ESCALERAS DE METAL Lyrics (English Translation) – Nathy Peluso

[Verse]
For you I have gone down to hell
metal stairs
I ignored the danger
And you have done me so much harm (Ah-ah)
You don’t play with me (Ah-ah)
It doesn’t kill me (Ah-ah)
If I gave my life for you (Uh-uh-uh)
Today I am the one who takes it from you

[Pre-Chorus]
I saw your pupils reflected (Ah-ah-ah-ah)
On the blade of the knife (Ah-ah-ah, uh-uh)
It lights me up, it lights me up
Your bad love lights me up (Uh-uh; your bad love)

[Chorus]
How difficult it is to understand
When someone doesn’t know how to love you (Ah-ah)
How difficult it is to understand
When someone doesn’t know how to love you (Oh-oh)

[Outro]
Oh, uh-uh-uh, uh, mmm
When someone doesn’t know how to love you
Oh-oh, want
Want

[Verse]
The verse describes the speaker’s willingness to endure immense hardship for their partner, metaphorically depicted as descending “to hell” on “metal stairs.” Despite recognizing the danger and enduring significant harm, they remain steadfast in their commitment, even willing to sacrifice themselves. However, there’s a shift in power dynamics as they declare their agency in ending the cycle of suffering by taking control of their own life.

[Pre-Chorus]
The pre-chorus employs vivid imagery of seeing the partner’s reflection in a knife, symbolizing the danger and pain they bring. Despite the harmful nature of the relationship, the speaker finds themselves drawn to it, as indicated by the phrase “it lights me up.” Their acknowledgment of the partner’s “bad love” suggests an awareness of the toxicity, yet they are still entangled in its allure.

[Chorus]
The chorus expresses the frustration and confusion that arise when love is not reciprocated or understood. It highlights the emotional difficulty of being in a relationship with someone who lacks the ability to love properly. The repetition emphasizes the profound challenge of comprehending and coping with the complexities of love when it’s not genuine or healthy.

[Outro]
The outro reflects on the desire for love despite the challenges and pain experienced in dysfunctional relationships. The repetition of “oh” and “uh-uh-uh” conveys a sense of longing or yearning, while the word “want” encapsulates the speaker’s enduring hope for love despite the hardships endured. It serves as a poignant conclusion to the song’s exploration of love’s complexities and contradictions.

1. “Gone down to hell, metal stairs”
This phrase symbolizes the speaker’s willingness to descend into difficult and painful situations for their partner. It suggests a journey into the depths of suffering, portrayed vividly through the imagery of “metal stairs” leading to hell, indicating the severity of the sacrifice made for love.

2. “Your bad love lights me up”
Here, the speaker acknowledges the detrimental nature of their partner’s love. Despite recognizing its toxicity, they find themselves drawn to it, as indicated by the phrase “lights me up.” This suggests a complex emotional response, where even negative experiences can evoke strong feelings of attraction or intensity.

3. “When someone doesn’t know how to love you”
This line reflects the frustration and confusion that arise when love is not reciprocated or understood properly. It highlights the emotional difficulty of being in a relationship with someone who lacks the ability to express love in a healthy and meaningful way, leading to a sense of longing and disappointment.

4. “It doesn’t kill me”
This phrase conveys resilience in the face of adversity. Despite enduring harm and pain from the relationship, the speaker emphasizes their survival and strength by asserting that the experiences, though challenging, have not been fatal. It speaks to their ability to endure and overcome hardship.

5. “Oh-oh, want”
In the outro, the repetition of “oh” followed by the word “want” encapsulates a deep longing or desire for love despite the difficulties encountered. It signifies a persistent yearning for affection and connection, even in the face of past hurt or disappointment, and reflects the universal human desire for love and companionship.