Leonardo " Flaco" Jiménez began performing, at the age of seven, with his father, Santiago Jimenez, who was a pioneer of conjunto music and began recording at age fifteen as a member of Los Caporales. He played in the San Antonio area for several years, and then began working with Douglas Sahm in the 1960s. Sahm, better known as the founding member of the Sir Douglas Quintet, played with Jiménez for some time. Flaco then went on to New York City and worked with Dr. John, David Lindley, Peter Rowan, Ry Cooder and Bob Dylan. He appeared on Cooder's world music album Chicken Skin Music and on the Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge. This led to greater awareness of his music outside America and, after touring Europe with Ry Cooder, he returned to tour in America with his own band, and on a joint bill with Peter Rowan. Jiménez, Peter Rowan and Wally Drogos were the original members of a band called The Free Mexican Airforce.
Jiménez won a Grammy Award in 1986 for Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio, one of his father's songs. He was also a member of the Tejano fusion group Texas Tornados, with Augie Meyers, Doug Sahm and Freddy Fender. The Texas Tornados won a Grammy Award in 1990, and Jiménez earned one on his own in 1996, when his self-titled album Flaco Jiménez won the Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Performance. In 1999, Flaco earned another Grammy Award for Best Tejano Performance for Said and Done (released by Barbed Wire Records), and one for Best Mexican-American Performance as a part of supergroup Los Super Seven. Jiménez has also won a Best Video award at the Tejano Music Awards and earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from Billboard Latin Magazine for "Streets of Bakersfield" with Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens.
Jiménez appeared in the movie Picking Up the Pieces, with Woody Allen and Sharon Stone, and also featured on the soundtrack. His music has featured in the soundtrack for other movies such as Y Tu Mamá También, The Border, Tin Cup, and Striptease. The Hohner company collaborated with Jiménez to create the Flaco Jimenez Signature Series of accordions.
His brother, Santiago Jiménez, Jr., is also an accomplished accordionist who has recorded extensively.
Jiménez's latest CD, Ya Volvi De La Guerra, was issued in 2009 by Fiesta Records.
La Bamba
Flaco Jimenez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Para bailar La Bamba
Se necessita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia
Para mi, para ti, ay arriba, ay arriba
Ay, arriba arriba
Por ti sere, por ti sere, por ti sere
Yo no soy marinero, soy capitan
Soy capitan, soy capitan
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba, bam
Para bailar La Bamba
Para bailar La Bamba
Se necessita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia
Para mi, para ti, ay arriba, ay arriba
Para bailar La Bamba
Para bailar La Bamba
Se necessita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia
Para mi, para ti, ay arriba, ay arriba
Ay, arriba arriba
Por ti sere, por ti sere, por ti sere
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
FADES-
Bamba, bamba.
English translation:
In order to dance The Bamba
In order to dance the Bamba
You need a little bit of grace
A little bit of grace
For me, for you, ah up, ah up(or higher and higher)
Ah, up, up (literally "faster, faster")
By you I will be, by you I will be, by you I will be
(Por can also mean by and not just for)
I am not a sailor,
I am not a sailor, I am a captain
I am a captain, I am a captain
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba, bam
In order To dance The Bamba
In order To dance The Bamba
You need a little bit of grace
A little bit of grace
For me, for you, ah up, ah up (higher and higher)
(Guitar only - Richie and set of instruments)
In order to dance The Bamba
In order to dance The Bamba
You need a little bit of grace
A little bit of grace
For me, for you, ah up, ah up
Ah, up, up.
For you I will be, for you I will be, for you I will be
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
FADES-
Bamba, bamba.
(Repeats)
"La Bamba" is a traditional Mexican folk song that originated from Veracruz, a state on the Gulf of Mexico. It is a timeless song that has been played and adapted in many cultures, languages and variations across different countries for generations. The song itself is relatively simple and generally involves dancing and having fun with the people you are with. The opening lyric, "Para bailar La Bamba," sets the stage for the song about the joys of dancing.
The song talks about the importance of a little bit of grace while dancing and how that can make dancing enjoyable for you and the people you are dancing with. The repeated phrase "Para mi, para ti, ay arriba, ay arriba," means "For me, for you, higher and higher," and encourages the dancers to keep going and build up the excitement. The second verse talks about how the singer is not a sailor but a captain, which might be suggesting that they are leading the dance or leading a group.
The overall message behind the song is about the power of dance and music to bring people together and have fun, regardless of where you come from or what your background might be. It is a celebratory song that encourages people to let loose, enjoy themselves and uplift each other through the magic of music.
Line by Line Meaning
In order to dance The Bamba
To dance La Bamba, one needs a small amount of grace and rhythm.
You need a little bit of grace
One needs a little bit of grace to dance La Bamba.
For me, for you, ah up, ah up (higher and higher)
Higher and higher, La Bamba is for everyone to enjoy.
Ah, up, up.
The more you dance, the faster you’ll go.
By you I will be, by you I will be, by you I will be.
I’ll dance La Bamba for you!
I am not a sailor, I am a captain
I may not be an experienced dancer, but I'll lead everyone in the dance.
Bamba, bamba
The song's refrain.
Bamba, bamba, bam
The song's refrain, faster.
Contributed by Savannah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.