Torres later settled in Havana and worked with many of Cuban's top performers as a session musician. In the 1990s he was very busy with two different groups. He worked Celina Gonzalez and formed his own band called Piquete Cubano. He also participated in two other projects—the Afro-Cuban All Stars and the Buena Vista Social Club. Both were ensembles of Cuban musicians, but each with a different focus. The Afro-Cuban All Stars performed Latin dance music while the Buena Vista Social Club wanted to record traditional Cuban music. Both of these projects received strong reviews, but the phenomenal success of the 1997 album, Buena Vista Social Club, put him—and Cuban music in general—in the international spotlight. The record sold more than 1.5 million copies and led to an international tour.
Since Buena Vista Social Club, Torres has made several solo albums, including Havana Cafe in 1999 and a self-titled work in 2003.
Sarandonga
Barbarito Torres Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Sarandonga)
En el alto del puerto
(Sarandonga)
Un ñame con bacalao
(Sarandonga)
Que mañana es domingo
¡Ay chiviriquichiá!
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Cuando yo tenía dinero
Me llamaban Don Tomás
Cuando yo tenía dinero
Me llamaban Don Tomás
Y ahora como no Tomás
Me dicen Tomás ná má
Y nos vamó a comer
(Sarandonga)
En el alto del puerto
(Sarandonga)
Un ñame con bacalao
(Sarandonga)
Que mañana es domingo
(Sarandonga)
¡Ay chiviriquichiá!
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Yo no como la jutía
Porque tiene cuatro dientes
Yo no como la jutía
Porque tiene cuatro dientes
Y después dice la gente
Que yo como boberia
Y nos vamó a comer
(Sarandonga)
En el alto del puerto
(Sarandonga)
Un ñame con bacalao
(Sarandonga)
Que mañana es domingo
(Sarandonga)
¡Ay chiviriquichiá!
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Y nos vamó a comer
(Sarandonga)
En el alto del puerto
(Sarandonga)
Un ñame con bacalao
(Sarandonga)
Que mañana es domingo
(Sarandonga)
¡Ay chiviriquichiá!
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
La mujer cuando se agacha
Se le abre el entendimiento
La mujer cuando se agacha
Se le abre el entendimiento
Y el hombre cuando la mira
Se le para el pensamiento
Y nos vamó a comer
(Sarandonga)
En el alto del puerto
(Sarandonga)
Un ñame con bacalao
(Sarandonga)
Que mañana es domingo
(Sarandonga)
¡Ay chiviriquichiá!
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
The song "Sarandonga" by Barbarito Torres is a traditional festive song that describes a group of people going to the high port to have a meal of yam with codfish, which they plan to enjoy on the following day, Sunday. The repetitive and catchy chorus, "Sarandonga," adds a playful tone to the song. The first stanza uses playful language emphasizing the excitement of the gathering, while the second stanza has a more reflective tone, contrasting the singer's current lack of wealth to the way they were treated when they had money.
The last stanza has a more sexual tone, comparing the effect of a women bending over to a man's arousal. Although the lyrics may seem straightforward, they have a deeper level of meaning, as the song is often associated with Cuban popular culture and its history. In many ways, the song is a celebration of Cuban traditions that have been passed down through generations, as the lyrics describe a communal meal of yam and codfish, which is a popular Cuban dish.
Overall, "Sarandonga" is a lighthearted song that celebrates Cuban culture and customs.
Line by Line Meaning
Y nos vamó a comer
We're going to eat
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
En el alto del puerto
At the top of the port
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
Un ñame con bacalao
A yam with codfish
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
Que mañana es domingo
Because tomorrow is Sunday
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
¡Ay chiviriquichiá!
Oh chiviriquichia!
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
Cuando yo tenía dinero
When I had money
Me llamaban Don Tomás
They called me Don Tomas
Cuando yo tenía dinero
When I had money
Me llamaban Don Tomás
They called me Don Tomas
Y ahora como no Tomás
And now that I'm not Tomas
Me dicen Tomás ná má
They just call me Tomas
Yo no como la jutía
I don't eat the hutia
Porque tiene cuatro dientes
Because it has four teeth
Yo no como la jutía
I don't eat the hutia
Porque tiene cuatro dientes
Because it has four teeth
Y después dice la gente
And then people say
Que yo como boberia
That I eat nonsense
La mujer cuando se agacha
When a woman bends down
Se le abre el entendimiento
Her understanding opens up
La mujer cuando se agacha
When a woman bends down
Se le abre el entendimiento
Her understanding opens up
Y el hombre cuando la mira
And when a man looks at her
Se le para el pensamiento
His thoughts stop
Y nos vamó a comer
We're going to eat
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
En el alto del puerto
At the top of the port
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
Un ñame con bacalao
A yam with codfish
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
Que mañana es domingo
Because tomorrow is Sunday
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
¡Ay chiviriquichiá!
Oh chiviriquichia!
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
Ee-Ea
(Sarandonga)
(Sarandonga)
Ee-Ea
Ee-Ea
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Aximo Francisco Aka Compay Seg Repilado Munoz, Hierrezuelo La O Lorenzo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind