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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

cambiandome un pie por cara mia

English translation:

I don't know whether I'm coming or going

    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2012-10-23 10:54:08 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Oct 19, 2012 12:04
11 yrs ago
Spanish term

cambiandome un pie por cara mia

Spanish to English Art/Literary General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters song lyrics
This is in 'estoy aqui' by Shakira and I am not sure of the meaning. It is talking about a relationship which has gone wrong. My attempt, I am going mad, .................................... because of/for my love, confusing night and day and I can't do anything about it.

Estoy enloqueciendome
cambiandome un pie por
Cara mia
Esta noche por el dia
Y nada le puedo yo hacer.

Can 'cambiar de pie' mean losing your balance, tripping over your own feet or something like that?
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 I don't know whether I'm coming or going
3 +1 you've got me head over heels
References
There's already an English version...

Proposed translations

+3
27 mins
Selected

I don't know whether I'm coming or going

I think it's basically just elaborating on "Estoy enloqueciendome", I've lost my reason and - literally - don't know my face from my foot - I'm all of a dither...

You don't appear to be looking for rhyme, at least, mot at this stage
Note from asker:
Thank you Carol, I think you are probably right Jane : )
Peer comment(s):
agree Charles Davis : That's it, I think. ("I don't know my arse from my elbow" is not quite the right register for Shakira.))
54 mins
many thanks Charles - you're right about the register; I wasn't going to mention that :) have a nice weekend!
agree Richard Hill
2 hrs
many thanks Rich!
agree Christine Walsh : AND I think the number of syllables fits in well - at least in my terrible rendition!
6 hrs
many thanks Christine - have a nice weekend!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks, confirmed what I was thinking."
+1
2 hrs
Spanish term (edited): cambiandome un pie por la cara mia

you've got me head over heels

I think this is an alternative worth considering.
Out of curiosity, I listened to the song on Youtube.
The word "la" is missing between "por" and "cara". :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2012-10-20 16:45:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As an alternative, I think "you've got me upside down"
could work.
Note from asker:
I like the idea of this but the singer is heartbroken because of a rift between her and her boyfriend so I am not sure it works - being head over heels in love is normally something positive and happy.
Peer comment(s):
agree James A. Walsh : This works really well I think.
4 hrs
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

36 mins
Reference:

There's already an English version...

Which handles this part rather unexpectedly, see links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki-qINoSJo0
Reference:

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/shakira/iamhere.html

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/shakira/estoyaqui.html

Note from asker:
Thanks James - I found various English versions which either made no sense at all or were very loose translations which is why I posted it as a question to see what other people thought. Sony lyrics are always difficult : )
Peer comments on this reference comment:
agree Jessica Noyes : Cool!
14 mins
Thanks, Jessica :)
Something went wrong...
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