Gracias a la vida [English translation]

Thank you [(my) thanks] to (the) life that has given me so much

Gave me two bright stars which when I open them

Perfectly distinguish black from white

And in the high sky its starry depths

And in the crowds the man that I love

Thank you to (the) life that has given me so much

Has given me hearing which in all its breadth

Records night and day, crickets and canaries

Hammers, turbines, yells/barks, storms

And the voice so tender of my darling love/beloved

Thank you to (the) life that has given me so much

Has given me sound and the alphabet

With it (the) words that I think and declare

Mother, friend, brother, and illuminating/enlightening light

The road/route to the soul of him who I am loving [i.e. to whom I’m expressing my love, right now, at this moment]

Thank you to (the) life that has given me so much

Has given my tired feet speed/impetus [‘speed’ approximately as in ‘God speed!’]

With those I (have) walked cities and puddles

Beaches and deserts, mountains and plains

And your house, your street and your patio/inner courtyard

Thank you to (the) life that has given me so much

Gave me the heart that shakes its frame/framework [this could be a reference to the body]

When I look at the fruit/benefit of the human brain

When I look at the good so far from the bad

When I look into the depths of your clear eyes

Thank you to (the) life that has given me so much

Has given me laughter and has given me tears

So (that) I (can) distinguish happiness from sorrow/depression

The two materials that form my song

And your [plural] song which is the same song

And everybody’s song which is my own song [too]

Thank you to (the) life that has given me so much