Juan Luis Guerra 4.40
Sambomba lyrics with English translation
- Language
- Spanish
- Level
- Intermediate
- Released
- 1984
- Genre
- Merengue
- Length
- 4:11
Allá en la fiesta 'e Carlo Mármol el de Ponce
There at Carlo Mármol's party in Ponce
me dijo que hay sancocho en bidón
he told me there's sancocho in a jug
y uno que otro dulce de Baní.
and a sweet treat or two from Baní.
Habrá que llevarse medio pollo
We'll have to sneak away half a chicken
e intentar que no lo vea
and try not to let the big guy see it
el gordetón si se entera
if he finds out
no va a haber na' pa' mí.
there won't be anything left for me.
Vamos llegando
We're arriving
con tambora en la mano
with tambourine in hand
vamos llegando
we're arriving
con guitarra y bongó.
with guitar and bongo.
Vamos llegando
We're arriving
con tambora en la mano
with tambourine in hand
vamos llegando
we're arriving
la sambomba empezó.
the sambomba has started.
Vamo' a bailar
Let's dance
vamo' a gozar
let's enjoy
sambomba está
sambomba is
pa' celebrar.
to celebrate.
Mira como se pone el flaco
Look how the skinny one gets down
cuando le dan su plato
when they serve her plate
parece que no va a repartir
it seems she won't share it
mira Fello, canta
look Fello, sing
la canción del tío Luis.
the song of Uncle Luis.
Querer que la fiesta siga pa'l otro la'o
Wanting the party to keep going on the other side
que se traigan un perico ripia'o
to bring a ripped-up parakeet
que se baile hasta la madruga'.
to dance until dawn.
Y el sol que quede con la
And the sun that stays with the
acidez del lugar que
acid of the place that
viene cayendo sin preguntar
comes falling without asking
como incluso pasa y nos trae el sueño.
like even time passes and brings us dreams.
Vamos saliendo
We're leaving
empezó un nuevo día
a new day has begun
vamos saliendo
we're leaving
es mejor recogiendo.
it's better when we gather.
Vamos saliendo
We're leaving
se quedó la alegría
the joy remained
vamos saliendo
we're leaving
y el deseo de volver.
and the desire to return.
Key vocabulary
- carlo
- Charles
- dijo
- saidB1
- bidón
- drum
- otro
- otherA2
- dulce
- sweetB1
- baní
- honeycomb
- habrá
- there will beB2
- medio
- halfA2
- intentar
- tryB1
- gordetón
- fatty
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About this song
Dominican singer-songwriter, composer, and record producer Juan Luis Guerra Seijas creates Latin music, especially merengue and bachata. He has won multiple awards including 31 Latin Grammy Awards and three Grammy Awards, and he is recognized for major charting releases and producing credits.