Popularly known as "El Brujo"--the sorcerer--the Dominican salsero and mere… Read Full Bio ↴Popularly known as "El Brujo"--the sorcerer--the Dominican salsero and merenguero Valoy first attracted attention in the 50s in the duo Los Ahijados, with his brother Martín. Los Ahijados played son, the Cuban form that has always had, and still has, a substantial following in the Dominican Republic.

In the 70s he formed a dance band, variously known as Los Virtuosos and El Tribu, which included his son Ramón Orlando Valoy (who would become well-known in the 80s as bandleader Ramón Orlando) on piano. Valoy's music at this point was big-band son, what was now being called salsa. His hits in this genre include "Juliana" and "Nació Varón." He increasingly included into his repertoire merengue, the Dominican national music that was becoming internationally successful.

In 1997 producer Sergio George recorded a version of Valoy's "Juliana" with DLG, featuring a guest spot for Valoy's distinctive voice. The song was a major Latin hit and paved the way for a mini-renaissance of Valoy's music with a new generation. Now in his 70s, he appears frequently in the New York area, his charm and talent intact

http://www.afropop.org/explore/artist_info/ID/322/Cuco%20Valoy/

Cantando Se Fue
Cuco Valoy Lyrics

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(Cantando se me fue mi lucero, estoy triste y solo sin consuelo)
(Para la capital se me ha ido)
(Solo me da dolor lo vivido)

Cuando se me fue mi amada solo quedé en mi bohío
Pensando que había marchado a buscar lana pa′l trigo
Porque no tenía pa' darle el pan de todos los días
Porque se me había acabado el maíz en mi finquita

(Cantando se me fue mi lucero, estoy triste y solo sin consuelo)
(Para la capital se me ha ido)
(Solo me da dolor lo vivido)
(A la la la la, a la la la la, a la la la la)

(Cantando se fue pa′ la capital)
Como un águila audaz alzó su vuelo
(Cantando se fue pa' la capital)
Oye, cantando un nuevo amor que mi lucero
(Cantando se fue pa' la capital)
Ay, pero qué tonto fui al yo pensar
(Cantando se fue pa′ la capital)
Que lana pa′l trigo mi negra iba a buscar

(Cantando se fue pa' la capital)
(Cantando se fue pa′ la capital)
(Cantando se fue pa' la capital)

(Cantando se fue pa′ la capital)
Trabajando en mi finquita pa' ti, pa′ ti
(Cantando se fue pa' la capital)
Que no tengo la culpa, negra, que se vuelva a ir
(Cantando se fue pa' la capital)
Ay que espera y espera y nunca llega
(Cantando se fue pa′ la capital)
Termina lo que tu me has hecho, ¡bandolera!

(Cantando se fue pa′ la capital)
Triste y deshecho, y es por ti
(Cantando se fue pa' la capital)
Que solo en mi bohío, negra, ¿qué será de mi?
(Cantando se fue pa′ la capital)
Ay que cantando se fue mi negra para la capital
(Cantando se fue pa' la capital)

Porque el sustento no le podía dar
(Cantando se fue pa′ la capital)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cuco Valoy's song "Cantando Se Fue" depict the heartbreak of a man whose love has left him to go to the capital city in search of a better life. The first verse conveys the loneliness and pain that the man feels without his "lucero," his beloved. He is left behind in his humble dwelling, wondering if she left to search for better opportunities because he couldn't provide for her with the daily bread, as he had run out of maize on his farm. Despite the apparent longing for his love, the man expresses his pain from the past memories.

The chorus "Cantando se me fue mi lucero" is an interesting phrase that means "my star left singing." This line signifies that the man's beloved left on a good note, which could symbolize hope or optimism for their future. She left him singing and headed for the capital, where she could work and find a new love. The second verse depicts the man's realization of the mistake he made, thinking that his love left to find a job to help buy wheat for their farm. He calls himself foolish and understands that his lack of care is what drove her away.

In conclusion, the song is a poignant narrative about love and heartbreak, dreams and disillusionment, and the intense pain it brings when they are lost. It conveys the message that love cannot thrive on bread alone, and it requires mutual efforts and care to sustain. The song acknowledges that sometimes, love doesn't follow the course we wish it to, and the people we love sometimes leave in pursuit of better lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Cuando se me fue mi amada solo quedé en mi bohío
When my beloved left, I was left alone in my humble abode

Pensando que había marchado a buscar lana pa′l trigo
Thinking that she had gone to find money for our sustenance

Porque no tenía pa' darle el pan de todos los días
Because I didn't have enough to provide for our basic necessities

Porque se me había acabado el maíz en mi finquita
Because I had run out of corn in my small farm

Cantando se fue pa′ la capital, como un águila audaz alzó su vuelo
She left singing to the capital, like a bold eagle soaring high

Oye, cantando un nuevo amor que mi lucero
Singing about a new love that she found, my beloved

Ay, pero qué tonto fui al yo pensar que lana pa′l trigo mi negra iba a buscar
Oh, how foolish I was to believe that my black beauty left to find money for our sustenance

Trabajando en mi finquita pa' ti, pa′ ti
Working hard in my small farm for you, for you

Que no tengo la culpa, negra, que se vuelva a ir
It's not my fault, my dear; if she wants to leave again, let her go

Termina lo que tu me has hecho, ¡bandolera!
Stop what you've done to me, you thief!

Triste y deshecho, y es por ti que solo en mi bohío, negra, ¿qué será de mi?
Sad and brokenhearted because of you, now alone in my humble abode, my dear, what will become of me?

Ay que cantando se fue mi negra para la capital, porque el sustento no le podía dar
Oh, my black beauty left singing to the capital, because I couldn't provide for our sustenance

Writer(s): Ramon Orlando Valoy

Contributed by Nicholas R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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