Alfonsina Y El Mar Lyrics in English Natalia Lafourcade

Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Alfonsina Y El Mar by Natalia Lafourcade from Spanish to English.
These lyrics have verified word for word translations. Click any lyric word to see the translation and hear the pronunciation!
Verse 1
By the soft sand that the sea licks
The song, originally by Mercedes Sosa, is about the Argentine poet Alfonsina Storni, following her suicide where she walked into the sea
Your little footprint
Doesn't come back anymore
Or: (Your small footprint) won't be seen anymore
A path of only pain and silence arrived
In 1938, Alfonsina found out that the breast cancer had reappeared
Until the deep water
A path of only mute sorrows arrived
Until the foam
God knows what anguish accompanied you
What old pains silenced your voice
To lie down lulled in the song
Of the seashells
The song that sings in the dark bottom of the sea
The seashell
Chorus 1
You leave Alfonsina, with your loneliness
What new poems did you go to search?
Alfonsina Storni (22 May 1892 – 25 October 1938) was an Argentine poet and playwright of the modernist period
An ancient voice of wind and salt
It breaks your soul and is taking it
And you go there
Like in dreams asleep
Alfonsina, dressed in sea
Verse 2
Five mermaids will carry you
Or: Five little mermaids will take you
Through paths of seaweed and coral
And phosphorescent seahorses will make
A circle around you
Lit: A round by your side
And the inhabitants of the water will play
Soon by your side
Lower the lamp for me a little
A little more
Let me sleep nurse, in peace
This part of the lyrics is inspired in Storni's last sonnet 'Voy a dormir' (I am going to sleep)
And if he calls
Don't tell him I'm here
Tell him that Alfonsina isn't coming back
And if he calls
Don't ever tell him that I'm here
Say that I'm gone
Chorus 2
You leave Alfonsina, with your loneliness
What new poems did you go to search?
An ancient voice of wind and salt
It breaks your soul and is taking it
And you go there
Like in dreams asleep
Alfonsina, dressed in sea
You leave Alfonsina
Dressed
Dressed in
Dressed in sea
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lyrics © ONErpm, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Did you like these lyrics?
SONG MEANING

Alfonsina y el Mar paints a hauntingly beautiful farewell to the Argentine poet Alfonsina Storni, who chose to surrender herself to the sea in 1938. Natalia Lafourcade’s warm, modern pop interpretation wraps this tragic story in delicate guitars and her signature airy vocals. Through vivid seaside images—soft sand, singing seashells, glowing seahorses—the lyrics follow Alfonsina’s lonely footprints as they disappear beneath the waves, hinting at the silent pain and unanswered questions she carried. The ocean becomes both cradle and choir, soothing her toward an eternal sleep while whispering promises of new poems hidden in its depths.

Rather than focusing solely on sorrow, the song also celebrates Alfonsina’s creative spirit. It invites us to imagine her drifting into an underwater kingdom where five playful mermaids guide her through coral pathways, and every marine creature joins a luminous parade. The contrast between gentle lullaby lines like “Bájame la lámpara un poco más” and the irresistible pull of the sea turns the story into a poetic embrace of freedom, art, and transformation. Listening to Lafourcade’s version feels like standing on the shore at dusk: bittersweet, mesmerizing, and full of quiet reverence for a life devoted to words and wonder.

Did you know?
In addition to reading lyric translations, you can now learn Spanish with music and lyrics from your favorite artists.
Yes, including Alfonsina Y El Mar by Natalia Lafourcade!
No more boring lessons. You can now learn with engaging and culturally relevant lyrics from the best artists.
LEARN SPANISH WITH ALFONSINA Y EL MAR BY NATALIA LAFOURCADE
Learn Spanish with music with 7237 lyric translations from various artists including Natalia Lafourcade
Get our free guide to learn Spanish with music!
Join 49450 learners. Unsubscribe any time.
Google
Learn Spanish with lessons based on this song!
Get it on Google Play
Download on the App Store
Apple and App Store are trademarks of Apple Inc.
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
MORE VERIFIED TRANSLATIONS
MORE NATALIA LAFOURCADE