Te Dedico Lyrics in English by Carlos Vives

An arpegio is a musical term where the notes of a chord are played one after another, rather than all at once. It comes from the Italian word "arpeggiare," meaning 'to play the harp.'

In this affectionate dedication, Carlos Vives sings "De mi guitarra cada arpegio" (From my guitar, every arpeggio). Instead of just offering flowers or generic words, he's dedicating the very technique of his musicianship to his beloved. It's a beautifully specific and artistic image that reveals a deep, personal offering.

Carlos Vives kicks off this song by complaining that nobody writes old-fashioned love songs anymore. He says, "Ya no se escribe de amores / Ya no se escuchan canciones / De esas para enamorar" (People don't write about love anymore / People don't listen to songs / The kind for falling in love). So, he decides to write one himself. It's a huge list of everything he dedicates to one special person. He's not pretending to be a perfect, saintly figure; he calls himself a "tipo simple e imperfecto" (a simple and imperfect guy). But what he offers is real and from the heart.

He dedicates everything from his music—"La cumbia que llevo en los huesos" (The cumbia I carry in my bones)—to shared memories, like a school letter they promised to keep forever. The song gets incredibly specific, listing things he loves about her, like "Tus libros, tus gafas y tus sentimientos" (Your books, your glasses, and your feelings). He even dedicates a whole playlist of classic Latin American songs to her at the end! It's a beautiful celebration of a long-lasting love, full of personal details and a deep appreciation for the simple, romantic things in life.