Havana
Carol Candy Lyrics
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Havana, ooh na-na (ay)
Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh-na-na (ay, ay)
He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na
Oh, but my heart is in Havana (ay)
There's somethin' 'bout his manners (uh huh)
Havana, ooh na-na (uh)
He didn't walk up with that "how you doin'?" (uh)
(When he came in the room)
He said there's a lot of girls I can do with (uh)
(But I can't without you)
I knew him forever in a minute (hey)
(That summer night in June)
And papa says he got malo in him (uh)
He got me feelin' like
Ooh-ooh-ooh, I knew it when I met him
I loved him when I left him
Got me feelin' like
Ooh-ooh-ooh, and then I had to tell him
I had to go, oh na-na-na-na-na
Havana, ooh na-na (ay, ay)
Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh-na-na (ay, ay)
He took...
In Carol Candy's song Havana, the singer talks about her heart being divided between two places - Havana, Cuba and East Atlanta. She refers to her love interest, who took her back to East Atlanta, but her heart still belongs in Havana. The singer is enchanted by the man's manners and the way he carries himself. The lyrics suggest that there is an undeniable connection between the singer and her lover, and the line “I knew him forever in a minute” implies that their connection was instant and intense. However, the singer's father warns her about the man, saying he has malo in him (Spanish for bad). Despite this, the singer is unable to resist the allure of her lover and feels like she has to tell him that she has to go.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey
Introduction
Havana, ooh na-na (ay)
Carol is describing her love for Havana while teasing her vocal range.
Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh-na-na (ay, ay)
Even though Carol is physically in another place, her heart is still in Havana where she left it.
He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na
Someone took Carol back to Atlanta from Havana.
Oh, but my heart is in Havana (ay)
Even though Carol is in Atlanta, her heart is still longing for Havana.
There's somethin' 'bout his manners (uh huh)
Carol seems to be impressed by the mannerisms of someone she met in Havana.
Havana, ooh na-na (uh)
Carol sings about Havana again to show her love for the city.
He didn't walk up with that "how you doin'?" (uh)
When she met the person in Havana, they did not give her the generic greeting of "how you doin'?".
(When he came in the room)
She's picturing the moment in her head.
He said there's a lot of girls I can do with (uh)
He mentioned that there were a lot of girls he could hang out with but chose to spend time with Carol instead.
(But I can't without you)
Carol is the only one he needs to have a good time.
I knew him forever in a minute (hey)
Carol fell in love with him instantly like they knew each other for a long time.
(That summer night in June)
She's recalling the night when they first met.
And papa says he got malo in him (uh)
Her father warned her that the person she met has a bad side.
He got me feelin' like
Carol is expressing how the person makes her feel.
Ooh-ooh-ooh, I knew it when I met him
Carol knew he was the one for her at first sight.
I loved him when I left him
Even when Carol leaves Havana, she still loves him.
Got me feelin' like
Carol can't resist the person's charm.
Ooh-ooh-ooh, and then I had to tell him
Carol had to break the news that she had to leave him.
I had to go, oh na-na-na-na-na
Carol had to leave Havana, saying goodbye to her love.
Havana, ooh na-na (ay, ay)
She repeats the chorus to emphasize her love for Havana and her love for the person she left behind.
Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh-na-na (ay, ay)
She repeats the line to emphasize that her heart is still in Havana even though she is physically gone.
Writer(s): Andrew Wotman, Camila Cabello, Pharrell Williams, Brittany Hazzard, Brian Lee, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk, Alexandra Tamposi, Louis Bell
Contributed by Violet N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.