Infinitives as Adverbs?

Question

Hi, I was listening to a song, and I came across this verse:

---

Solo iré, al atardecer,

tu vuelo desvanecer.

--No te veré--temblando pensé,

mi pecho intentó entenderlo.

---

What I'm curious about is the "tu vuelo desvanecer" bit. It seems like it is being used as a gerund might be in the following English construction:

---

I (will) go alone, into the twilight, your flight vanishing.

---

However, I can't help but feel the Spanish construction is incorrect on its own, and something is being omitted. So, my question is, what might be being omitted here? Would it be correct to say:

---

Solo iré, al atardecer

con tu vuelo desvanecer.

Welcome to SpanishDict. - rac1, Mar 29, 2016

' miré' and it makes some sense. - annierats, Mar 29, 2016

I'm okay with the verb iré. In the context it makes sense because the singer is talking about what's to come. It's the "tu vuelo desvanecer" part that trips me. I wonder, would "al tu vuelo desvanecer" make sense? - FoodWaterWifi, Mar 29, 2016

Answer 1

Well, the songs are not a good example of a language because sometimes the grammar of the lyrics is "quite" odd. In this case, the lyrics have no sense for me. Maybe you did not understand the lyrics correctly?. Could be:

Solo Oiré al atardecer, tu vuelo desvanecer.

By the other hand, I think that you used an incorrect translation of solo. I think that it would be:

Only, I will go, into the twilight, your flight vanishing

PD: Maybe you hear a clear 'i', but sometimes, when the last letter of a word is the same as the first letter of the next word, could be confusing for non native speakers. If the lyrics are as you said, it is clear: the sentence have no sense.

¡Ah! Ahora tiene sentido! - Daniela2041, Mar 29, 2016

The person who sings it clearly says an "i" sound, and it is written in the video as "iré" - FoodWaterWifi, Mar 29, 2016

Actually, the flight could be vanishing al atardecer. - FoodWaterWifi, Mar 29, 2016

On the other hand. Lyrics are ... Sentence is. - Mardle, Mar 29, 2016

Appears to be ' solo miré' but I agree totally with you. - annierats, Mar 29, 2016

Answer 2

This appears to be a translation from the Japanese. it is called Ikanide, I think, Don't Go, in English. I agree with Txtaboy, songs make life more complicated than necessary. Thay can be nice, of course, but it is best not to worry too much about exact wording and grammar.

Ya no lo podré lograr

No lloraré, No lloraré

Pues decírtelo yo anhelé

No me abandones

Sólo miré, Al atardecer

Tu vuelo desvanecer

No te veré,

Note the ' solo mire'. - annierats, Mar 29, 2016