Rubén Blades
West Indian Man lyrics with English translation
- Language
- Spanish
- Level
- Intermediate
- Released
- 1992
- Genre
- Salsa
- Length
- 3:26
Came from the sea, to panamá,
To work in the jungle and build the canal
He got paid in silver, the white man in gold, and the yellow fever took everyone's soul.
Grandaddy was a west indian man,
Y vivió y murió en panamá.
And he lived and died in Panama.
West indian man, iwant to recognize
West Indian man, I want to recognize.
Your iron will, your sacrifice.
Tu voluntad de hierro, tu sacrificio.
You gave your life to build a path,
So oceans could meet inside the heart of panamá
Grandaddy was a west indian man,
Y vivió y murió en panamá.
And he lived and died in Panama.
Time has passed but discrimination endure,
We must work together to find its cure.
West indian man, he came from the caribbean and found a home and a new start in panamá.
Grandaddy was a west indian man,
Y vivió y murió en panamá.
And he lived and died in Panama.
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Key vocabulary
- canal
- channelB1
- found
- find
- grandaddy
- grandpa
- has
- haveA2
- he
- I haveA2
- iwant
- want
- life
- vida
- panamá
- Panama
- vivió
- lived
- murió
- diedB1
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About this song
Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna is an award-winning singer, composer, actor, and activist known for his foundational contributions to salsa music and Latin jazz.