Voy a jugar me un albur
I’m going to try my luck
con unas barajas de oro
with a gold pack of cards
que si lo gano ya estuvo
And if I win I’ll have done it
y si lo pierdo ni modo
and if I lose nothing happens
porque yo soy de los hombres
Because I’m one of those men
que cuando yo pierdo no lloro.
who don’t cry upon losing
Las mujeres son barajas
Women are like packs of cards
y hay que saber barajar
and it’s necessary to know how to shuffle them
pa saber cual es la tuya
in order to know which one is yours
y a la que vas a apuestar
and on which one to bet
no ya despues he perdido
not that after you lost
quieras volver a jugar.
you may want to play again
Y si juegas sin malicia
And if you play without malice
porque no les tienes miedo
because you’re not afraid
esperando la sota de oro
and if while waiting for the gold* knave
te aparece un caballero un caballero
a knight appears before you, a knight
disculpame mi buen amigo
forgive me my good friend
es que yo llegue primero.
I just happened to arrive first
Y ni modo de reclamos
And complaints won’t help
porque yo llegué a caballo
since I arrived on horseback
estoy regando el rosal
I’m watering the rosebush
pa cortar la flor de mayo
to cut a flower of may
perdoname rey de copas
forgive me king of cups*
es que yo soy de a caballo.
it’s just that I’m a horserider
El que no me quiera creer
and the one who doesn’t want to believe me
que le entrega la pantera
should give up the panther
pierde dinero y mujer
and lose his money and his woman
ya hasta la porta moneda
and even his change purse
a veces llega a su casa
and sometimes come back home
con la camisa de fuera.
with his shirt untucked
Y si juegas sin malicia
And if you play without malice
porque no les tienes miedo
because you’re not afraid
esperando la sota de oro
and if while waiting for the gold knave
te aparece un caballero un caballero
a knight appears before you, a knight
disculpame mi buen amigo
forgive me my good friend
es que yo llegue primer
I just happened to arrive first.
* “Gold” and ”cups” are two of the suits in a spanish pack of cards, and the knave is a woman.
“If cats looked like frogs we'd realize what nasty, cruel little bastards they are. Style. That's what people remember.” ― Terry Pratchett.