La Paloma Lyrics in English by Vicente Garcia
Platero translates to "silversmith". It's a charming and somewhat old-fashioned word that evokes a sense of craftsmanship and delicate beauty.
In the song, the lyrics compare the beloved to a "campanita de la mano de un platero" (a little bell in the hand of a silversmith). This imagery suggests something precious, carefully crafted, and handled with great care and skill, making it a unique and memorable comparison.
Vicente Garcia's cover of "La Paloma" is a love song told entirely through comparisons. He never just says he loves her, he keeps handing her new shapes: "Eres chiquita y bonita eres como yo te quiero" [You're small and pretty, just how I love you], then "Que tu pareces campanita de la mano de un platero" [You look like a little bell in a silversmith's hand], then the sky itself, "Que tu te me parece al cielo cuando se viste de azul" [You look to me like the sky when it dresses in blue]. The refrain keeps sending the dove flying between each one, like he can't settle on a single image.
Then the tone shifts from flattery to confession. He went down to the beach to roll around in the sand, and only there did he admit "Que yo no sabía que el mar me mataba con tanta pena" [I didn't know the sea was killing me with such sorrow]. It's barely over a minute long, but it moves from puppy-love comparisons to real heartbreak without changing its quiet, acoustic tone.
