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.
Che Araña
Cri-Cri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que alumbra un rayo de sol,
La araña en sus hilos baila tango
Con los acordes del bandoneón.
Don Gato imita el instrumento
Estirando farolito de papel,
Y su cola menea con sentimiento
¡Ché Araña!
Baila con maña,
Hay que contar
Tres pasitos
Arrastraditos
Pa' delante y para atrás.
Entre las astillas carcomidas
Que quedan del viejo tonel
Se asoma petulante la clientela,
Y de puntillas penetra en él.
Brillantes cucarachas aburridas.
Pulgones fatigados de picar.
Más otras sabandijas relamidas
Que se reunen a trasnochar.
¡Ché Araña!
Baila con maña,
Hay que contar
Tres pasitos
Arrastraditos
Pa' delante y para atrás.
¡Ché Araña!
Baila con maña,
Hay que contar
Tres pasitos
Arrastraditos
Pa' delante y para atrás.
In Cri-Cri's song "Che Araña," the listener is taken into the world of a spider that dances the tango on its web in the back of a ramshackle barrel. The spider is accompanied by the sounds of a bandoneón, which is emulated by Don Gato using a paper lantern as the instrument. Don Gato's tail wags with emotion as he keeps the rhythm of the dance. The dance is described as being executed with "maña," which can be translated as dexterity or cunning.
As the spider dances, a group of insects and "vermin" gather around the barrel to watch. They include cockroaches, aphids, and "sycophantic" insects. The music from the bandoneón and the spider's movements seem to mesmerize the crowd and draw them into the dance.
The lyrics of "Che Araña" can be interpreted in many ways. On one level, it is a playful and whimsical depiction of a quirky dance party in the back of a barrel. On another level, it could be seen as a metaphor for the power of music and movement to transcend boundaries and bring together creatures that might not ordinarily coexist. The spider and the other insects, for example, would typically be considered at odds with each other, but in this song, they come together in joy and celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
Al fondo del barril desvencijado,
In the back of the dilapidated barrel
Que alumbra un rayo de sol,
That a sunbeam illuminates
La araña en sus hilos baila tango
The spider dances tango on its threads
Con los acordes del bandoneón.
To the tune of the bandoneon.
Don Gato imita el instrumento
Don Gato imitates the instrument
Estirando farolito de papel,
Stretching a little paper lantern,
Y su cola menea con sentimiento
And his tail sways with feeling
Llevando el ritmo del baile aquel.
Carrying the rhythm of that dance.
¡Ché Araña!
Hey, Spider!
Baila con maña,
Dance skillfully,
Hay que contar
You have to count
Tres pasitos
Three steps
Arrastraditos
Dragged a bit
Pa' delante y para atrás.
Forward and backward.
Entre las astillas carcomidas
Among the eaten away splinters
Que quedan del viejo tonel
That remain from the old barrel
Se asoma petulante la clientela,
The clientele peeks out arrogantly
Y de puntillas penetra en él.
And sneaks in on tiptoe.
Brillantes cucarachas aburridas.
Shining, bored cockroaches.
Pulgones fatigados de picar.
Tired aphids from biting.
Más otras sabandijas relamidas
Plus other fancy vermin
Que se reunen a trasnochar.
That gather to stay up all night.
¡Ché Araña!
Hey, Spider!
Baila con maña,
Dance skillfully,
Hay que contar
You have to count
Tres pasitos
Three steps
Arrastraditos
Dragged a bit
Pa' delante y para atrás.
Forward and backward.
¡Ché Araña!
Hey, Spider!
Baila con maña,
Dance skillfully,
Hay que contar
You have to count
Tres pasitos
Three steps
Arrastraditos
Dragged a bit
Pa' delante y para atrás.
Forward and backward.
Writer(s): FRANCISCO GABILONDO SOLER
Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.