Posted by Monotonía is a song released by Shakira in October 2022. The song became immediately viral and caught the attention of all fans as the first song after Te Felicito, which presented her pain related to the breakup with the football player Gerard Piqué. Monotonía is again a track about this breakup, and people wanted to know more about the message inside the music. In this article, we will explore the song’s meaning, and you’ll also find the complete English lyrics at the end.
You can find the official video of the song below.
Monotonía: the English lyrics & the meaning
Monotonía is a song about processing a breakup and trying to explain the reasons behind it. In the lyrics, Shakira appears sad, thinking about why the relationship with Piqué has ended. She no longer has that anger present in Te Felicito (we analyzed those lyrics here); now it’s the phase of acceptance: it was right to break up, and even predictable. And now, it’s time to find the reasons so we can move on.
The chorus clearly explains the breakup and gives the title to the song: it was monotony’s fault. Shakira justifies the end of the relationship with all those typical mechanisms that come up after a long time together when you no longer have that fresh excitement that keeps the days intense.
No fue culpa tuya, ni tampoco mía
Fue culpa de la monotonía
Nunca dije nada, pero me dolía
Yo sabía que esto pasaría
It wasn’t your fault, nor was it mine
It was the monotony’s fault
I never said anything, but it hurt me
I knew this would happen
Maintaining a long-term relationship is not always easy. Life gets filled with routines and duties, and it takes additional effort to keep it happy and fresh. We need to pay attention to our partner’s needs and be careful about how daily life can gradually deteriorate into an emotionless existence. If we don’t pay enough attention, routines can drain us and take out the pleasure of being together.
In the lyrics of Monotonía, Shakira addresses all these thoughts. And she asserts that the reason why her man didn’t pay enough attention to these things is that he was too focused on himself: she explicitly mentions protagonism and narcissism, implying that he was unable to notice what was happening to Shakira if she was feeling good and if the relationship needed some action.
Tú en lo tuyo, yo haciendo lo mismo
Siempre buscando protagonismo
Te olvidaste de lo que un día fuimos
Y lo peor es que
You in your thing, me doing the same
Always looking for protagonism
You forgot what one day we were
And the worst thing is that
De repente ya no eras el mismo
Me dejaste por tu narcisismo (Egoísmo)
Suddenly you were no longer the same
You left me because of your narcissism (Selfishness)
Monotonía lyrics also contain a genuine part, where Shakira remembers how that relationship was incredible in the past and how she somehow still feels something for him. But she’s also aware that the breakup was necessary, and she needs to love herself more than him. The singer gave too much in this relationship, and now it’s over. To seal it, she describes their life together as cold as Christmas.
Te lo digo con sinceridad
To’ está frío como en Navidad
Es mejor que esto se acabe ya (Ya, ya)
No me repitas otra vez, que esa ya la vi (Ya la vi)
Que yo te quiero, pero es que yo me quiero más a mí (Más a mí)
Es un adiós necesario
I tell you honestly
Everything is cold like Christmas
It is better that this is over now (Now, now)
Do not repeat to me again, that I already saw it (I already saw it)
That I love you, but it’s that I love myself more (More me)
It’s a necessary goodbye
That is the real meaning behind the lyrics of Monotonía: I loved you, but I’m still hurt by how our relationship ended. However, it had to go this way because we were no longer enthusiastic. Now I need to move on and love myself after everything I gave in our love.
Read other popular song lyrics and their meaning on Auralcrave
The English lyrics
It wasn’t your fault, nor was it mine
It was the monotony’s fault
I never said anything, but it hurt me
I knew this would happen
You in your thing, me doing the same
Always looking for protagonism
You forgot what one day we were
And the worst thing is that
It wasn’t your fault, nor was it mine
It was the monotony’s fault
I never said anything, but it hurt me
I knew this would happen
Suddenly you were no longer the same (The same)
You left me because of your narcissism (Selfishness)
You forgot what one day we were (Woh-oh, oh-oh)
Hey-hey, hey
You distant with your attitude, and that filled me with restlessness
You didn’t give even half, but I do know that I gave more than you
I was running for someone who wasn’t even walking for me
This love has not died, but it is delirious
From what there was, there is no more
I tell you honestly
Everything is cold like Christmas
It is better that this is over now (Now, now)
Do not repeat me again, that I already saw it (I already saw it)
That I love you, but it’s that I love myself more (More me)
It’s a necessary goodbye
What was once incredible became routine
Your lips don’t taste like anything to me
Now it’s the opposite, and the worst thing is that
It wasn’t your fault, nor was it mine
It was the monotony’s fault
I never said anything, but it hurt me
I knew this would happen
You in your thing, me doing the same (Same)
Always looking for protagonism
And you forgot what one day we were
Hey-hey, hey
