Cuando Tú No Estás

Track art by Nora Guerrero

This track meshes together a few popular styles including bachata and merengueton (itself a mix of reggaeton and merengue). While taking a very modernized, popular music approach, this track shows what can happen when styles with deeper roots, such as merengue, get applied to more modernized genres such as reggaeton and bachata. This song was written by Braden Astorga-Rollins with some help from trumpeter/guitarist Allen Mendez.

Original Lyrics

Cuando tú no estás,
Yo no me muevo,
Pesado y ineficaz,
Por todo el cuerpo.

Cuando tú no estás,
Aquí en mi espacio,
Alucino tu faz,
En el silencio.

Y cuando llego a casa,
Percibo sombras de tu figura,
Soledad, por causa de tu ausencia.

Dime, ¿por qúe te vas?
¿Y cuándo será el día en el que volverás?
La vida se nos va a acabar,
Y pronto si no te veo
Me la voy a terminar.

(Cuando tú no estás)
Dime, ¿qué es lo que me habría causado
esta dependencia a ti?
Dime ¿qué puedo hacer,
para no seguir asi?

Sea por ansiedad o tristeza,
Tan duradero es mi sentir,
Que no puedo ya olvidar tu belleza,
Cuando tú no estás aquí.

No sé si tu ves,
Cuanto me afectas,
Aquí bajo la piel,
Algo se me desconecta,

Cuando pienso en tu cara,
Me da cosquillas por la espalda,
Pronto pasa,
Se está borrando de mi memoria.

Dime, ¿por qúe te vas?
¿Y cuándo será el día en el que volverás?
La vida se nos va a acabar,
Y pronto si no te veo
Me la voy a terminar.

Dudo que tenga el valor,
Y creo que me quedo aquí como tu servidor,
Sé que, es demasiada presión.
Por eso no te digo y escribo esta canción.

(Cuando tú no estás)
Believe me, I know that I’ve been in the wrong,
And I need to be my own man.
But how when myself is someone
That I just can’t understand?

And I know it’s not a healthy habit,
To think about you constantly,
But it’s what I fall into,
Cuando tú no estás aquí.

Personnel

Braden Astorga-Rollins Lead Vocals
Allen Mendez Guitar, Trumpet, Vocals
Josh Nuss Trombone, Vocals
Tom Hartnett Keyboard
Jorge Brito Bass
José María Piedra Güira
Felipe Fernández Bongó, Congas
Michael McSweeney Drums

English Translation

When you’re not around,
I don’t even move,
Heavy and feeble,
Throughout my whole body.

When you’re not around,
Here in my room,
I hallucinate your face,
Here in the silence.

And when I get home,
I see fleeting shadows of your shape,
Loneliness, because of your absence.

Tell me, why are you leaving?
And when will the day be in which you come back to me?
Our lives are going to end,
And if I don’t see you soon
I’ll just end mine myself.

(When you’re not around)
Tell me, what is it that could have caused
This dependence I have with you?
Tell me, what can I do
To stop feeling like this?

Whether through anxiety or sadness,
This feeling is so resilient,
That I can’t even forget your beauty,
When you’re not around.

I don’t know if you see,
How much you affect me,
Here under my skin,
Something just disconnects.

When I imagine your face,
I get shivers up and down my spine,
Quickly it’s gone,
It’s erasing itself from my memory.

Tell me, why are you leaving?
And when will the day come when you come back to me?
Our lives will soon end,
And soon if I don’t see you
I’ll just end it all myself.

Still, I doubt I have the guts,
I think I’ll just stay here as your humble servant,
I know, it’s way too much pressure.
So instead of telling you I’ll just write this song.

(When you’re not around)
*Creeme, sé que he estado culpable,
*Y tengo que ser mi propio hombre.
*Pero ¿cómo, si mi identidad
*Es algo que no puedo entender?

*Y sé que es mi vicio mas grande,
*Pensar en ti constantemente,
*Pero en eso me caigo yo,
When you’re not around.

*Original lyrics in English