In 1950, Cruz made her first major breakthrough, after the lead singer of the La Sonora Matancera, a renowned Cuban orchestra, left the group and Cruz was called to fill in. Cruz was hired permanently by the orchestra, but she wasn't well accepted by the public at first. However, the orchestra stood by their decision, and soon Cruz became famous throughout Cuba. During the 15 years she was a member, the band traveled all over Latin America.
Cal Y Arena
Celia Cruz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
dice el refrán no es cosa buena
(Una de cal y otra de arena)
(dice el refrán no es cosa buena)
Lo que tú me haces a mí
no tiene nombre ni palabra
ni abracadabra
Desapareces por arte de magia
te desvaneces en la distancia
cuando apareces no dices nada
de dónde sales?, pura ignorancia
Vienes oliendo a hierbabuena
vienes soñando con otra morena
vienes cantando, cómo!, a tu manera
(Una de cal y otra de arena)
dice el refrán no es cosa buena
(Una de cal y otra de arena)
dice el refrán no es cosa buena
Lo que tú me haces a mí
no tiene nombre ni palabra
por no tener, no tiene
ni abracadabra
Cuando tú quieres llegas a casa
tan sonriente como si nada
siempre esperando que sea tu santa
esa mujer que tanto aguanta
Vienes pidiendo ron y canela
vienes tocando en mí, tu pena
vienes cantando, otra vez!, a tu manera
(Lo que me haces sufrir, con tus cosas)
yo no sé por que lo haces yo no soy celosa,
yo te aguanto más de cuatro cosas
(Lo que me haces sufrir, con tus cosas)
si yo fuera aquella que te daba penas
que te dejó huella y se fue con tu amigo
qué te pasa conmigo chico!
(Lo que me haces sufrir, con tus cosas)
te desapareces, después apareces
entonces te vas y no dices na, ni na, ni na
(Lo que me haces sufrir, con tus cosas)
te vas por ahí, regresas acá ni un beso me das
ya me tienes cansa, me voy con mi azúcar!
(Lo que me haces sufrir, con tus cosas)
una de cal y otra de arena
tú la pagarás como condena, sinvergüenza!
(Lo que me haces sufrir, con tus cosas)
que ningún mal te deseo
pero tu final no veo
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)
(cal y arena, cal y arena)
en esta vida tan linda
todo con amor se llena
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)
(cal y arena, cal y arena)
pero hay que tener dos canastas
una pa la mala y otra pa la buena
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)
(cal y arena, cal y arena)
yo te aconsejo no pienses
que lo que haces te critico
a dios dejo tu condena
no seas tan malo chico!
No, no hay, no hay cosa buena
In Celia Cruz's song "Cal Y Arena," she sings about a relationship with someone who is unreliable and untrustworthy. The title of the song translates to "Lime and Sand," which refers to the metaphor of someone who is both sweet and sour. The opening lines of the song, "Una de cal y otra de arena, dice el refrán no es cosa buena," mean "One of lime and one of sand, says the proverb, it's not a good thing."
Celia Cruz sings about her frustration with her partner's unpredictable behavior. She describes how her partner disappears and reappears without any explanation, and how they seem to be interested in other women. However, she also sings about her own loyalty and patience, saying, "No sé por que lo haces, yo no soy celosa, yo te aguanto más de cuatro cosas," which means "I don't know why you do it, I'm not jealous, I put up with more than four things." Despite her partner's bad behavior, Celia Cruz shows compassion, saying "Que ningún mal te deseo, pero tu final no veo," which means "I don't wish any harm on you, but I can't see a good ending for you."
Overall, "Cal Y Arena" is a song about the complexities of relationships, with both sweet and sour elements. It highlights the struggle of loving someone who is unpredictable and unreliable, while also emphasizing the importance of patience and compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
Una de cal y otra de arena
This saying means that having a mix of good and bad things is not good.
dice el refrán no es cosa buena
The proverb says it is not a good thing.
Lo que tú me haces a mí
What you are doing to me.
no tiene nombre ni palabra
It is indescribable.
por no tener, no tiene
It doesn't even have.
ni abracadabra
It cannot be fixed by magic.
Desapareces por arte de magia
You disappear magically.
te desvaneces en la distancia
You fade away in the distance.
cuando apareces no dices nada
When you appear, you don't say anything.
de dónde sales?, pura ignorancia
Where do you come from? I have no idea.
Vienes oliendo a hierbabuena
You come smelling like mint.
vienes soñando con otra morena
You come dreaming about another brunette.
vienes cantando, cómo!, a tu manera
You come singing in your own unique way.
(Lo que me haces sufrir, con tus cosas)
What you do to make me suffer with your actions.
yo no sé por que lo haces yo no soy celosa,
I don't know why you do it, I'm not jealous.
yo te aguanto más de cuatro cosas
I put up with more than four things from you.
si yo fuera aquella que te daba penas
If I were that person who gave you problems.
que te dejó huella y se fue con tu amigo
Who left you a mark and went away with your friend.
qué te pasa conmigo chico!
What's wrong with you and me, dude!
te desapareces, después apareces
You disappear, then you appear.
entonces te vas y no dices na, ni na, ni na
Then you leave without saying a thing, not even a word.
te vas por ahí, regresas acá ni un beso me das
You go away, come back, and don't even give me a kiss.
ya me tienes cansa, me voy con mi azúcar!
You have tired me out, I'm leaving with my sweetie!
una de cal y otra de arena
A mix of good and bad things.
tú la pagarás como condena, sinvergüenza!
You will pay for it as punishment, shameless person!
que ningún mal te deseo
I don't wish you any harm.
pero tu final no veo
But I don't see a good ending for you.
en esta vida tan linda
In this beautiful life.
todo con amor se llena
Everything is filled with love.
pero hay que tener dos canastas
But you have to have two baskets.
una pa la mala y otra pa la buena
One for the bad and one for the good.
yo te aconsejo no pienses
I advise you not to think.
que lo que haces te critico
That I am criticizing what you do.
a dios dejo tu condena
I leave your condemnation to God.
no seas tan malo chico!
Don't be so bad, dude!
No, no hay, no hay cosa buena
No, there is no good thing.
Writer(s): CHENI NAVARRO
Contributed by Kayla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hector Valencia
Linda hasta el ultimo; besitos infinitos al cielo 😊🥀
Desde chile😚
Gigi Taha
amazing!
Serenity S
R.I.P Celia Cruz
Jon Shecket
I thought she was singing "Claudio Reyna"
Said Carrera
Jamas habra una cantante del nivel de celia