One of the more enjoyable parts of Spanish class so far has been learning Spanish hymns and choruses. It’s great practice for the new sounds we’re learning, it’s a quick way to pick up new vocabulary, and it’s just fun. I especially enjoy hearing our children going about the house, singing in Spanish.
Our children aren’t in Spanish class, at least not at this point, but we are speaking Spanish to them at home and singing it with them. It will be fascinating to see how much they catch over the next few months.
One of the songs we’ve learned that is stuck in my head is “Dios Está Aquí,” which means “God Is Here.” It has a somewhat lively tune, and I appreciate the meaning of the song. I’ve also found it rolls off the tongue easily.
I’m sure I sound like the most gringo of gringos when I sing Spanish, but I love it. Following is a more or less literal translation of the song, line by line. As always in a literal translation, you lose the context, nuance, and poetry of the words, but I think you can catch most of that with a little thought.
Dios Está Aquí
Dios está aquí, ¡qué hermoso es!
God is here, how beautiful [it] is!
Él lo prometió donde hay dos o tres,
He it promised where there are two or three,
Quédate, Señor, quédate, Señor,
Stay, Lord, stay, Lord,
Quédate, Señor, aquí.
Stay, Lord, here.
–
Oh, Cristo mío, haz de mi alma un altar,
Oh, Christ my [mine], make of my soul an altar,
Para adorarte, con devoción.
For to adore you, with devotion.
Oh, Cristo mío, haz de mi alma un altar,
Oh, Christ my [mine], make of my soul an altar,
Para adorarte de todo corazón.
For to adore you with all [my] heart.
–
Dios está aquí, ¡qué hermoso es!
God is here, how beautiful is!
Él lo prometió donde hay dos o tres,
He it promised where there are two or three,
Quédate, Señor, quédate, Señor,
Stay, Lord, stay, Lord,
Quédate, Señor, aquí.
Stay, Lord, here.
–
El Espíritu de Dios se mueve,
The Spirit of God moves,
Se mueve, se mueve;
Moves, moves;
El Espíritu de Dios se mueve,
The Spirit of God moves,
Dentro de mi corazón.
Inside of my heart.
–
Juan David 