One of the great delights of international trips is learning to sing with the children in other cultures. With a little help from some children in Buenos Aires, Costa Rica, here is a video of them singing some of their favorite songs. These are ideal to know if you’re part of a group traveling to a Spanish-speaking country and plan to do work with children.
Lyrics to the Songs
Here are the lyrics to the songs in the video, accompanied by their translation. Some of these will be familiar to you if you have worked with church children’s programs in the United States, but some of these may be entirely new.
Click here to download a PDF of all the songs in Spanish. This is useful for practicing the songs with your group.
Este Dedito / This Little Finger
Este dedito fue a la Iglesia
Este dedito lo acompaño
Este dedito canto un corito
Y este dedito predico
Pero este dedito el más chiquitito
Sabe lo que dijo: GLORIA DIOS.
This little finger went to church
This little finger went with him
This little finger sang a song
And this little finger preached
But this little finger, the smallest one
He knows what he says: GLORY TO GOD!
Arbolito / Little Tree
Yo soy un arbolito así
De chiquitito,
Plantado en Jesucristo por el padre Dios
Con la lluvia de los cielos, Yo creceré…
Y frutos abundantes a mi señor daré
Y frutos abundantes a mi señor daré.
I am just a small tree
A little bitty one
Planted in Jesus Christ for God the Father
With the rain of the clouds, I will grow
And give to my Lord abundant fruit
And give to my Lord abundant fruit
Quien Es El Rey / Who is the King of the Jungle?
Quien es el rey de la jungla
Uh uh,
Quien es el rey del mar
Bo, Bo, Bo
Quien es el rey del universo
Su nombre es Jesús
Si su nombre es Jesús.
Who is the king of the jungle?
Ooo Ooo
Who is the king of the sea?
Bo, bo, bo
Who is the king of the universe?
His name is Jesus
Yes, his name is Jesus
El Amor De Dios / The Love of God
El amor de Dios es maravilloso ///
Cuaaaan grande es el amor de Dios
Tan alto que no puedo ir arriba de el
Tan bajo que no puedo ir debajo de el
Tan ancho que no puedo ir afuera de él…
Cuan grande es el amor de Dios.
The love of God is marvelous (x3)
Hoooow great is the love of God
It is so high I cannot go over it
It is so low that I cannot go beneath it
It is so wide that I cannot go around it
How great is the love of God
El Telefono / The Telephone Song
Each time, you leave out an additional keyword, as is seen in the video.
Yo tengo un teléfono
Para hablar con Dios
No tiene números
No tiene línea
Y ese teléfono es la oración.
I have a telephone
For speaking to God
It doesn’t have numbers
It doesn’t have a cord
And this telephone is prayer
Soldaditos / Little Soldiers (a.k.a. I’m in the Lord’s Army)
This song is possibly familiar to English speakers, but it includes an extra intro.
Somos soldaditos siervos del señor
Vamos en defensa de nuestro evangelio
Pan pararan, pan pan pan
Pan pararan, pan pan pan
Pan pararan pan, pan, pan,
Pan pan pan
Aunque no esté en la infantería
Caballería, artillería
Aunque el avión no vaya volando
Pero soldado soy
Soldado soy de Jesús SI SEÑOR
Soldado soy de Jesús SI SEÑOR
We are soldiers serving the Lord
We go in defense of our Gospel
(Trumpet sounds)
I may not be in the infantry
Cavalry, or artillery
The plane may never fly
But I am a soldier
I am a soldier of Jesus YES SIR
I am a soldier of Jesus YES SIR
Hay Tormentas / There are Storms
(Empieza despacio y va aumentando la velocidad.)
Hay tormentas ///
En todo lugar….
Yo soy débil
Mas Dios es fuerte yo me agarro de su poder//
This song is sung several times where the leader varies the speed.
There are storms
Everywhere
I am weak
But God is strong and I will rely on his power
El Patito Juan / John the Little Duck
Encontré al patito Juan En la esquina del zaguán ////
Y me dijo ven que vamos a charlar un consejo sano yo te voy a dar ////
Obedece a tu papa obedece a tu mamay si lo haces es Señor, larga vida te dará ////
Cada día al despertar a Jesús debes orar ////
Y también tu biblia tienes que leer porque así un niño bueno vas a ser ////
Obedece a tu papa obedece a tu mamay si lo haces es Señor, larga vida te dará ////
Encontré al patito Juan En la esquina del zaguán ////
Y me dijo ven que vamos a charlar un consejo sano yo te voy a dar ////
Obedece a tu papa obedece a tu mamay si lo haces es Señor, larga vida te dará //
I found the little duck Juan
On the corner of the porch
And he said we should take the good advice he gives us
He is going to give you
Obey your father and mother
If you do, God will give you long life
Every day when you wake up
You should pray to Jesus
And also you have to read your Bible
So a good child you will be
Obey your father and mother
If you do, God will give you long life
I found the little duck Juan
At the corner of the hall
And he said we should take the good advice he gives us
Obey your father and mother
If you do, God will give you long life
Cristo Vivo En Mi / Christ Lives In Me
Si el Diablo llega a tu Corazón
Y te dice déjame entrar
Dile no, no, no
Cristo vive en mí y no hay lugar para ti
Dile no, no, no Cristo vive en mí y no hay lugar para ti
Si viene cristo a tu corazón
Y te dice déjame entrar
Dile si, si, si
Entra pronto en mí que si hay lugar para ti
Dile si, si, si
Entra pronto en mí que si hay lugar para ti.
If the Devil comes to your heart
And he says to you, “Let me enter”
Tell him no, no, no
Christ lives in me and there is no room for you
If Christ comes to your heart
And he says to you, “Let me enter”
Tell him, “Yes, yes, yes
Enter promptly because there is room for you.”
Tell him, “Yes, yes, yes
Enter promptly because there is room for you.”
Chuchua
This is a song kind of like Father Abraham that involves a lot of accumulative movements. You add a movement each time. I will list the total list. See the video above for how to add them one at a time.
Compañía…
Brazo extendido,
Puño cerrado,
Dedo hacia arriba,
Hombros fruncidos,
Cabeza hacia atrás,
Cola hacia atrás
Pies de pingüino,
La lengua afuera.
Chuchua chuchua, chuchua, ua, ua. Chuchua, chuchua, chuchua, ua, ua.
Company…
Arms out
Fists closed
Thumbs up
Shoulders squeezed
Head back
Tail back
Penguin feet
Tongue out
Choo-choowah, choo-choowah, choo-choowah, wah, wah
Choo-choowah, choo-choowah, choo-choowah, wah, wah
Great site. One question if I may: Is there a spanish version of “God loves you and I love you an that’s the way it should be” ? My Sunday school class would love to be able to sing this in Spanish.
In Christ
Chris (drchrisfr@gmail.com)
Thanks Chris! I’m not currently aware of a translation of this song, but it has great potential!