La Novela [English translation]

I'm scared of my old man

wishing for him to never return

waiting for the day that he leaves us

this is what it feels like to be imprisoned

to avoid a beating I keep my mouth shut.

Me and my brothers stay out of sight

threatened, we walk on eggshells1

I'm worthless in my own home

and my mom doesn't seem to love him anymore2.

She's a witness to it all, her little eyes only shine3

she cries because of how her kids are suffering

at the sight of us at home he looks pissed off

but what have we done to deserve this?

He created his fate and imposed it on us

he confused fondness with abuse

if he doesn't want us, why doesn't he get the fuck out?

and see who else's life he can ruin4.

[Chorus]

But in my blinding rage

I beat him to a bloody pulp5

and I told him "get out6,

I'm not gonna deal with you anymore"

I don't sleep at night anymore

and my days seem to go on forever

with this drama at two in the morning

I'm just a kid and the truth is, I'm scared.

My old man has turned our home into a living hell

who would have thought that as a kid

it crossed my mind to beat the shit out of him7

he never gave us anything, not even a fucking hug

all he left me was a reminder of the beatings.

When enraged, he took it out on my mom

night after night he tried to hit her

like a coward he blamed it on us

we were just kids, a couple of punks.

I got school in the morning

it's hard to focus because this asshole's starting up

my spirits lift when I walk (to school)

because tonight we come back to the same.

[Chorus]

My son was there laying on the floor

he died from the cold and starvation

I placed two coins in his hands

to go and buy me more wine.

Every Sunday at church I have an idea

for what my mom prays for

between us brother we don't talk about it

but the feeling between us is the same.

And there's no one to help us, faith is running out

instead of being responsible, he's getting drunk

we can't go on like this forever

and lately, this has to come to an end.

From Monday to Sunday

it's always the same, we have to deal with enemy8

I see strange things, both good and bad

I spent my time in the streets to avoid the fighting9

I'm gonna play with my friends, they're all restless

they might be going through the same thing

but I won't tell them anything because in school

they might laugh at me.

[Chorus]

I lost my son because I was a drunk

and my wife whom I loved so much

I want to ask all the parents out there

to never do the same10 to their children.

1. lit. 'on out tip toes'.2. lit. 'I see that my mom doesn't look like she's in love anymore'3. with tears4. lit. 'bitter'5. lit. 'until I almost killed him'.6. lit. 'get out of the house/into the street'7. lit. 'to break (punch him in the mouth) his mouth'8. lit. 'the evil of the enemy9. lit. 'battles/fights'/10. lit. 'do bad'

• Artist:Akwid