Yo me bajo en Atocha
Fito Páez Lyrics
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Su sirena varada, sus fiestas de guardar
Su vuelva usted mañana, su sálvese quien pueda
Su partidita de mus, su fulanita de tal
Con su todo es ahora, con su nada es eterno
Con su rap y su chotis, con su okupa y su skin
Aunque muera el verano y tenga prisa el invierno
La primavera sabe que la espero en Madrid
Su santo y su torero, su Atleti, su borbón
Sus gordas de botero, sus hoteles de paso
Su taleguito de hash, sus abuelitos al sol
Con su hoguera de nieve, su verbena y su duelo
Su dieciocho de julio, su catorce de abril
A mitad de camino entre el infierno y el cielo
Yo me bajo en atocha, yo me quedo en Madrid
Aunque la noche delire como un pájaro en llamas
Aunque no dé a la gloria la puerta de Alcalá
Aunque la maja desnuda cobre quince y la cama
Aunque la maja vestida no se deje besar
"Pasarelas Cibeles", cárcel de yeserías
Puente de los franceses, tascas de Chamberí
Ya no sueña aquel niño que soñó que escribía
Corazón de maría, no me dejes así
Corte de los milagros, virgen de la Almudena
Chabolas de uralita, palacio de cristal
Con su "no pasarán" con sus "vivan las caenas"
Su cementerio civil, su banda municipal
He llorado en Venecia
Me he perdido en manhattan
He crecido en la habana, he sido un paria en parís
México me atormenta, buenos aires me mata
Pero siempre hay un tren
Que desemboca en Madrid
Pero siempre hay un niño que envejece en Madrid
Pero siempre hay un coche que derrapa en Madrid
Pero siempre hay un fuego
Que se enciende en Madrid
Pero siempre hay un barco que naufraga en Madrid
Pero siempre hay un sueño
Que despierta en Madrid
Pero siempre hay un vuelo de regreso a Madrid
The lyrics of Yo Me Bajo en Atocha by Fito Paez and Joaquín Sabina describe Madrid, Spain, through various cultural, social, and historical references. The verses represent the different aspects of the city and its people, from the bohemian lifestyle to the traditional values, from the landmarks to the popular events. The song acknowledges the contradictions and diversity of Madrid's identity, but it also celebrates its unity and resilience. The title, which translates to "I Get Off at Atocha," refers to the railway station where the artists arrived in Madrid on their first visit and where many other travelers and commuters enter the city every day.
The lyrics offer a vivid portrait of Madrid, with its typical features such as the beret, the silk gloves, the gambling, and the local expressions. The song also mentions some of the most iconic places of the city, like the Velázquez and Picasso museums, the Puerta de Alcalá gate, and the Cibeles fountain. However, the lyrics go beyond the tourist attractions and delve into the soul of Madrid, as the artists reflect on their personal experiences and emotions in the city. The chorus repeats the line "I get off at Atocha, I stay in Madrid," as a declaration of love and loyalty to the city that has captured their hearts.
Fito Paez and Joaquín Sabina wrote Yo Me Bajo en Atocha in 1998, and it became an instant classic of Spanish rock. The song was part of the joint album Enemigos Íntimos, which combined the talents of two of the most significant singer-songwriters in Latin America. The album was a commercial and critical success, and it also contributed to boosting the cultural exchange between Argentina and Spain. Yo Me Bajo en Atocha remains one of the most beloved and representative songs of Madrid's musical heritage, and it has been covered by many artists and bands over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Con su boina calada, con sus guantes de seda
With his beret down, with his silk gloves on
Su sirena varada, sus fiestas de guardar
His stranded siren, his holidays to keep
Su vuelva usted mañana, su salvese quien pueda
His 'come back tomorrow,' his 'every man for himself'
Su partidita de mus, su fulanita de tal
His game of mus, his so-and-so
Con su todo es ahora, con su nada es eterno
With his 'everything is now,' with his 'nothing is forever'
Con su rap y su chotis, con su okupa y su skin
With his rap and his chotis, with his squatter and his skinhead
Aunque muera el verano y tenga prisa el invierno
Even if the summer dies and the winter is in a hurry
La primavera sabe que la espero en madrid
Spring knows I wait for her in Madrid
Con su otoño velázquez, con su torre picasso
With his Velázquez autumn, with his Picasso tower
Su santo y su torero, su atleti, su borbón
His saint and his bullfighter, his Atlético, his Bourbon
Sus gordas de botero, sus hoteles de paso
His Botero chubby women, his passing hotels
Su taleguito de hash, sus abuelitos al sol
His little bag of hash, his grandparents in the sun
Con su hoguera de nieve, su verbena y su duelo
With his snow bonfire, his street festival, and his grief
Su dieciocho de julio, su catorce de abril
His July 18th, his April 14th
A mitad de camino entre el infierno y el cielo
Halfway between hell and heaven
Yo me bajo en atocha, yo me quedo en madrid
I get off at Atocha, I stay in Madrid
Aunque la noche delire como un pájaro en llamas
Even if the night raves like a bird on fire
Aunque no dé a la gloria la puerta de alcalá
Even if the Gate of Alcalá doesn't lead to glory
Aunque la maja desnuda cobre quince y la cama
Even if the naked Maja is worth fifteen and the bed
Aunque la maja vestida no se deje besar
Even if the clothed Maja won't let herself be kissed
"pasarelas cibeles", cárcel de yeserías
'Cibeles runways,' Yeserías prison
Puente de los franceses, tascas de chamberí
Franceses Bridge, taverns of Chamberí
Ya no sueña aquel niño que soñó que escribía
That child who dreamed of writing no longer dreams
Corazón de maría, no me dejes así
Heart of María, don't leave me like this
Corte de los milagros, virgen de la almudena
Court of miracles, Virgin of Almudena
Chabolas de uralita, palacio de cristal
Uralita shantytowns, Crystal Palace
Con su "no pasarán" con sus "vivan las caenas"
With his 'they shall not pass,' with his 'long live the chains'
Su cementerio civil, su banda municipal
His civil cemetery, his municipal band
He llorado en venecia
I've cried in Venice
Me he perdido en manhattan
I've gotten lost in Manhattan
He crecido en la habana, he sido un paria en parís
I've grown up in Havana, I've been a pariah in Paris
México me atormenta, buenos aires me mata
Mexico torments me, Buenos Aires kills me
Pero siempre hay un tren
But there's always a train
Que desemboca en madrid
That leads to Madrid
Pero siempre hay un niño que envejece en madrid
But there's always a child who grows old in Madrid
Pero siempre hay un coche que derrapa en madrid
But there's always a car that skids in Madrid
Pero siempre hay un fuego
But there's always a fire
Que se enciende en madrid
That ignites in Madrid
Pero siempre hay un barco que naufraga en madrid
But there's always a ship that sinks in Madrid
Pero siempre hay un sueño
But there's always a dream
Que despierta en madrid
That awakens in Madrid
Pero siempre hay un vuelo de regreso a madrid
But there's always a return flight to Madrid
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Francisco Bastante, Francisco Jose Lopez Varona, Joaquin Martinez Sabina
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind