He was gifted with an innate musicality and fluid tenor voice which he colored and phrased with great expressivity. Moré was a master of all the genres of Cuban music, including son montuno, mambo, guaracha, guajira, cha cha cha, afro, canción, guaguancó, and bolero.
The eldest of eighteen children, Moré was born in Santa Isabel de las Lajas in the former province of Las Villas, in central Cuba. In 1936, at age seventeen, he left Las Lajas for Havana. His first breakthrough was winning a radio competition. He then joined Trío Matamoros (later known as Conjunto Matamoros), with which he remained several years, making a number of recordings.
In 1945 Moré went with Conjunto Matamoros to Mexico, where he performed in two of the most famous cabarets of the age, the Montparnasse and the Río Rosa. He made several recordings. Conjunto Matamoros returned to Havana, while Moré remained in Mexico, where he made several recordings for RCA Victor, together with the orchestra of Mariano Mercerón: "Me voy pal pueblo" y "Desdichado". He also recorded with Pérez Prado: "Bonito y sabroso", "Mucho corazón", "Pachito el ché", and "Ensalada de mambo". He also recorded "Dolor carabalí", which Moré considered his best composition recorded with Pérez Prado, and one he never wanted to re-record.
At the end of 1950, Moré returned to Cuba. He was a star in Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Brazil and Puerto Rico, but virtually unknown on the island. His first Cuban recording was "Bonito y Sabroso". Moré eventually decided to start his own orchestra, which he called Banda Gigante. In the years 1954 and 1955, Moré's group became immensely popular. In 1956 and 1957, it toured Venezuela, Jamaica, Haiti, Colombia, Panama, Mexico and the United States, where the group played at the Oscar ceremonies.
He died in 1963 at age 43 of cirrhosis. An estimated 100,000 fans attended his funeral.
El Agarrao
Beny Moré Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa′ bailar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa' gozar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro
Deja de ser agarrado y te vas a divertir
Piensa que la vida es corta, que te tienes que morir
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa′ bailar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa' gozar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro
Gaste la plata, compay
Para que pueda gozar
Gaste la plata, compay
Para que pueda gozar
Que el que la separa un medio
Nunca ha de llegar al real
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa' gozar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro
Ay mira, nena, mi Zaguán, puro
Que lo tengo pa′ gozar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa′ gozar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro
Le cantan a la cosa buena del alma
Cuando me pongo a gozar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa' gozar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro
Ven-ven-ven-ven, ven, ven, ven, ven, ven, ven
Pa′ guarachear
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa' gozar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro
¡Eh!
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa′ gozar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro
Ay, mira, dime si escuchaste tomba
Que te invita a guarachear
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa' gozar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro
Qué rico, qué rico, qué rico
Qué rico, qué, ah-ah
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa′ gozar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro
Ay, mira, negra del alma mía
Así te la voy a dejar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa' gozar
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro
Eh
Beny More's "El Agarrao" is a lively and energetic song that is clearly directed towards those who are hesitant to let loose and have some fun. The song encourages the listener to stop being so "agarrado," or uptight, and instead focus on enjoying life while they can. In the first verse, the singer urges someone named Zaguán to embrace the pure joy of dance and celebration.
The chorus repeats the sentiment while also emphasizing the importance of spending money to have a good time. The phrase "gaste la plata, compay" translates to "spend the money, friend," which in the context of the song speaks to the idea that sometimes you need to invest in experiences to reap the true benefits of life. The song's bridge features a call-and-response section where the singer and a chorus urge listeners to come and dance, further emphasizing the message of the song that it's time to let loose and have a good time.
Overall, the song sends a clear message - life is short, so you need to take advantage of the opportunities you have to enjoy it. It's an upbeat and entertaining song that's sure to get feet moving and create a joyous atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa′ bailar
Listen, my friend, my Zaguán is pure for dancing
Oiga, mi Zaguán, puro pa' gozar
Listen, my friend, my Zaguán is pure for having fun
Deja de ser agarrado y te vas a divertir
Stop being reserved and you will enjoy yourself
Piensa que la vida es corta, que te tienes que morir
Remember that life is short and that you have to die
Gaste la plata, compay
Spend the money, my friend
Para que pueda gozar
So that you can have fun
Que el que la separa un medio
Nunca ha de llegar al real
Those who are greedy will never enjoy the true essence of life
Ay mira, nena, mi Zaguán, puro
Oh look, baby, my Zaguán is pure
Le cantan a la cosa buena del alma
Cuando me pongo a gozar
They sing to the good things in life, my soul rejoices
Ven-ven-ven-ven, ven, ven, ven, ven, ven, ven
Pa' guarachear
Come on, come on, come on, let's dance the guaracha
Ay, mira, dime si escuchaste tomba
Que te invita a guarachear
Oh, look, have you heard the 'tomba'? It invites you to dance the guaracha
Qué rico, qué rico, qué rico
Qué rico, qué, ah-ah
How delightful, how delightful, how delightful, ah-ah
Ay, mira, negra del alma mía
Así te la voy a dejar
Oh, look, black of my soul, this is how I will leave it for you
Eh
Hey
Writer(s): E. Verde De Leon
Contributed by Nathaniel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.