Carlos Berlanga was an important Spanish painter, singer, and composer who … Read Full Bio ↴Carlos Berlanga was an important Spanish painter, singer, and composer who was most often associated with Alaska y Dinarama, and Alaska y Los Pegamoides, having penned such classic songs as "Bailando," "Ni tú ni nadie" and "A quién le importa." He had a successful solo music career as well as a career in art, having painted the poster for Almodovar's film Matador. He passed away on June 05, 2002 but he will live on forever in our hearts.

Tazas de té
Carlos Berlanga Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Eres como un sinapismo,
como un calendario,
como el tilo negro,
y yo también,
y yo también.

Eres como las rebajas
como una ventosa,

como un periodista,
y yo también,
y yo también.

Somos como dos cuchillos,
como un par de hachas,
como cucarachas,
en el fondo de tazas de té o de café.
Qué pena que no lo ves.

Eres un tacón de aguja,
un arrepentimiento
que no viene a cuento,
y yo también,
y yo también.

Somos como dos cuchillos,
como un par de hachas,
como cucarachas,
en el fondo de tazas de té o de café.
Qué pena ...
qué pena ...
qué pena que no lo ves.

Y yo también,
y yo también.

Y yo también,
y yo también.

Qué pena que no lo ves.
Qué pena que no lo ves.

Overall Meaning

In Carlos Berlanga's song Tazas de té, the singer describes a relationship full of conflicting emotions between two people. The first verse compares the other person to a poultice, a calendar, and the black lime, all symbols of healing and rejuvenation. However, the singer also sees themselves as these symbols, implying a sense of equivalence in the relationship. In the second verse, the comparison shifts to sales, a suction cup, and a journalist, all symbols of manipulation and power. Again, the sense of equivalence is present as the singer also identifies with these symbols.

The chorus paints a darker picture of the relationship. The two people are compared to knives, axes and cockroaches, all symbols of violence, destruction and unpleasantness. The reference to the bottom of teacups or coffee cups is an allusion to finding oneself in a situation without a way out. The singer expresses their disappointment that the other person cannot see the destructive nature of their relationship. The third verse identifies the other person as a high heel, a regret that is not appropriate, and again, the image of the black lime. And as before, the singer identifies with these symbols, further reinforcing the idea that the relationship is toxic, without necessarily assigning blame to either person.

In summary, Tazas de té is a song that reflects on the dynamics of a relationship that is full of conflicting emotions. The imagery of healing and manipulation, and violence and destruction interspersed in the lyrics, suggest a relationship that is dynamic and complex.

Line by Line Meaning

Eres como un sinapismo,
You are like a liniment,

como un calendario,
like a calendar,

como el tilo negro,
like black lime blossom tea,

y yo también,
and so am I,

y yo también.
and so am I.

Eres como las rebajas
You are like the sales,

como una ventosa,
like a suction cup,

como un periodista,
like a journalist,

y yo también,
and so am I,

y yo también.
and so am I.

Somos como dos cuchillos,
We are like two knives,

como un par de hachas,
like a pair of axes,

como cucarachas,
like cockroaches,

en el fondo de tazas de té o de café.
at the bottom of teacups or coffee cups.

Qué pena que no lo ves.
What a shame you don't see it.

Eres un tacón de aguja,
You are a stiletto heel,

un arrepentimiento
a regret

que no viene a cuento,
that is out of place,

y yo también,
and so am I,

y yo también.
and so am I.

Qué pena que no lo ves.
What a shame you don't see it.

Somos como dos cuchillos,
We are like two knives,

como un par de hachas,
like a pair of axes,

como cucarachas,
like cockroaches,

en el fondo de tazas de té o de café.
at the bottom of teacups or coffee cups.

Qué pena ...
What a shame ...

qué pena ...
what a shame ...

qué pena que no lo ves.
what a shame you don't see it.

Y yo también,
And so am I,

y yo también.
and so am I.

Y yo también,
And so am I,

y yo también.
and so am I.

Qué pena que no lo ves.
What a shame you don't see it.

Writer(s): Carlos Garcia Berlanga Manrique, Ignacio Canut Guillen Copyright: Warner/Chappell Music Spain S.A.

Contributed by Katherine H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS