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.
Volver
Chavela Vargas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anda todo alborotado por volver.
Voy camino a la locura
Y aunque todo me tortura, sé querer.
Nos dejamos hace tiempo
Pero me llegó el momento de perder.
Tú tenías mucha razón;
Y me muero por volver.
Y volver volver volver
A tus brazos otra vez;
Llegaré hasta donde estés;
Yo sé perder, yo sé perder;
Quiero volver, volver, volver.
The lyrics to Chavela Vargas's song Volver tell a story of a passionate love that has caused turmoil in the singer's life. The singer confesses to feeling out of control, almost insane, because of this love, yet they know they are capable of loving despite the pain it brings. The lovers had parted ways before, but now the singer realizes it's time to go back to the love they had. Even if it means losing again, they want to return to their lover's embrance. The phrase "Quiero volver, volver, volver" showcases the singer's desperation to "return, return, return" to their lover and start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
Este amor apasionado
This intense love
Anda todo alborotado por volver.
Is in turmoil because it wants to return.
Voy camino a la locura
I am on the path to madness
Y aunque todo me tortura, sé querer.
And even though everything tortures me, I know how to love.
Nos dejamos hace tiempo
We left each other a long time ago
Pero me llegó el momento de perder.
But the time has come for me to lose.
Tú tenías mucha razón;
You were very right;
Le hago caso al corazón
I listen to my heart
Y me muero por volver.
And I am dying to return.
Y volver volver volver
And to return, return, return
A tus brazos otra vez;
To your arms once again;
Llegaré hasta donde estés;
I will come to wherever you are;
Yo sé perder, yo sé perder;
I know how to lose, I know how to lose;
Quiero volver, volver, volver.
I want to return, return, return.
Contributed by Charlie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Solange Voiry
Chavela siempre grande !
Este amor apasionado
Anda todo alborotado por volver
Voy camino a la locura
Y aunque todo me tortura, sé querer
Nos dejamos hace tiempo
Pero me llegó el momento de perder
Tú tenías mucha razón
Le hago caso al corazón
Y me muero por volver
Y volver volver volver
A tus brazos otra vez
Llegaré hasta donde estés
Yo sé perder, yo sé perder
Quiero volver, volver, volver...
Wilma Cohen
From Google translate:
This passionate love
He's all upset to come back
I'm on my way to madness
And although everything tortures me, I know how to love
We left long ago
But it was time for me to lose
You were very right
I listen to the heart
And I'm dying to go back
And come back come back
Into your arms again
I will get to where you are
I know how to lose, I know how to lose
I want to return, return, return ...
Giovanni Sopczeyszen
Viva México !! Viva Chavela , saludos de Misiones Argentina
Dilan Ponce Mata
Viva Costa Rica y viva México , esta bella señora amo a México como no hacerlo si le abrió las puertas de su país , igual yo amo la música y su cultura viva México
Dean Vo
@Dilan Ponce Mata Chavela asimiló la cultura mexicana y se terminó por volver parte de ella, pudo haber nacido en Costa Rica pero terminó por ser mexicana, tanto así que sus restos mortales descansan aquí.
Samu Perdurabo
Seguí cantando, seguí llorando que nos estalla el corazón, Chamana Nuestra, Chavela Nuestra..nunca pares de cantar. Soy Argentino pero...que ViVA MÉXICO CARAJO!!! ABRAZO HERMANO DESDE CIUDAD DE LA PLATA, BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINA💓💓❤👏👏👏👏👏
evan avantes
También mexicano si tu quieres
Samuel Escalante
Viva Costa Rica
Faty Dm
Viva México Viva Argentina ❤
Uriellh Jkoab
Pero que mujer, con tan solo escucharla hablar, se me pone la piel chinita. VIVA CHAVELA VARGAS
Jose Barguil
Chavela canta, y el que la escucha es el Corazón... GRANDE CHAVELA!
Isabel Peco Costero
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