dabas" [it was how little you gave me]. The accusation and the ache land in the same breath.

What keeps the song from feeling like a simple kiss-off is how honestly she names her own weakness. "Tú sabes mi debilidad" [You know my weak spot], she admits, because he does, and he knows exactly how and when to use it. Her friends keep telling her the same thing: "Mis amigas siempre me lo dicen" [My friends always tell me], that she flies too high and "mejor que aterrice" [she'd better land]. By the end she's repeating "Prometo que esta vez será la última" [I promise this time will be the last] three times in a row, and the repetition itself is the tell that she doesn't quite believe it.

Aitana Ocaña Morales, known simply as Aitana, is a celebrated Spanish pop singer and songwriter born on June 27, 1999, in Barcelona, Catalonia. Rising to fame as the runner-up on the 2017 revival season of Operación Triunfo, she quickly captivated Spain with hits like the chart-topping single "Lo Malo"—a collaboration with Ana Guerra—and her debut solo single "Teléfono."

Since her breakthrough, Aitana has released acclaimed albums such as Spoiler (2019), which earned her a Latin Grammy nomination, and 11 Razones (2020), showcasing her versatile pop and electropop style. Often hailed as the "Spanish Princess of Pop," she has amassed multiple number-one hits in Spain, including "Vas a Quedarte" and "Mon Amour." Beyond music, Aitana has also ventured into acting, starring in the Disney+ series La Última. Her fresh sound and dynamic presence continue to make her one of Spain's most exciting contemporary artists.

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