Mi linda habanera
Adalberto Alvarez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Porque no puede ser de otra manera
Me voy pensando en ti, linda habanera
Porque tu eres el alma de mi Son
Y aunque vaya a la China o al Japón
Para cantar al mundo mis canciones
En medio de esas grandes emociones
Contigo siempre esta mi corazon
Que se quedo en la Habana
A hacerte compañía
Y solo espera el dia de volvernos a encontrar
Y mientras eso paso, me conformo con cantar.
Esa lejania me aturde
Esta soledad me espanta
Y cuando digo tu nombre
Se me hace un nudo en la garganta y por eso...
Voy
Por la carretera
Pensando en mi habanera
Que me esta esperando
Sigo de frente al camino
Por el mundo voy cantando
Siento un bom bom mamita
Tu me estas llamando!
Esto no puede ser nomas que una canción
Y aunque tu no seas Yolanda,
Eres tu mi inspiración
Acelera Pepe acelera
Que estoy loco por llegar
Para irme a vacilar
A la Habana que me espera
Loquísimo
Loquísimo estoy por verla
Para decirle cuanto la quiero
Para decirle muchas cosas bellas mama
Me siento desesperado
Y el corazon me palpita
Para llegar a la Habana
Y ver mi nena bonita, que linda
Y es que el amor
Me esta embrujando el alma
Que me tiene medio loco
Y no conozco la calma
Mamita rompeme el alma
The opening lines of Adalberto Alvarez's "Mi linda habanera" convey the poet's love and attachment to his Cuban roots, stating "I'm leaving, but I leave my heart/ Because it cannot be any other way/ I'm leaving thinking of you, beautiful habanera/ Because you are the soul of my Son." The song is written in the first person, and the poet's voice seems to be saying goodbye to his hometown Havana and setting out into the world with a heavy heart, yet always carrying his roots and culture with him. The song is a tribute to the Cuban music genre Son, which originated in the early 20th century and has had a profound impact on Latin American music.
Despite the poet's departure from Havana, there is a sense of celebration and optimism in the song. The poet declares that even if he travels to the farthest corners of the world, he will always carry a piece of Havana with him. He sings, "And even if I go to China or Japan/ To sing my songs to the world/ In the midst of those great emotions/ My heart is always with you/ That stayed in Havana/ To keep you company/ And only waits for the day we meet again/ And while that happens, I make do with singing." This echoes the Cuban tradition of keeping one's culture and heritage alive through music and dance, even in the face of adversity and displacement.
"Mi linda habanera" is a classic Cuban salsa song that has been covered by numerous artists in the genre. Its catchy melody and upbeat rhythm make it a crowd favorite, and its lyrics speak to the universal experience of leaving home and carrying one's culture with them. The song reflects the resilience and pride of the Cuban people, who have faced numerous challenges over the years yet have always found ways to preserve their traditions and celebrate their identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Me voy pero te dejo el corazon
I have to leave, but know that my heart will always stay with you
Porque no puede ser de otra manera
Because it can't be any other way
Me voy pensando en ti, linda habanera
Leaving with thoughts of you, my beautiful Habana
Porque tu eres el alma de mi Son
Because you are the soul of my Son music
Y aunque vaya a la China o al Japón
Even if I travel to China or Japan
Para cantar al mundo mis canciones
To share my songs with the world
En medio de esas grandes emociones
While experiencing those great emotions
Contigo siempre esta mi corazon
My heart is always with you
Que se quedo en la Habana
My heart is still in Habana
A hacerte compañía
There to keep you company
Y solo espera el dia de volvernos a encontrar
And it waits for the day we'll be reunited
Y mientras eso paso, me conformo con cantar.
Until then, I'm content with singing
Esa lejania me aturde
The distance weighs on me
Esta soledad me espanta
The loneliness frightens me
Y cuando digo tu nombre
And when I say your name
Se me hace un nudo en la garganta y por eso...
A knot forms in my throat, that's why...
Voy
I go
Por la carretera
On the road
Pensando en mi habanera
Thinking about my Habana
Que me esta esperando
That's waiting for me
Sigo de frente al camino
I keep going straight on the path
Por el mundo voy cantando
Across the world, I sing
Siento un bom bom mamita
I feel a boom boom, mama
Tu me estas llamando!
You are calling me!
Esto no puede ser nomas que una canción
This can't just be a song
Y aunque tu no seas Yolanda,
Even though you're not Yolanda,
Eres tu mi inspiración
You're my inspiration
Acelera Pepe acelera
Faster, Pepe, faster
Que estoy loco por llegar
I'm crazy to arrive
Para irme a vacilar
To go and have fun
A la Habana que me espera
To the Habana that waits for me
Loquísimo
Crazy excited
Loquísimo estoy por verla
I'm crazy excited to see her
Para decirle cuanto la quiero
To tell her how much I love her
Para decirle muchas cosas bellas mama
To tell her many beautiful things, mama
Me siento desesperado
I feel desperate
Y el corazon me palpita
And my heart beats fast
Para llegar a la Habana
To get to Habana
Y ver mi nena bonita, que linda
And see my beautiful girl, how lovely
Y es que el amor
And it's because love
Me esta embrujando el alma
Is enchanting my soul
Que me tiene medio loco
That's driving me half crazy
Y no conozco la calma
And I don't know peace
Mamita rompeme el alma
Mama, break my heart
Contributed by Colin S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.