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.
Campanitas
Cri-Cri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
¡No lo sé!
Las campanas
Don din dan
Repicando lo dirán
¿Qué horas son?
¡Yo no sé!
Dan don din
Es que son las 6 al fin
En la torre el tecolote
Ya se despertó. ¡uh, uh!
El cuclillo del reloj
Respondió ¡cu cú!
¿Que horas son?
¡Son las seis!
Las campanas
Dan din doon
Te lo dicen en canción
The lyrics of the Cri-Cri song "Campanitas" describe the ringing of church bells and the different sounds they make at different times. The song opens with the singer wondering what time it is and admitting they don't know, but suggesting that the bells will indicate the hour with their ringing. The chorus repeats the question "what time is it?" and answers it with a rhythmical call-and-response sound: "don din dan / dan don din / don din doon," which suggests the different patterns of ringing the bells make.
As the song progresses, the singer elaborates on the different elements of the bell-ringing experience. They describe how the bell tower houses an owl that awakens with the ringing of the bells and how the cuckoo clock responds with its own call. The final chorus declares that it's six o'clock, as the bells ring out in a celebratory fashion with the words "don din doon."
Line by Line Meaning
¿Qué horas son?
Asking about the time
¡No lo sé!
Expressing uncertainty
Las campanas
Referring to bells
Don din dan
Describing the sound made by the bells
Repicando lo dirán
Implying that the bells will indicate the time
Cuando oigas
When you hear
Dan don din
Referring to the sound of bells again
Es que son las 6 al fin
Stating that it's finally 6 o'clock
En la torre el tecolote
Referring to an owl in the tower
Ya se despertó. ¡uh, uh!
Describing the owl's vocalizations
El cuclillo del reloj
Referring to the cuckoo clock
Respondió ¡cu cú!
Describing the cuckoo's sound
¡Son las seis!
Stating that it's 6 o'clock
Las campanas
Referring to bells again
Dan din doon
Describing the sound made by the bells
Te lo dicen en canción
Indicating that the bells will tell the time through song
Contributed by Sarah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.