Expressing wishes in Spanish with “Ojala”
Ojalá is a Spanish word meaning “If only…” “God grant!” or “I hope so!”. It has its roots in the Arabic word “Inshallah!” which means “God grant!” or “God willing!”, and which entered both Spanish and Persian languages following the spread of the Arab empire to the East and the West.
The word ojalá is used like a verb in the present subjunctive to express wishes and hopes. For example: “Ojalá que llueva” (I hope it rains!)
The song “Ojalá que Llueva Café” was written by Juan Luis Guerra and the literal translation could be: “If only it would rain coffee in the fields”, wishing prosperity for the people in the country.
Here is a wonderful adaptation of the song by the band Cafe Tacuba with the lyrics below, both in Spanish and English.
| Ojalá que llueva café en el campo que caiga un aguacero de yuca y té del cielo una jarina de queso blanco y al sur una montaña de berro y miel oh, oh, oh-oh-oh, ojalá que llueva café. | If only it would rain coffee in the fields, and a shower of yucca and tea would fall, from the sky a sprinkling of white cheese, and in the south a mountain of cress and honey. oh, oh, oh-oh-oh… If only it would rain coffee. |
| Ojalá que llueva café en el campo peinar un alto cerro (d)e trigo y mapuey bajar por la colina de arroz graneado y continuar el arado con tu querer. oh, oh, oh-oh-oh… | If only it would rain coffee in the fields, combing a high hill of wheat and mapuey, descending the slope of grained rice and continuing to plough with all your love.. oh, oh, oh-oh-oh… |
| Ojalá el otoño en vez de hojas secas vista mi cosecha de pitisalé sembrar una llanura de batata y fresas ojalá que llueva café. | If only autumn would clothe my harvest with pitisalé instead of dry leaves, sowing a plain with sweet potato and strawberries, If only it would rain coffee. |
| Pa’que en el conuco no se sufra tanto, ay ombe ojalá que llueva café en el campo pa que en Villa Vásquez oigan este canto ojalá que llueva café en el campo ojalá que llueva, ojalá que llueva, ay ombe ojalá que llueva café en el campo ojalá que llueva café. oh, oh, oh-oh-oh… | So that on the small farms they won’t suffer so much, oh man. If only it would rain coffee in the fields so that in Villa Vásquez they will hear this chant. If only it would rain coffee in the fields, If only it would rain, If only it would rain, Ay, man, If only it would rain coffee in the fields. If only it would rain coffee. oh, oh, oh-oh-oh… |
| Ojalá que llueva café en el campo sembrar un alto cerro de trigo y mapuey bajar por la colina de arroz graneado y continuar el arado con tu querer. oh, oh, oh-oh-oh… | If only it would rain coffee in the fields, sowing a high hill of wheat and mapuey, decending from the hill of grained rice, and continuing to plough with all your love. oh, oh, oh, oh |
| Ojalá el otoño en vez de hojas secas vista mi cosecha de pitisalé sembrar una llanura de batata y fresas ojalá que llueva café. | If only autumn would clothe my harvest with pitisalé instead of dry leaves, sowing a plain with sweet potatos and strawberries. If only it would rain coffee. |
| Pa que en el conuco no se sufra tanto, oye ojalá que llueva café en el campo pa que en Los Montones oigan este canto ojalá que llueva café en el campo ojalá que llueva, ojalá que llueva, ay ombe ojalá que llueva café en el campo ojalá que llueva café. | So that on the small farms they won’t suffer so much. If only it would rain coffee in the fields so that in Los Montones they would hear this chant. If only it would rain coffee in the fields, If only it would rain, if only it would rain, Ay, man, If only it would rain coffee in the fields, If only it would rain coffee |
| Pa que to(dos) los niños canten en el campo ojalá que llueva café en el campo pa que en La Romana oigan este canto ojalá que llueva café en el campo ay, ojalá que llueva, ojalá que llueva, ay ombe ojalá que llueva café en el campo ojalá que llueva café… | So that all the children will sing in the fields, If only it would rain coffee in the fields, so that in La Romana they will hear this chant. If only it would rain coffee in the fields, Ay, if only it would rain If only it would rain, man, If only it would rain coffee in the fields, If only it would rain. |
