Breathe
'In The Heights' Original Broadway Company & Mandy Gonzalez Lyrics
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Por toda su vida
Respira
Breathe
Y si pierdes mis huellas
Que Dios te bendiga
This is my street
I smile at the faces
I've known all my life
They regard me with pride
And everyone's sweet
They say, "You're going places"
So how can I say
That while I was away
I had so much to hide?
Hey guys, it's me
The biggest disappointment you know
The kid couldn't hack it
She's back, and she's walking real slow
Welcome home
Just breathe
Sigue andando el camino
Por toda su vida
Respira, just breathe
Y si pierdes mis huellas
Que Dios te bendiga
Respira
As the radio plays old forgotten boleros
I think of the days when the city was mine
I remember the praise
Ay, the adoro, te quiero
The neighborhood waved and said
"Nina, be brave, te quiero and you're gonna be fine," (respira)
Maybe it's me (respira)
But it all seems like lifetimes ago
So what do I say to these faces that I used to know?
"Hey, I'm home?"
Mira, Nina
Hey
No me preocupo por ella
They're not worried about me
Mira, allí esta nuestra estrella
They are all counting on me to succeed
Ella si da la talla
I am the one who made it out
The one who always made the grade
But maybe I just should have just stayed home
When I was a child I stayed wide awake
Climbed to the highest place
On every fire escape
Restless to climb
I got every scholarship
Saved every dollar
The first to go to college
How do I tell them why
I'm coming back home
With my eyes on the horizon
Just me and the GWB
Asking, gee Nina
What'll you be?
Straighten the spine
Smile for the neighbors
Everything's fine
Everything's cool
The standard reply
"Lots of tests, lots of papers"
Smile, wave goodbye and pray to the sky
Oh God
What will my parent say?
Can I go in there and say
"I know that I'm letting you down"
Nina
Just breathe
The lyrics to "Breathe" from the musical "In The Heights" by Lin-Manuel Miranda, performed by the Original Broadway Company and Mandy Gonzalez, speak to the singer's feelings of pressure, disappointment, and the struggle to find her place in the world.
The opening lines, "Sigue andando el camino, por toda su vida, respira" (Keep walking the path, for your whole life, breathe), serve as a reminder to the character to keep moving forward and stay resilient. It is a message of encouragement to take a moment to breathe and find inner peace amidst the chaos.
The singer reflects on her return to her neighborhood, feeling like a disappointment compared to the high expectations placed upon her. She describes herself as the "biggest disappointment" and expresses her feelings of inadequacy. The lyrics highlight the internal conflict between her personal struggles and the perception of success from those around her.
The singer reminisces about the days when she felt like the city belonged to her and the neighborhood praised her. The phrase "the neighborhood waved and said 'Nina, be brave, te quiero and you're gonna be fine'" represents the support and love she received from her community. However, she acknowledges that those days seem like a distant memory, emphasizing the passage of time and the changes she has undergone.
The song also delves into the pressure the singer feels to live up to the expectations placed upon her. The lyrics, "They are all counting on me to succeed, I am the one who made it out, the one who always made the grade," reveal the external pressure she faces from her community. She questions her choices and wonders if she should have stayed home instead of pursuing her dreams.
Ultimately, "Breathe" is a song about self-reflection, personal growth, and the challenge of navigating one's own expectations versus those of others. It showcases the singer's struggle to reconcile her own desires and aspirations with the pressure she feels from the people around her.
Line by Line Meaning
Sigue andando el camino
Continue walking the path
Por toda su vida
Throughout your life
Respira
Breathe
Breathe
Take a moment to breathe
Y si pierdes mis huellas
And if you lose my footsteps
Que Dios te bendiga
May God bless you
Respira
Breathe
This is my street
This is the place I call home
I smile at the faces
I greet the familiar faces
I've known all my life
I've known them since forever
They regard me with pride
They look at me with pride
And everyone's sweet
And everyone is kind
They say, 'You're going places'
They say, 'You have a bright future ahead'
So how can I say
So how can I express
That while I was away
That during my absence
I had so much to hide?
I had so many secrets?
Hey guys, it's me
Hello everyone, it's me
The biggest disappointment you know
The one who let you down the most
The kid couldn't hack it
I couldn't handle it
She's back, and she's walking real slow
I've returned, but I'm taking my time
Welcome home
Welcome back
Just breathe
Take a deep breath
As the radio plays old forgotten boleros
While the radio plays nostalgic boleros
I think of the days when the city was mine
I remember the days when I felt in control of the city
I remember the praise
I recall the words of admiration
Ay, the adoro, te quiero
Oh, how they adored me, loved me
The neighborhood waved and said
The neighborhood greeted me and said
"Nina, be brave, te quiero and you're gonna be fine," (respira)
"Nina, stay strong, we love you and everything will be alright," (breathe)
Maybe it's me (respira)
Perhaps it's my fault (breathe)
But it all seems like lifetimes ago
But it feels like ages have passed
So what do I say to these faces that I used to know?
So what do I tell these familiar faces?
"Hey, I'm home?"
"Hello, I've returned?"
Mira, Nina
Look, Nina
Hey
Hello
No me preocupo por ella
I don't worry about her
They're not worried about me
They're not concerned about me
Mira, allí esta nuestra estrella
Look, there is our star
They are all counting on me to succeed
They all have expectations for my success
Ella si da la talla
She will live up to it
I am the one who made it out
I am the one who escaped
The one who always made the grade
The one who always achieved success
But maybe I just should have just stayed home
But maybe I should have never left home
When I was a child I stayed wide awake
As a child, I remained wide awake
Climbed to the highest place
Reached the highest point
On every fire escape
On every fire escape ladder
Restless to climb
Always eager to climb
I got every scholarship
I received every scholarship available
Saved every dollar
Saved every penny
The first to go to college
The first in my family to attend college
How do I tell them why
How do I explain to them why
I'm coming back home
I'm returning home
With my eyes on the horizon
With my gaze fixed on the future
Just me and the GWB
Just me and the George Washington Bridge
Asking, gee Nina
Wondering, oh Nina
What'll you be?
What will you become?
Straighten the spine
Correct your posture
Smile for the neighbors
Put on a smile for the neighbors
Everything's fine
Everything is okay
Everything's cool
Everything is good
The standard reply
The typical response
"Lots of tests, lots of papers"
"I have many exams, many papers to complete"
Smile, wave goodbye and pray to the sky
Smile, wave goodbye, and silently hope for the best
Oh God
Oh God
What will my parent say?
What will my parents think?
Can I go in there and say
Can I face them and say
"I know that I'm letting you down"
"I know that I'm disappointing you"
Nina
Nina
Just breathe
Take a deep breath
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind