Isabel Vargas Lizano was born in San Joaquín de Flores, Costa Rica. She goes by Chavela, which is a nickname for Isabel. At only 14, she fled her native country due to lack of musical career opportunities, seeking refuge in Mexico, where an entertainment industry was burgeoning. For many years she sang on the streets but in her thirties she became a professional singer. In her youth, she dressed as a man, smoked cigars, drank heavily, carried a gun and was known for her characteristic red jorongo, which she still dons in performances.
Her first album, Noche de Bohemia (Bohemian Night), was released in 1961 with the professional support of José Alfredo Jiménez, one of the foremost singer/songwriters of the Mexican cancion ranchera. Vargas has recorded over eighty albums thereafter. She was hugely successful during the 1950s, 1960s and the first half of the 70s, touring in Mexico, the United States, France and Spain and was close to many prominent artists and intellectuals of the time, including Juan Rulfo, Agustín Lara, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Dolores Olmedo and José Alfredo Jiménez. She partly retired in the late 1970s due to a 15 year-long battle with alcoholism, which she has described in her autobiography (Y si quieres saber de mi pasado [And if you want to know about my past], published in 2002) as "my 15 years in hell" At 81 years old, she publicly declared that she was a lesbian.
Vargas returned to the stage in 1991, performing at the venue "El Habito" in Coyoacan, Mexico City.She debuted at Carnegie Hall in 2003 at the age of 83 at the behest and promotion of Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, a long-time admirer and personal friend of Vargas.
In April 2012 she released her latest album "Luna Grande" a tribute to Spanish poet Federico García Lorca.
La China
Chavela Vargas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pero si piso juerte se queda en duda
Y si voy tarde en la noche piso despacio
Me saco las espuelas mmm pa no hacer bulla
Chinita de mi vida veni veni
No sea tan huraña que so pa mi
Ya lo saben todos que como yo naiden te quere
Cuando voy pa mi rancho tarde en la noche
Desensillo el caballo junto a la puerta
Y mi china me espera con su reproche
Pero cuando me acuesto, se queda quieta
Chinita de mi vida veni veni
Yo soy jinete viejo pa los amores
No consigo palenque pa embramarme
Y conozco el zarape por sus colores
Tambien conozco la yegua mmm te he de montarme
Chinita de mi vida veni veni
No seas tan huraña que so pa mi
Ya lo saben todos que como yo naiden te quere
The lyrics of Chavela Vargas's song "La China" narrate the story of a horseman who speaks of his relationship with his special someone, who he refers to as his "china." He explains that his china knows him well enough to the point where she can even recognize his steps, but when he walks too strongly, she becomes hesitant. He goes on to describe his carefulness when returning late at night, even removing his spurs to avoid making noise. The horseman then calls out to his china, inviting her to come to him as he reassures her about his love for her.
Later in the song, the horseman speaks of his love life as a horseman, explaining that he is an experienced saddler who has yet to find a partner he can fully embrace. He explains that he knows the colors of the zarape (Mexican blanket used as a saddle) and how to ride a mare, suggesting he is ready to ride with his china. Finally, he once again calls out to his china affectionately, proclaiming how much he and everyone else who knows her love her.
Line by Line Meaning
Mi china me conoce y hasta en los pasos
My lover knows me inside and out
Pero si piso juerte se queda en duda
But when I act aggressively, they become unsure of me
Y si voy tarde en la noche piso despacio
When I arrive late at night, I tread softly
Me saco las espuelas mmm pa no hacer bulla
I remove my spurs quietly to avoid making noise
Chinita de mi vida veni veni
My beloved, come to me
No sea tan huraña que so pa mi
Don't be so withdrawn, you belong to me
Ya lo saben todos que como yo naiden te quere
Everyone knows that nobody loves you like I do
Cuando voy pa mi rancho tarde en la noche
When I head back to my ranch late at night
Desensillo el caballo junto a la puerta
I unsaddle my horse next to the door
Y mi china me espera con su reproche
And my lover is waiting for me with their disapproval
Pero cuando me acuesto, se queda quieta
But when I lay down, they remain silent
Yo soy jinete viejo pa los amores
I am an old hand at love
No consigo palenque pa embramarme
I can't seem to find the right place to let loose
Y conozco el zarape por sus colores
And I recognize a zarape by its colors
Tambien conozco la yegua mmm te he de montarme
I also know how to handle a mare, and I will ride you
No seas tan huraña que so pa mi
Don't be so withdrawn, you belong to me
Ya lo saben todos que como yo naiden te quere
Everyone knows that nobody loves you like I do
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FELIPE DIAZ MAZO, MANUEL MELADO PRADO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@julioyrizar7850
yo soy jinete viejo pa` los amores
no concibo palenque pa´ embramarme
como conozco el sarape por sus colores
también conozco la yegua
mm, que he de montarme
@JoseRiveraSv
Chinita de mi vida...
@rarellano2963
Chinita ely...
@mariojulianbaez1830
Esto me suena a una tonada Chilena¡¡¡
@mariojulianbaez1830
Voy a investigar...