Chan Chan
Charlie Musselwhite Lyrics

The song "Chan Chan" by Charlie Musselwhite narrates the journey of the singer through different Cuban towns. The lines "De Alto Cedro voy para Marcané, Llegó a Cueto, voy para Mayarí" indicate the starting and ending points of the journey. The singer is traveling from Alto Cedro to Marcané and then to Cueto and Mayarí, describing the beauty of the towns along the way. The repetition of these lines creates a sense of the journey's cyclical nature, emphasizing the singer's connection to his homeland.

The singer then goes on to express his deep love for someone, singing "El cariño que te tengo, No te lo puedo negar." He cannot deny the love he has for this person, and even acknowledges that he cannot control his physical reactions to their presence, saying "Se me sale la babita, Yo no lo puedo evitar." This vivid description highlights the intensity of the singer's feelings, placing an emphasis on the deep and profound love he has for this person.

The last stanza speaks of the obstacles that the singer faces in reaching his destination, with the lines "Limpia el camino de pajas, Que yo me quiero sentar, En aquél tronco que veo, Y así no puedo llegar." The singer has spotted a log that he wants to sit on, but the path is blocked by straw. The log symbolizes the singer's destination or goal, and the straw highlights the obstacles he faces on the way. The repetition of the opening lines at the end ties the whole journey back to the starting point, emphasizing its cyclical nature.