No Tengo Dinero Lyrics in English by Juan Gabriel
Ni modo que hacer is a very common phrase that roughly translates to "there's nothing to be done" or "it is what it is". It’s a colloquial and somewhat fatalistic expression used when you have to accept a situation you cannot change.
In this classic song, Juan Gabriel sings that he is poor and has nothing but love to offer. If his partner can't accept him that way, then ni modo que hacer – there's nothing else he can do. It's a powerful phrase that perfectly captures the song's heartfelt resignation.
This classic from Mexican superstar Juan Gabriel tells a simple, relatable story. The singer is walking down the street, holding hands with his girlfriend, when she asks the big question: when are they getting married? His answer is brutally honest. He tells her, "soy pobre / Que me tiene que esperar" [I'm poor / you have to wait for me].
The chorus is one of the most famous in Latin music, and it lays out his situation perfectly: "No tengo dinero ni nada que dar / Lo único que tengo es amor para amar" [I don't have money or anything to give / The only thing I have is love to love]. It's a straightforward offer. He follows it up with a gentle ultimatum: "Si así tú me quieres, te puedo querer / Pero si no puedes, ni modo que hacer" [If you love me like this, I can love you / But if you can't, what can we do?]. He's putting the choice entirely in her hands.
