Juan de la calle [English translation]

I was born in any slum

They call me Juan of the streets;

Paperboy during the morning,

And bootblack during the afternoon.

I was born in any slum

They call me Juan of the streets.

The barrens taught me

How to feint by the shore;

If you go straight, life will

Easily trip you.

The barrens taught me

How to feint by the shore.

(It will be better, Juancito!)

My little boat, made of illusion

Rows against the current

And, with this thread on my soul

Seek my kite for the sun.

My little bote, made of illusion

Rows against the current.

With an old cart, my father

Passed by, buying bottles

And if life doesn't change,

I will follow his path.

With an old cart, my father

Passed by, buying bottles.

And as there is no harm in dreaming,

I throw my bait to the river

Let's see if one of these nights

I get the morning star.

And as there is no harm in dreaming,

I throw my bait to the river...

When the day is over,

I have no better fortune

Than slide on my pockets

The coin of the moon.

When the day is over,

I have no better fortune.

Chorus:

I am from a slum and, pardon me,

Also the devil in any other place,

The Indio 1 of the comparsa 2

When the carnival arrives.

I am from a slum and, pardon me,

Also the devil in any other place.

1. In Argentina, a peyorative connotation used to allude to the native communities, discriminated and marginalised most of the time. 2. Usually refers to a group of people in disguise, marching past the city for a popular celebration.