One last time

English lyrical adaptation - not a literal translation
of the song “Por que te vas”


You’re everywhere in my thoughts now,
Though you’re gone.
All that we were together
Feels so far from dawn.
The room with its balcony
Still glows with light,
Like the day we stood here side by side -
But not tonight.

Time will pass,
And you’ll forget it all somehow,
What we had,
What we were then, what we are now.
I don’t wait for you -
Just know this truth inside:
You were loved,
You were loved -
One last time.

Seasons turn, the winters fade,
The years run through.
Maybe someday I’ll be happy,
Maybe with someone new.
Nothing lasts beneath the moon,
That much is clear,
But there’s one hour I will carry
Always near.

Time will pass,
And you’ll forget it all somehow,
What we had,
What we were then, what we are now.
I don’t wait for you -
Just know this truth inside:
You were loved,
You were loved -
One last time.

I don’t ask,
I don’t call,
I don’t cross that line.
Just remember -
You were loved
One last time.

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Here's a link to the song:

https://disk.yandex.ru/d/Qqabxs9rljCLRA

The Russian translation is available via the following link:

http://stihi.ru/2026/01/06/8632

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The line “Time will pass, and you will forget everything we had…” is familiar to millions of Russian-speaking listeners through the song “One Last Time” («В последний раз») performed by the Soviet vocal-instrumental ensemble "Vesyoliye Rebyata". For many, it represents a quiet classic of Soviet pop music - restrained, lyrical, and deeply human. Yet the story of this melody began long before its appearance in the USSR and is rooted in the European cultural landscape of the 1970s.

The original song, “Por que te vas” (“Why Are You Leaving?”), was written in 1974 by Spanish singer and composer Jose Luis Perales and first performed by Jeanette (Janett Anne Dimech), an American singer of Spanish origin. Initially, the song did not achieve major commercial success and was perceived as an intimate, understated ballad about separation, solitude, and the passage of time.

Its fate changed dramatically in 1976, when “Por que te vas” became the central musical theme of Carlos Saura’s film Crea Cuervos (released in the Soviet Union as “Raise Ravens”). The film’s title refers to a Spanish proverb meaning “Raise ravens and they will tear out your eyes.” The movie is a poetic allegory dealing with childhood fears, death, memory, and loneliness. It was widely acclaimed by critics and received numerous awards, including recognition at the Cannes Film Festival. Throughout the film, the eight-year-old protagonist repeatedly plays the song on a record player, turning its simple melody into a haunting symbol of loss and frozen time.

Following the film’s success, “Por que te vas” became an international phenomenon. The song inspired numerous adaptations and cover versions in many languages, including English, French, Italian, German, Bulgarian, Japanese, and others. The Soviet adaptation, “One Last Time”, did not merely replicate the original but reinterpreted it, preserving the mood of quiet sadness while adding the restraint and emotional dignity characteristic of Soviet pop music.

The song’s global resonance was so profound that it eventually inspired a special release titled “Anthology of One Song”, featuring 67 different versions of the composition. This rare case illustrates how a simple, unassuming ballad transcended borders and generations, becoming a shared musical memory - a universal language of farewell, remembrance, and love.