Children sing Que llueva, que llueva all over the Spanish-speaking world. There are several versions, and all of them celebrate spring rain. This version includes common vocabulary like pajaritos (little birds), nubes (clouds), sol (sun), and primavera (spring).
In Spanish, the subjunctive mood is used in certain clauses. Que is the word that most often introduces these clauses –as it does in this song with que llueva, que caiga, que siga, and que rompa . Children need lots of exposure to this structure so that later they will be able to produce it. These common verbs – llover, caer, seguir and romper – are ones that children hear frequently in other forms. In this song, they hear the que and the subjunctive form that follows. Over time they will hear how that subjunctive form is different than the other forms they hear that are not preceded by que. Exposure to this structure is one of the biggest advantages of being introduced to Spanish as a child.
Click here to listen to the song. These are the Spanish lyrics and a translation.
Que llueva, que llueva,
La Virgen de la Cueva,
Los pajaritos cantan,
Las nubes se levantan.
Que sí, que no,
Que caiga un chaparrón.
Que siga lloviendo,
Los pájaros corriendo,
Florezca la pradera,
Al sol de primavera.
Que sí, que no,
Que caiga un chaparrón,
Que rompa los cristales de la estación!
Let it rain, let it rain,
The Virgin of the Cave,
The little birds are singing,
The clouds are lifting.
Oh yes, oh no,
Let a downpour fall!
Let it go on raining,
The birds go on running,
Let the meadow blossom
Under the spring sun.
Oh yes, oh no,
Let a downpour fall.
Let it break the station windows!
