Que Canten Los Niños Lyrics in English Jose Luis Perales
Apagado comes from the verb apagar, meaning "to turn off," "to extinguish," or "to silence." While it can refer to turning off a light, in this song, it carries a much deeper and more poignant meaning.
In the context of "Que Canten Los Niños," apagado is used to describe how the voices of some children have been "silenced" or "extinguished" due to suffering or conflict. The lyric "Porque han apagado su voz" (Because they have silenced their voice) powerfully conveys the loss of innocence and the inability of these children to express themselves, making it a very impactful and memorable word in the song.
"Que Canten Los Niños" invites us to picture an enormous choir where every child on Earth joins in, from playgrounds filled with laughter to streets scarred by conflict. Spanish songwriter José Luis Perales turns their voices into a powerful megaphone, asking the world to listen to dreams of peace, clean seas, blue skies, and full stomachs. By repeating the call “Que canten los niños” (Let the children sing), he reminds us that children hold a pure, unfiltered truth we adults often forget.
The lyrics jump from hope to protest, from protecting flowers to silencing cannons, showing that a single song can defend nature, demand justice, and spread joy all at once. Perales uses each “Yo canto” (I sing) to list reasons worth fighting for—education, poetry, sunshine, and the simple smile of a mother. In short, this anthem says: if we let children’s voices rise and unite, they can light up the world like the sun itself.
