Cri-Cri is known as the "grillito cantor" or "the singing cricket". He is a character created by Francisco Gabilondo Soler in his childhood and may even be considered "his inner personality"
The character became so famous and gave its author such renown, that it became a second name for Gabilondo. In the mid part of the 20th century he became the most recognizable singer of children's songs in Spanish. Gabilondo's dedication to this segment of the population has been greatly admired, comparable to Walt Disney in his honest approach to making life fun for those who are getting started in life.
Bombon I
Cri-Cri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
con murallas de membrillo,
con sus patios de almendrita,
y sus torres de turrón.
Era el Rey de Chocolate
con nariz de cacahuate,
y a pesar de ser tan dulce
La Princesa Caramelo
no quería vivir con él,
pues al Rey en vez de pelo
le brotaba pura miel.
Aquel Rey al ver su suerte
comenzó a llorar tan fuerte,
que, al llorar, tiró el castillo
y un merengue lo aplastó.
En los bosques del castillo
han sembrado un gran barquillo,
y lo riegan tempranito
con refrescos de limón.
En el lago la cascada
es de azúcar granulada,
y el arroyo, en vez de piedras,
va arrastrando colación.
La Princesa Caramelo
a su paje Pirulí
lo mandó con el monarca
a decir por fin que sí.
El Marqués de Piloncillo,
mayordomo del castillo,
lo ha limpiado con la lengua
para que se case el Rey.
The song "Bombón I" by Cri-Cri tells the story of a king who lived in a castle with walls made of quince, almond patios, and towers of nougat. This king, known as "the chocolate king" because of his sweet demeanor and peanut nose, had a bitter heart. He was in love with Princess Caramelo, but she refused to marry him because honey would drip from his hair instead of actual hair. In despair, the king wept so hard that he accidentally destroyed his castle, which was crushed by a meringue.
After the castle was destroyed, the area was turned into a candy-filled wonderland. The forest was planted with waffle cones and watered with lemonade. The lake had a cascade of granulated sugar, and instead of stones, the stream carried candy. Finally, Princess Caramelo agreed to marry the king, and even the Marqués de Piloncillo, the castle's butler, licked it clean to prepare for the wedding.
The song's lyrics showcase a whimsical, fairytale-like world where candy and sweets replace conventional building materials and nature elements. The narrative explores themes of love, acceptance, and forgiveness, as Princess Caramelo ultimately comes to accept the chocolate king for who he is rather than who he isn't.
Line by Line Meaning
Hubo un Rey en un castillo
Once upon a time, there was a King who lived in a castle
con murallas de membrillo,
The walls of the castle were made of quince
con sus patios de almendrita,
There were almond patios inside the castle
y sus torres de turrón.
The towers of the castle were made of nougat
Era el Rey de Chocolate
The King was made of chocolate
con nariz de cacahuate,
He had a peanut nose
y a pesar de ser tan dulce
Even though he was sweet,
tenía amargo el corazón.
His heart was bitter
La Princesa Caramelo
There was a princess named Candy
no quería vivir con él,
She didn't want to live with the King
pues al Rey en vez de pelo
The King's hair was made of honey
le brotaba pura miel.
And he would sweat pure honey
Aquel Rey al ver su suerte
When the King saw his fate
comenzó a llorar tan fuerte,
He cried so hard
que, al llorar, tiró el castillo
That he accidentally destroyed his castle while crying
y un merengue lo aplastó.
And it was crushed by a large meringue
En los bosques del castillo
In the woods surrounding the castle
han sembrado un gran barquillo,
They've planted a large waffle cone
y lo riegan tempranito
And they water it early in the morning
con refrescos de limón.
Using lemon-flavored soda
En el lago la cascada
In the lake, there's a waterfall
es de azúcar granulada,
Made of granulated sugar
y el arroyo, en vez de piedras,
And instead of rocks in the creek,
va arrastrando colación.
It carries candy and sweets
La Princesa Caramelo
Princess Candy
a su paje Pirulí
Sent her servant, Lollipop
lo mandó con el monarca
To negotiate with the King
a decir por fin que sí.
And eventually convince him to say yes
El Marqués de Piloncillo,
The Marquess of Brown Sugar
mayordomo del castillo,
The castle's steward
lo ha limpiado con la lengua
Licked the King clean
para que se case el Rey.
So that the King can finally get married
Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.