Lyrics with random "que"

Question

Why are there so many lines in songs with "que" randomly at the beginning of them?

I was thinking it is similar to when English songs have " 'cause / cuz " at the beginning of the line. It's really acting as a filler word and not really carrying the meaning of "because"... it's just sort of there as a pick up into the line.

Yes, no? Am I close?

If you throw in a few examples then they can be translated as breast as possible. - afowen, Mar 8, 2011

Answer 1

Rather than the que being short for "porque" it usually seems to me to be short for "Es que". Then of course there are times when the reasoning is the omitted prior word like "Espero que" but generally, it seems to be "Es que" and it just seems like a way of talking.

Y que me traigan más botellas (I hope)

Para quitarme este sabor de su sudor

Y que me apunten en la cuenta (then they point out in the check, figurative use of check)

Toda la desgracia que dejo

(Así es la vida compa) Que no quieres nada (If it's that.......) más de mí

Que te fuiste con ese (Since you......) infeliz

Que importa (como dice?, como?) (Who cares)

Que importa

Que me va a matar la depresión (If the........)

Que voy a vivir en el alcohol (If I'm gonna.......)

Que importa (dejala deja)

Que importa

This is all my take. It means a lot of things. But I mostly see "Es que" and mean "it's that" or "If it's that......" or even sometimes because like you mention but it's a tough one since songs are open to interpretation mostly.

For example I really see:

Que me va a matar la depresión (If the........)

Que voy a vivir en el alcohol (If I'm gonna.......)

as

That the depression is gonna kill me, that I'm gonna my life flooded in alcohol, who cares, but we don't say it like that in English, we say if I'm gonna.....

but they don't in Spanish....

I guess I worded my question wrong.. I know it's not short for "porque" but it seems to be thrown around the same way as "Cause" is in English songs. :D - Luciente, Mar 8, 2011

Show us some examples, it has many meanings... - afowen, Mar 8, 2011

Answer 2

It's either what, as in the start of a question or that as in an order: that you come back, that you stay etc. Granted, unless you are Hemingway, you don't write like that in English. You can add I want (that), I hope (that) to help it make more sense.

Compare:

¡Que vuele! - That you come back (return)

¡Que le vaya bien! That you go (travel) well

¡Que descansa! That you sleep (well)

Clearly there's more stuff, as per Jeezzle's post... - afowen, Mar 8, 2011