Yo Me Llamo Cumbia
Totó La Momposina Lyrics
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no hay una cadera que se este quieta donde yo estoy,
mi piel es morena como los cueros de mi tambor,
y mis hombros son un par de maracas que besa el sol. (bis)
Tengo en la garganta una fina flauta que Dios me dio,
canuto de millo, olor de tabaco, aguardiente y ron,
tomo mi mochila, enciendo la vela y repica el son,
y enredo en la luna y en las estrellas toda mi voz. (bis)
Como soy la reina, me hace la corte un fino violin,
me enamora un piano, me sigue un saxo y oigo un clarin,
y toda la orquesta forma una fiesta en torno de mi,
y yo soy la cumbia, la hembra coqueta y bailo feliz. (bis)
Yo naci en las bellas playas caribes de mi pais,
soy Barranquillera, Cartagenera, yo soy de ahi,
soy de Santa Marta, soy Monteriana, pero eso si,
yo soy Colombiana, ¡oh! tierra hermosa donde naci.
The lyrics to Totó La Momposina's song Yo Me Llamo Cumbia celebrate the vibrant and lively traditional Colombian music genre of cumbia. The singer proudly proclaims herself to be cumbia, the queen wherever she goes. She sings of how her presence causes every hip to move, and she describes herself as having skin as dark as her drumskins and shoulders like a pair of maracas kissed by the sun. She also portrays herself as an instrument, with a fine flute in her throat and the scent of tobacco, aguardiente, and rum swirling around her like the notes of a melody. She paints herself as a traveler, carrying her backpack and lighting a candle as the music plays and her voice is carried away on the wind.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of cumbia, how it weaves its way through every aspect of her life and society. The music represents a diverse collective of instruments, each one serenading and wooing her as she dances joyfully. The whole orchestra forms a party around her, and she is the cumbia, the flirtatious woman who dances happily. The singer is also proud of her heritage, representing the various regions of Colombia where cumbia originated from. Her love for the country is evident in the final line where she proclaims herself as a daughter of the beautiful land where she was born.
Overall, the lyrics to Yo Me Llamo Cumbia are a loving tribute to a genre of music that has played an essential role in Colombian culture for centuries. They paint a picture of a bold and confident woman who embodies the spirit of the music and carries it with her wherever she goes.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo me llamo cumbia, yo soy la reina por donde voy,
I am cumbia and I reign wherever I go.
no hay una cadera que se este quieta donde yo estoy,
No hip remains motionless whenever I'm around.
mi piel es morena como los cueros de mi tambor,
My skin is dark like the leather of my drum.
y mis hombros son un par de maracas que besa el sol. (bis)
My shoulders are like a pair of maracas kissed by the sun.
Tengo en la garganta una fina flauta que Dios me dio,
I have a fine flute in my throat that God gave me.
canuto de millo, olor de tabaco, aguardiente y ron,
A cornhusk reed, tobacco scent, and the flavor of aguardiente and rum.
tomo mi mochila, enciendo la vela y repica el son,
I take my backpack, light the candle, and play the rhythm.
y enredo en la luna y en las estrellas toda mi voz. (bis)
And I wrap my voice in the moon and stars.
Como soy la reina, me hace la corte un fino violin,
As the queen, a fine violin courts me.
me enamora un piano, me sigue un saxo y oigo un clarin,
A piano captivates me, a saxophone follows me, and I hear a clarinet.
y toda la orquesta forma una fiesta en torno de mi,
And the entire orchestra creates a party around me.
y yo soy la cumbia, la hembra coqueta y bailo feliz. (bis)
And I am cumbia, the flirty woman who dances joyfully.
Yo naci en las bellas playas caribes de mi pais,
I was born on the beautiful Caribbean beaches of my country.
soy Barranquillera, Cartagenera, yo soy de ahi,
I'm from Barranquilla, Cartagena, that's where I'm from.
soy de Santa Marta, soy Monteriana, pero eso si,
I'm also from Santa Marta, Monteria, but one thing is certain.
yo soy Colombiana, ¡oh! tierra hermosa donde naci.
I am Colombian, oh beautiful land where I was born.
Contributed by Adam P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.