Ruben Blades - Amor Y Control = Love & Control

Translating another one of my favorite songs from "The Salsa Poet" "El Poeta de la Salsa" Ruben Blades. If anyone ever asks you who is the poet of salsa; now you know. There is no one else in the world with that title; and rightfully so. Ruben Blades has an amazing talent for writing and story telling. This is what makes his music so enchanting. I can honestly say that I cry every time I hear this song and I too think about my family and what it means to be part of one. I got teary eye watching this video and watching him get emotional before performing this song. He is telling a story of a couple that bought tickets to go watch him that night. The couple was having their 17th year anniversary, but his wife died and her husband asked him to sing this song. This is another Panama anthem that makes me feel at home. Enjoy and love your family! No matter what!

I'm leaving the hospital

After seeing my mother

Fight against a cancer

That has no cure

I saw a family pass by

An older man walked in front

A lady, two guys

And some other people

Holding the older man’s hand

A younger man walked

Doleful and looking sorry

He was the cause of a family argument

Which we started to become aware of

After hearing the old man scream

Even though you are a thief

Even though you have no reason to be

I have an obligation to help you

And even though you use drugs

And even though you abuse us

The family and I have to care for you

Only the person with children

Understands that being a parent never ends

That a father and mother’s love

Never ceases to give

That we wish for you

That which we never had

That even though we have problems

Family is family

And love is love

I saw them walk away with tears

Overcoming their own maze

In good and bad times

Walking together

And I thought about my family

And I loved them so much in that moment

That I thought I was drowning in feelings

That young man

And my poor mother

Two different people

But, the two are equal tragedies

How much control

And how much love

Has to be in our house?

Much control and much love

To overcome misfortune

Even if there are arguments in your home

Even though you might think that your love is a lost cause

Be sure that they love you

And that love lasts a lifetime

How much control

And how much love

Has to be in our house?

Much control and much love

To overcome misfortune

Keep love and control at forefront of troubles

Illuminating those feelings of hope

Giving your back to problems
 Doesn't make them go away

Nor impatience solved any sorrows

How much control

And how much love

Has to be in our house?

Much control and much love

To overcome misfortune