La Bamba
Belafonte Harry Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Para bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia y otra cosita
Y arriba y arriba
Arriba y arriba y arriba ire
Yo no soy marinero
Por ti sere

Para subir al cielo
Para subir al cielo
Se necesita una escalera larga
Y otra chiquita

Para bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia y otra cosita
Arriba y arriba
Arriba y arriba, arriba ire

Para subir al cielo
Para subir al cielo
Se necesita una escalera larga
Una escalera larga y otra chiquita
Arriba y arriba
Arriba y arriba
Arriba y arriba

Para bailar la bamba




Para bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the song La Bamba describe the necessary components one needs to dance the traditional Mexican folk song. The singer explains that in order to dance the bamba, you need a little bit of grace and a few other things. As they sing “arriba y arriba,” they imply that the dance requires a lot of energy and enthusiasm. The singer then goes on to explain that they are not a sailor, yet they would do anything for the person they are addressing. The second verse of the song explains that in order to reach the sky, one needs a long ladder and a shorter one. These lyrics suggest that the bamba is a dance that requires great physical effort and even some risk-taking.


The song is actually an adaptation of a traditional Mexican folk song that has roots that go back over 400 years. "La Bamba" was popularly adapted into a rock song by Ritchie Valens in 1958. Harry Belafonte's version of the song was released in 1962.


Line by Line Meaning

Para bailar la bamba
In order to dance to the beat of La Bamba


Para bailar la bamba
In order to dance to the beat of La Bamba


Se necesita una poca de gracia
Grace is required to dance well


Una poca de gracia y otra cosita
Not only grace, but also another element is needed to dance well


Y arriba y arriba
Up and up


Arriba y arriba y arriba ire
I will keep going up, up and up


Yo no soy marinero
I am not a sailor


Por ti sere
But for you, I will become one


Para subir al cielo
In order to reach heaven


Para subir al cielo
In order to reach heaven


Se necesita una escalera larga
A long ladder is needed


Y otra chiquita
And a small one too


Para bailar la bamba
In order to dance to the beat of La Bamba


Para bailar la bamba
In order to dance to the beat of La Bamba


Se necesita una poca de gracia
Grace is required to dance well


Una poca de gracia y otra cosita
Not only grace, but also another element is needed to dance well


Arriba y arriba
Up and up


Arriba y arriba, arriba ire
I will keep going up, up and up


Para subir al cielo
In order to reach heaven


Para subir al cielo
In order to reach heaven


Se necesita una escalera larga
A long ladder is needed


Una escalera larga y otra chiquita
Both a long and a small ladder are needed


Arriba y arriba
Up and up


Arriba y arriba
Up and up


Arriba y arriba
Up and up


Para bailar la bamba
In order to dance to the beat of La Bamba




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Bryan Smith

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@user-bj2lu9qt3o

Bam, Bam Bamba, Bam, Bam
You were drowning my darling
And I saved you
Dominating the waves with my love for you

Pero arriba y arriba y arriba ire yo no soy
Marinero por ti sere por ti sere
Por ti sere bam, bam bamba bam bam

On the sand you did write
I will always love you
Then the sand blew away
And your love did too

Pero arriba y arriba y arriba ire yo no soy
Marinero por ti sere por ti sere
Por ti sere bam, bam bamba bam bam

Oh, the crab it is said
Walks in reverse
For your true love, my darling
I'd walk on my head

Pero arriba y arriba y arriba ire yo no soy
Marinero por ti sere por ti sere
Por ti sere bam, bam bamba bam bam

Tu estabas ahogando Tu estabas ahogando
Yo te salve dominando las olas
Dominando las olas por tu querer
Pero arriba y arriba pero arriba y arriba,
Y arriba ire yo no soy marinero
Yo no soy marinero por ti sere

Bam, bam, bamba bam, bam



All comments from YouTube:

@juttawinkler7280

Harry Belafonte in 1960 on tour in Japan. I was 10 years old.....
I saw my first concert with him in the Stadthalle in Hannover in the early 70s. Deeply impressed by this singer, his performance, with little movement much effect, gave me goosebumps. Later I experienced him again in Hamburg! This performance was also an unforgettable experience.
Today, I am 72 years old, I see this performance and tears come to my eyes with enthusiasm for his dedication to tell music.
I am grateful to have experienced this unique artist live and that he has remained a personality even today at 95 years, on 01.03. he will be 96.
I wish him many, many more years of happiness!

@renataostertag6051

My family and I saw him too in Hamburg!

@yaraviera4444

What an honor 🎖 wao.

@randolphduke341

RIP MR BELAFONTE. YOU are a true humanitarian, a national treasure and you will be missed. Rest easy sir.

@dmhburque

This man built my youth in song...Forever in gratitude of his brilliance. Rest in power!

@khadeejah7586

Reste in heaven Baba ❤

@ton4347

This great man deserves at least a million views!

@tianchristian2324

Im a faitful follower.

@olivierbiliotti7303

Absolument 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

@jayclarke9546

He didn't quite make it to 💯 but what a great life, he was multi talented, and path the way for equality for everyone, goodbye Harry you will never be forgotten, you was handsome inside and out.

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