La vida es corta (1941)

Life is Short
lyrics by Francisco Gorrindo

Let’s see, boys—I want to be joyful,
I want to be dazed, so I don’t have to think.
Life is short and you have to live it,
and just put reality aside.
You have to forget about sacrifice—
how much it costs to be, and to have bread—
and on these nights of partying and laughter
dress your soul in a new disguise.

Life is short and you have to live it,
you must not trust in tomorrow.
If today lies are called dreams,
perhaps tomorrow they will become the truth.
Life short and you have to live it
happily by a woman’s side,
and though she lies to us, beneath her gaze
there are reasons aplenty to love.

Orquesta Ricardo Tanturi, singer Alberto Castillo

A ver muchachos—quiero alegría,
quiero aturdirme, para no pensar.
La vida es corta y hay que vivirla,
dejando a un lado la realidad.
Hay que olvidarse del sacrificio—
que tanto cuesta ser, tener el pan—
y en estas noches de farra y risa,
ponerle al alma nuevo disfraz.

La vida es corta y hay que vivirla,
en el mañana no hay que confiar.
Si hoy la mentira se llama sueño,
tal vez mañana sea la verdad.
La vida es corta y hay que vivirla
feliz al lado de una mujer,
que aunque nos mienta, frente a sus ojos,
razón de sobra hay para querer.