Eduardo Mateo (1940-1990) was a Uruguayan singer, songwriter, guitarist and… Read Full Bio ↴Eduardo Mateo (1940-1990) was a Uruguayan singer, songwriter, guitarist and arranger. He played a key role in the development of the modern Uruguayan pop music mixing rock, jazz, bossa nova and local rhythms like candombe, in a similar way than Brazilian Tropicalismo. Musicians like Argentinian songwriter Juana Molina or Academy Award winners Jorge Drexler and Gustavo Santaolalla cited Mateo as a big influence. Artists like Pedro Aznar, Milton Nascimento or León Gieco have covered his songs.

Niña
Eduardo Mateo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Niña que siempre luz tienes
que muestra lo que no quieres

No le temas a los pájaros
si dicen tu vida con sus trinos

Debe ser que los comprendes
por eso te viene lo que te ha ido

Siempre de vestido blanco
te vas pero ten cuidado

Los diablillos con disfraz de ángeles
te marcarán hablando

Te dará verguenza de que no te importe
el que se haya ensuciado

Yuu...yu-le-lé yu-lé.

Overall Meaning

In Eduardo Mateo's song "Niña" the opening lyrics refer to a girl who always has a radiant shine and showcases things that she may not necessarily want to. She is advised not to fear the birds because they are singing about her life and that she should understand them. The bird's song is something that comes for her because she can comprehend the message being conveyed. The girl in the song is always dressed in white and is warned to be careful when she leaves because those who seem like angels can be devils in disguise. These disguised devils will gossip and share information that the girl may be too ashamed to reveal.

The song "Niña" is about a young girl who is blessed with understanding but is also cautious because she knows that not everyone can be trusted. The song is about being aware of your surroundings and who you surround yourself with. When the lyrics say "you know what has been said about you" it speaks to the idea that the girl is aware of the gossip that happens around her. However, she chooses to ignore it because she knows that it does not define her as a person. The bird's song signifies something important that is needed for the girl to know in order to progress in her life. The song speaks to the idea of being aware of what is happening around you and not letting the opinions of others shape you as a person.

Line by Line Meaning

Niña que siempre luz tienes
Girl, you always radiate light

que muestra lo que no quieres
revealing what you don't want to show

No le temas a los pájaros
Don't be afraid of the birds

si dicen tu vida con sus trinos
if they sing about your life in their chirping

Debe ser que los comprendes
It must be that you understand them

por eso te viene lo que te ha ido
that's why what has gone, comes to you

Siempre de vestido blanco
Always in a white dress

te vas pero ten cuidado
you leave, but be careful

Los diablillos con disfraz de ángeles
Devils in disguise of angels

te marcarán hablando
they will mark you by talking

Te dará verguenza de que no te importe
You'll feel ashamed that you don't care