El Clavo Lyrics in English by Prince Royce, Maluma
Clavo literally translates to "nail", as in the kind you hit with a hammer. This simple word is the key to the song's clever title and a very common proverb in Spanish.
The song is built around the saying "Un clavo saca a otro clavo" (One nail pulls out another nail). This is the Spanish equivalent of the English idea that "the best way to get over an old flame is to find a new one." In the song, the singer offers to be the new "clavo" to help a woman forget her ex-boyfriend, making this a memorable and culturally rich word to learn.
Ever been stuck on someone who's just not good for you? Prince Royce and Maluma have the perfect, if slightly aggressive, solution in "El Clavo." The title comes from a Spanish saying, "un clavo saca otro clavo," which means a new love can help you get over an old one. And that's exactly what they're offering. They tell a woman that if her boyfriend messes up again, she should call them. They promise, "que yo si te cuido / No como ese idiota" (that I do take care of you / Not like that idiot).
They don't hold back when describing her current boyfriend, calling him a bum who only calls when he's drunk. They argue she's way too good for him and should just move on with one of them. Maluma's verse is especially confident, offering everything from his Grammy awards to some very direct compliments. The message is simple and blunt: "Que yo soy el clavo que saca ese clavo / Y dile que se joda" (That I'm the nail that takes out that nail / And tell him to get lost).
