El Porompompero
Chico The Gypsies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ha elegido a la amapola,
y yo elijo a mi Dolores,
Dolores, Lolita, Lola.
Y yo, y yo escojo a mi Dolores
que es la, que es la flor más perfumada,
Doló, Dolores, Lolita, Lola.
Porompom pón, poropo, porompom pero, peró,
poropo, porom pompero, peró,
poropo, porompom pon. (bis)
A los chicos de mi cara
les voy a poner un candao
por no ver las cosas raras
de este niñato chalao, por no,
por no ver las cosas raras de esé,
de ese niñato chalao que te,
que te apunta y no dispara.
El cateto de tu hermano
que no me venga con leyes,
es payo y yo soy gitano
que llevo sangre de reyes, que es pa,
que es payo y yo soy gitano, que lle,
que llevo sangre de reyes en la,
en la palma de la mano.
Verde era la hoja,
verde era la parra,
debajo del puente,
retumba, retumba, retumba...
The song El Porompompero, sung by Chico The Gypsies, is a classic flamenco song that tells a story of love, identity, and pride. The opening lyrics, "El trigo entre todas las flores, ha elegido a la amapola, y yo elijo a mi Dolores, Dolores, Lolita, Lola," speak of a man who has chosen his love, Dolores, above all other "flowers" in his life. He speaks of her as if she is the most beautiful and fragrant flower of them all. The repetition of her name and the playful use of nicknames, such as Lolita and Lola, emphasize how much he adores her.
The chorus of the song, "Porompom pón, poropo, porompom pero, peró," is a part of the song that is mostly nonsensical. However, it adds a jovial and catchy beat to the piece, making it perfect for dancing. The next verse speaks of the man's pride in being a gypsy, and how he won't let anyone put him down. He's telling the "chicos de mi cara" (the guys in his hood) that he won't let them look down on him because he knows his worth. The use of the word "payo" (non-gypsy) and the reference to the "cateto de tu hermano" (your brother's bumpkin) adds a layer of tension to the song that speaks volumes to the discrimination gypsies faced at the time the song was written.
The final verse of the song, "Verde era la hoja, verde era la parra, debajo del puente, retumba, retumba, retumba," doesn't seem to make sense, but it adds to the fun and playful nature of the song. The song is a celebration of life, love, and identity, and is still popular today in Spain and other parts of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
El trigo entre todas las flores
ha elegido a la amapola,
y yo elijo a mi Dolores,
Dolores, Lolita, Lola.
Out of all the flowers in the field, the grain chose the poppy flower, similarly I choose my beloved Dolores, who I endearingly call Dolores, Lolita, and Lola.
Y yo, y yo escojo a mi Dolores
que es la, que es la flor más perfumada,
Doló, Dolores, Lolita, Lola.
I choose Dolores, my most fragrant flower, which I affectionately call Doló, Dolores, Lolita, Lola.
Porompom pón, poropo, porompom pero, peró,
poropo, porom pompero, peró,
poropo, porompom pon. (bis)
Chorus: The catchy refrain, Porompompero, serves as a rhythmic interlude between verses.
A los chicos de mi cara
les voy a poner un candao
por no ver las cosas raras
de este niñato chalao, por no,
por no ver las cosas raras de esé,
de ese niñato chalao que te,
que te apunta y no dispara.
I'm going to put a lock on the guys that hang around me, so they don't get involved with the crazy antics of that foolish kid, who teases and threatens, but never carries out his threats.
El cateto de tu hermano
que no me venga con leyes,
es payo y yo soy gitano
que llevo sangre de reyes, que es pa,
que es payo y yo soy gitano, que lle,
llevo sangre de reyes en la,
en la palma de la mano.
I won't listen to the ignorant views of your country bumpkin of a brother, who has no knowledge of our customs or ways. I'm a gypsy, and I have royal blood coursing through my veins, a fact that is evident in the palm of my hand.
Verde era la hoja,
verde era la parra,
debajo del puente,
retumba, retumba, retumba...
The image of green leaves and vines comes to mind when I hear the sound echoing under the bridge, a rhythmic beat which resounds, retumba, retumba, retumba.
Contributed by Anthony H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.