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.
Tango Medroso -
Cri-Cri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Es horario del caballo.
La voz del perro
Zozobra del ladrón.
La vieja puerta
De goznes que rechinan
Temblando se despierta
Con la voz del aldabón.
La luz del rayo
Alumbra de soslayo.
El ronco trueno
Dispara su cañón.
Y empieza a picar
Sobre el tejado
El ritmo de la lluvia
Como tango compadrón.
Allá, oculta en la noche
Volando sin ruido va por doquier
Siempre la buena lechuza
Que todo lo sabe y todo lo ve.
Anda cazando
Mil pesadillas
Que como buitres
Quieren caer,
Caer en casas sencillas
Turbando a la gente que piensa bien.
Pero la lechuza las ataca,
Hace chuza, desbarata
Y las tira con desdén.
Será tal vez que las noches
De negras tinieblas me dan terror;
Como si algo muy raro
Ande de puntillas a mi alrededor.
No soy valiente
Ni lo remedo.
Yo siento miedo
De no sé qué.
Por éso grito: -- ¡Lechuza,
Aquí has pesadillas, aprisa ven!
Ya que la lechuza las ataca,
Hace chuza, desbarata
Y las tira con desdén.
The song "Tango Medroso" by Cri-Cri has a spooky tone to it, with lyrics that describe different sounds and sights that induce fear in the singer. The song starts off with the crowing of a rooster, signaling the start of the horse's schedule, and then moves on to the barking of a dog, which represents the fear of a thief. The singer then describes an old, creaky door that trembles with the sound of the knocker. The lightning illuminates everything obliquely, and the thunder shoots its cannon, creating a dramatic scene.
As the rain starts to fall, it picks up a rhythm that sounds like a tango dance. The singer then talks about an owl that flies quietly through the night, hunting for nightmares. The owl, in this song, represents intuition and knowledge, which can help one see through the darkness and find answers. The owl is a character that provides a sense of comfort, as it is the protector that silently watches over everything.
Line by Line Meaning
La voz del gallo
The sound of the rooster
Es horario del caballo.
It's time for the horse to wake up.
La voz del perro
The sound of the dog
Zozobra del ladrón.
Instills fear in the thief.
La vieja puerta
The old door
De goznes que rechinan
Creaking on its hinges
Temblando se despierta
It wakes up trembling
Con la voz del aldabón.
With the sound of its knocker.
La luz del rayo
The light of the lightning
Alumbra de soslayo.
Illuminates obliquely.
El ronco trueno
The hoarse thunder
Dispara su cañón.
Fires its cannon.
Y empieza a picar
And starts to beat
Sobre el tejado
On the roof
El ritmo de la lluvia
The rhythm of the rain
Como tango compadrón.
Like a boss tango.
Allá, oculta en la noche
There, hidden in the night
Volando sin ruido va por doquier
Flying soundlessly everywhere
Siempre la buena lechuza
Always the wise owl
Que todo lo sabe y todo lo ve.
Who knows and sees everything.
Anda cazando
She's out hunting
Mil pesadillas
A thousand nightmares
Que como buitres
That like vultures
Quieren caer,
Want to fall
Caer en casas sencillas
Into simple houses
Turbando a la gente que piensa bien.
Disturbing people who think clearly.
Pero la lechuza las ataca,
But the owl attacks them,
Hace chuza, desbarata
Destroys them with disdain.
Y las tira con desdén.
And throws them away.
Será tal vez que las noches
Perhaps it's because nights
De negras tinieblas me dan terror;
Of black darkness that scare me;
Como si algo muy raro
As if something very strange
Ande de puntillas a mi alrededor.
Is tiptoeing around me.
No soy valiente
I'm not brave
Ni lo remedo.
Nor do I pretend to be.
Yo siento miedo
I feel fear
De no sé qué.
Of I don't know what.
Por éso grito:
That's why I shout:
-- ¡Lechuza,
-- Owl,
Aquí has pesadillas, aprisa ven!
Here are nightmares, come quickly!
Ya que la lechuza las ataca,
Since the owl attacks them,
Hace chuza, desbarata
Destroys them with disdain.
Y las tira con desdén.
And throws them away.
Writer(s): Francisco Gabilondo Soler
Contributed by Nicholas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.