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.
Cuando Tú Me Quieras
Celia Cruz Lyrics
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la vida parecía (un jardín azul)
nunca hubo tristezas (ni llanto ni quejas)
sólo mucho amor, amor y amor en plenitud
(Cuando me querías tú)
Y hoy que no me quieres (en mi soledad)
a ti otros quereres (nadie te dirá)
te alejan de mí (lo triste que estoy)
(Lloro y añoro mi jardín azul)
(cuando me querías tú)
Y hoy que no me quieres (en mi soledad)
que no sé de ti (por el mundo voy)
a ti otros quereres (nadie te dirá)
te alejan de mí (lo triste que estoy)
(Lloro y añoro mi jardín azul)
(cuando me querías tú)
(cuando me querías tú)
The lyrics to Celia Cruz's song Cuando Tu Me Quieras, which roughly translates to "When You Loved Me," are a poignant lament about lost love and the pain that comes with it. The song begins with the happy memories of a time when the singer was loved deeply by their partner – "When you loved me, life seemed like a blue garden, there were no sorrows or tears, only love, love, and more love in abundance." However, as the song progresses, we learn that the singer has been left behind and is now alone, trying to move on – "And now that you don't love me, I travel the world not knowing where you are, other desires take you away from me; how sad I am." The song ends with the singer crying and longing for the return of their lost love, and the blue garden of their past.
The lyrics of this song express a universal human experience - the pain of lost love. The song is an expression of the deep sadness and longing that comes with a broken heart. The use of the garden imagery throughout the song is very evocative, representing the singer's past relationship as a beautiful and fertile space, which has now become barren and empty. The repetition of the refrain, "when you loved me," reinforces the idea that the memories of that time are all-encompassing, and the pain of losing that love is all-consuming. The song captures the essence of heartbreak in a beautiful and poignant way, making it a true classic of Latin music.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando tú me querías (cuando me amabas)
When you loved me (when you loved me deeply)
la vida parecía (un jardín azul)
Life seemed like (a thriving garden full of potential)
nunca hubo tristezas (ni llanto ni quejas)
There was never any sadness (nor crying or complaining)
sólo mucho amor, amor y amor en plenitud
Only abundant love, love, and love in its fullness
Y hoy que no me quieres (en mi soledad)
And now that you don't love me (in my loneliness)
que no sé de ti (por el mundo voy)
I don't know about you (I wander the world)
a ti otros quereres (nadie te dirá)
To someone else's love (no one will tell you)
te alejan de mí (lo triste que estoy)
They separate you from me (how sad I am)
(Lloro y añoro mi jardín azul)
(I cry and long for my thriving garden)
(cuando me querías tú)
(when you loved me deeply)
(cuando me querías tú)
(when you loved me deeply)
Contributed by Chase W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.