"Mejor Morir En Pie" by Tierra Santa, English translation of lyrics"Better to Die Standing"Album: Mejor Morir En Pie, 2006Style: Heavy metal rock, anthemCountry: Spain

Listen:

This song is about fighting for your rights, your freedom, and your way of life. Hear it at YouTube here.

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Sorry for the scarce updates last month. I am busy with real life deadlines. February will probably be like this, too.

Translation:

No he de rendirme aunque caiga al andar.No estaré vivo si he de huir.Si por vivir, no he de ser dueño de mí,Mejor en pie morir.

I must not give up even if I fall as I march.I will not be alive if I have to flee.If in order to live, I am not to be the owner of myself,Better to die standing.

Sé que nadie elige tropezar En las piedras que están en el camino.Sé que cuando empiece a caminar,He de  labrar yo mi propio destino.

I know that no one chooses to tripOver the rocks on the road.I know that when I begin to walk,It must be I who cultivates my own destiny.

Ser quien decida cuantos pasos he de dar,Ser libre para elegir;Si por vivir, no he de ser dueño de mí,Mejor en pie morir.

To be the one who decides how many steps I am to take,To be free to choose;If in order to live, I am not to be the owner of myself,Better to die standing.

Sé que en esta vida hay que vivirCon el dolor que dan las heridas.Sé que al caminar he de sufrirY cada vez será más dura la caída.

I know that in this life one must liveWith the pain the wounds give us.I know that as I walk I shall sufferAnd every time the fall will be harder.

No he de rendirme aunque caiga al andar.No estaré vivo si he de huir.

Si por vivir, no he de ser dueño de mí,Mejor en pie morir.

I must not give up even if I fall as I march.I will not be alive if I have to flee.If in order to live, I am not to be the owner of myself,Better to die standing.

[Instrumental break]

Nunca nadie habrá de doblegarEl valor que alimenta mi vida.Nunca harán mi pierna arrodillarAunque el dolor atormente mis heridas.

Never will there be anyone to defeatThe valor that feeds my life.They will never make my legs kneelEven if the pain torments my wounds.

No habrá quien pueda mi espíritu quebrar,Vencer mi alma ni mi fe.Si he de caer, antes elijo poderMejor morir en pie.

There will be no one able to break my spirit,Defeat my soul nor my faith.If I am to fall, before then I choose:Better to die standing.

Translation Notes:

Tierra Santa (the group's name) means "Holy Land." 

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The title of this song calls back to a famous quote from Emiliano Zapata, a general from the Mexican Revolution:

"Es mejor morir de pie que vivir de rodillas."It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.

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Ser quien decida cuantos pasos he de darTo be the one who decides how many steps I am to take

[Ser] {quien} [decida] (cuantos pasos) ((he de dar))[To be] {who, the one who} [decides] (how many steps) ((I am to take))

In this line, the verb dar [lit. to give] is used where in English we would use use the verb "to take" instead. Spanish uses dar pasos [lit. to give steps] with the meaning of the English "to take steps."