San Lazaro
Celina González Lyrics


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Babalú Ayé, mi mo seo
Babalú Ayé ecua
Que babalú Ayé, mi mo seo
Babalú Ayé, ecua

E, e, egua, Babalú Ayé, ecua
Ecua, Baba, ecua
Babalú Ayé ecua
Ecua, viejo, ecua
Babalú Ayé, ecua
Ecua, papá, egua
Babalú Ayé, ecua
Que yo voy a subi′ y uste' va′ a bajar
Con los zapatos de Chango te
Que Changoté mi Changotá
Changoteíto de Obatalá
Y Babalú Ayé

Padre mío, San Lázaro
Ay viejo mío, aé
Padre mío San Lázaro
Ay Santo mío, aé
Padre mío San Lázaro
Ayúdanos en nombre de Dios
Padre mío, San Lázaro
Que yo quiere un serí y un senseribó
Padre mío San Lázaro
Que yo voy a subi' y uste' va′ a bajar
Con los zapatos de Chango te
Que Changoté mi Changotá
Changoteíto de Obatalá
Y Babalú Ayé
Padre mío San Lázaro
Ay viejo mío, aé
Padre mío San Lázaro

Padre mío San Lázaro
Padre mío San Lázaro
Padre mío San Lázaro
Padre mío San Lázaro

Que yo voy a subi′ y uste' va′ a bajar
Con los zapatos de Chango te
Que Changoté mi Changotá
Changoteíto de Obatalá
Y Babalú Ayé
Padre mío San Lázaro
Ay santo mío, aé
Padre mío San Lázaro
Que yo quiere un serí y un senseribó
Padre mío San Lázaro
Pero que sea de corazón
Padre mío San Lázaro
Ayuda a todos de corazón
Padre mío San Lázaro

Que yo voy a subi' y uste′ va' a bajar
Con los zapatos de Chango te
Que Changoté mi Changotá
Changoteíto de Obatalá
Y Babalú Ayé
Padre mío San Lázaro
Ay viejo mío, aé
Padre mío San Lázaro




Ay santo mío, aé
Padre mío San Lázaro

Overall Meaning

The song "San Lazaro" by Celina González is a prayer to the Cuban Santería deity Babalú Ayé and the Catholic Saint Lazarus. The lyrics start off with repetitive calls to Babalú Ayé, with the singer asking for his protection and blessings. Babalú Ayé is known in Santería as the god of infectious diseases, but also as a protector and a healer. The singer also makes reference to other deities such as Chango and Obatalá before moving on to pray to Saint Lazarus.


The singer calls out to Saint Lazarus as a father figure and asks for his help and blessings. She asks for a "serí" and a "senseribó," which are offerings made to Saint Lazarus in exchange for his intercession. The song goes on to ask for help for everyone with true intentions in their hearts. The use of both Santería and Catholic imagery in the song illustrates the syncretism of religion in Cuba, where Catholic saints and African deities are often worshipped interchangeably.


Line by Line Meaning

Babalú Ayé, mi mo seo
Babalú Ayé, please hear my prayer


Babalú Ayé ecua
Babalú Ayé, I implore you


Que babalú Ayé, mi mo seo
May Babalú Ayé, please hear my prayer


E, e, egua, Babalú Ayé, ecua
Ecua, Baba, I plead to you, Babalú Ayé


Ecua, Baba, ecua
Ecua, Baba, hear my prayer


Babalú Ayé ecua
Babalú Ayé, I implore you


Ecua, viejo, ecua
Ecua, Oh Grandfather, hear my prayer


Babalú Ayé, ecua
Babalú Ayé, please hear me


Ecua, papá, egua
Ecua, father, I plead to you


Babalú Ayé, ecua
Babalú Ayé, I implore you


Que yo voy a subi′ y uste' va′ a bajar
I will ascend and you will descend


Con los zapatos de Chango te
With the shoes of Chango on you


Que Changoté mi Changotá
Let my Chango protect me


Changoteíto de Obatalá
May Obatalá bless me


Y Babalú Ayé
And may Babalú Ayé hear my prayer


Padre mío, San Lázaro
My Father, Saint Lazarus


Ay viejo mío, aé
Oh, my old one


Ay Santo mío, aé
Oh, my Saint


Ayúdanos en nombre de Dios
Help us in the name of God


Que yo quiere un serí y un senseribó
I want a serí and a senseribó


Pero que sea de corazón
But let it be from the heart


Ayuda a todos de corazón
Help everyone from the heart




Writer(s): Sixta Patria Aguilera

Contributed by Owen T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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