There is more than one type of translation:

  • Setting words to music
  • Converting a message from one language to another

In both cases, a translation must be accurate. Otherwise, it is a summary or a paraphrase. My voice teacher has frequently seen me dismiss the translations of the Spanish songs in her books! I just sing a new translation to her on the fly. This helps her understand my interpretation of the pieces we are working on. She loves what I do, but setting it in writing is a challenge.

My son got married on August 5, and on one of his visits home with his fiancée I sang a traditional Latin American song to Daniel and Brenda, his bride. I had always sung to him in Spanish, but he was very emotional. I wondered what was special. He said “This describes Brenda, Mom!” He asked me to translate it for them. So I did.

The message was clear in English and in Spanish. They got the words, and it is now here, on my site, as a tribute to my children, Daniel and Brenda.

Si una buena amistad tienes tú

Si una buena amistad tienes tú,If you have a genuine friend,
alaba a Dios, pues la amistad es un don.Praise God, for friendship is a gift.
Ser amigo es hacer al amigo todo el bien,A friend always does the best for a friend,
¡qué bueno es saber amar!How good it is to love!
La amistad viene de Dios, y a Dios debe volver,Friendship flows from God and returns to God
¡qué bueno es saber amar!How good it is to love!
Sí, una buena amistad
es más fuerte que la muerte		Death can not break
the bonds of friendship
y cuando uno está lejos,
la amistad se va volviendo más fuerte.
And even distance
only makes your friendship stronger.
La amistad es en la vida una canción,Friendship brings music to our lives,
la amistad hace vivir al corazón.Friendship makes our hearts come alive!
Ser amigo es hacer al amigo todo el bien,A friend always does the best for a friend,
¡qué bueno es saber amar!How good it is to love!
La amistad viene de Dios, y a Dios debe volver,Friendship flows from God and returns to God,
¡qué bueno es saber amar!How good it is to love!