La Tabaquera Lyrics in English by José Luis Perales

Home / Lyrics translation / José Luis Perales / La Tabaquera

Below, I translated the lyrics of the song La Tabaquera by José Luis Perales from Spanish to English.

These lyrics have verified word for word translations. Click any lyric word to see the translation and hear the pronunciation!

Smiles under your arm

And sorrow in the heart

Matches and tobacco are sold in a corner

I hear her sing, 'Matches and paper'

And take sip by sip your coffee

And he looks without speaking and thinks without knowing

Why did he come into this world and for what?

And your question

He flew from table to table with no answer

Falling asleep behind the door

In case someone wants to answer one day

And I look at it

And I want to remember her as she was

I want to talk about that tobacco company

That one day in the tavern he looked at me

As a young man he had loves

With a handsome gentleman

But he flew so high that one day he didn't come back

And he left him matches and paper

And a whole will to be made

Riches to be gained, and silks to be woven

And a beautiful corner in a café

And a question

That goes from table to table without response

And that she fell asleep behind the door

In case someone wants to answer one day

And I look at it

And I want to remember her as she was

I want to talk about that tobacco company

That a day in the tavern

He looked at me

Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Did you like this lyrics translation?

tabaquera — tobacco seller / cigarette vendor

Tabaquera literally means 'tobacco seller' or 'cigarette vendor'. It's a unique and somewhat old-fashioned word that immediately paints a picture of a specific character and setting.

In the song, it refers to the woman who sells matches and tobacco in a tavern. The word itself is central to the song's title and narrative, making it highly memorable and enticing as it introduces a character with a poignant backstory.

Have you ever wondered about the quiet lives happening around you? José Luis Perales invites us to do just that with "La tabaquera" [The Tobacco Seller Lady]. This song tells the story of a woman who sells matches and tobacco in a corner, always with "Sonrisas bajo el brazo y pena en el corazón" [Smiles under her arm and sorrow in her heart]. We see her drinking coffee, singing "Cerillas y papel" [Matches and paper], and silently pondering big questions like "¿Por qué llegó a este mundo y para qué?" [Why did she come to this world and for what?]. It's a really touching look at the unspoken thoughts of someone we might just pass by every day.

What makes her story even more moving is the past that shaped her. We learn that she once had a love with a handsome man, but he "voló tan alto que un día ya no volvió" [flew so high that one day he never returned]. He left her with "cerillas y papel" [matches and paper] and a life full of things to do and questions to ask. Perales sings, "Yo quiero hablar de aquella tabaquera / Que un día en la taberna me miró" [I want to talk about that tobacco seller lady / Who one day in the tavern looked at me], showing how a simple glance can spark a whole story. It's a beautiful reminder that everyone has a history and a depth we might not see at first glance.

Did you know?

In addition to reading lyric translations, you can now learn Spanish with music and lyrics from your favorite artists.

Yes, including La Tabaquera by José Luis Perales!

No more boring lessons. You can now learn with engaging and culturally relevant lyrics from the best artists.

José Luis Perales La Tabaquera Lyrics