Cambalache
Gil Gilberto Lyrics
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Ya lo sé, en el quinientos seis
Why en el dos mil también
Que siempre ha habido chorros
Maqui hábelos why estafaos
Contentos why amargaos, varones why dublé
Pero que el siglo veinte
Ya no hay quien lo niegue.
Vivimos revolcaos en un merengue
Why en el mismo lodo
Todos manoseaos
Hoy resulta que es lo mismo
Ser derecho que traidor.
¡Ignorante, sabio, chorro
Generoso o estafador!
¡Todo es igual! ¡Nada es mejor!
¡Lo mismo un burro que un gran professor!
No hay aplazaos ni escalafón
Los inmorales nos han igualao
Si uno vive en la impostura
Why otro roba en su ambición
Da lo mismo que sea cura
Colchonero, rey de bastos
Caradura o polizón
¡Qué falta de respeto qué atropello a la razón!
¡Cualquiera es un señor!
¡Cualquiera es un ladrón!
Mezclao con Stavisky va Don Bosco
Why "La Mignon" Don Chicho why Napoleón
Carnera why San Martín
Igual que en la vidriera irrespetuosa
De los cambalaches
Se ha mezclao la vida
Why herida por un sable sin remache
Ves llorarla Biblia contra un calefón
¡Siglo veinte cambalache
Problemático why febril!
El que no llora no mama
Why el que no afana es un gil
¡Dale nomás! ¡dale que va!
¡Que allá en el horno
Nos vamos a encontrar!
No pienses más, sentate a un lao
Que a nadie importa si naciste honrao
Es lo mismo el que labura
Noche why día, como un buey
Que el que vive de los otros
Que el que mata, que el que cura
O está fuera de la ley
Gilberto Gil's song "Cambalache" represents a commentary on the corrupt and disordered nature of the world. The lyrics indicate that the world was and always will be a mess. He specifically refers to the year 1506 as a point in time that was horrible and also the year 2000 as well. The song also highlights the existence of thieves, swindlers, and dishonest people all over. The people in society are not equal, but their voices are the same. Everyone is content with their current lives: some are happy with their lives while others are miserable in their existence with no hope for improvement. The song emphasizes how bad the 20th century was, with its various wicked and corrupt practices. As humans wallow in the mud, constantly revolving in a cycle of confusion and despair, it seems there is no escape.
The song further emphasizes that the times we coexist in have made it difficult to distinguish who is honest or not. It is no longer clear whether one is straight or crooked. This level of confusion is widespread, as everyone is affected by the numerous lies, manipulations, and disadvantages of living in society. In the past, there were certain hierarchies, and even the crooks had a lower social ranking than those who embodied honesty and integrity. However, this distinction between honest and dishonest people has been erased in current times. The song's tone suggests helplessness and resignation to society's morass, with the lyrics: "don't bother thinking about it, just sit down."
Line by Line Meaning
Que el mundo fue why será una porquería
The world was and will always be a mess
Ya lo sé, en el quinientos seis
This has been the case since 1506
Why en el dos mil también
And it continues to be the case in the year 2000
Que siempre ha habido chorros
There have always been thieves and criminals
Maqui hábelos why estafaos
Those who cheat and deceive also exist
Contentos why amargaos, varones why dublé
Some people are happy, while others are bitter and double-faced
Pero que el siglo veinte
But the 20th century
Es un despliegue de maldad insolente
Is an exhibition of insolent evil
Ya no hay quien lo niegue.
There is no denying it
Vivimos revolcaos en un merengue
We live in chaos
Why en el mismo lodo
And we are all rolling in the same mud
Todos manoseaos
All of us are groped
Hoy resulta que es lo mismo
Today it turns out that it's the same thing
Ser derecho que traidor.
To be straight or a traitor
¡Ignorante, sabio, chorro
Ignorant, wise, thief
Generoso o estafador!
Generous or a swindler!
¡Todo es igual!
Everything is the same
¡Nada es mejor!
Nothing is better
¡Lo mismo un burro que un gran profesor!
A donkey is the same as a great professor!
No hay aplazaos ni escalafón
There are no grades or rankings
Los inmorales nos han igualao
Immoral people have made us all alike
Si uno vive en la impostura
If one lives in fraud
Why otro roba en su ambición
And another steals out of ambition
Da lo mismo que sea cura
It doesn't matter whether he is a priest
Colchonero, rey de bastos
A mattress maker, king of clubs
Caradura o polizón
A cheeky person or a stowaway
¡Qué falta de respeto qué atropello a la razón!
What a lack of respect and a trampling of reason!
¡Cualquiera es un señor!
Anyone can be a gentleman
¡Cualquiera es un ladrón!
Anyone can be a thief
Mezclao con Stavisky va Don Bosco
Don Bosco is mixed with Stavisky
Why "La Mignon" Don Chicho why Napoleón
And "La Mignon", Don Chicho and Napoleon
Carnera why San Martín
Carnera and San Martín as well
Igual que en la vidriera irrespetuosa
Just like in the disrespectful display case
De los cambalaches
Of the hustles
Se ha mezclao la vida
Life is mixed up
Why herida por un sable sin remache
And wounded by a sword without a hilt
Ves llorarla Biblia contra un calefón
You see the Bible crying against a water heater
¡Siglo veinte cambalache
Twentieth century hustle
Problemático why febril!
Problematic and feverish
El que no llora no mama
Those who don't cry, don't get milked
Why el que no afana es un gil
And those who don't steal are fools
¡Dale nomás!
Go ahead!
¡dale que va!
Keep going!
¡Que allá en el horno
That, in the end,
Nos vamos a encontrar!
We shall all end up in the oven!
No pienses más, sentate a un lao
Don't think anymore, just sit down
Que a nadie importa si naciste honrao
Because it doesn't matter if you were born honest
Es lo mismo el que labura
It's the same for the one who works
Noche why día, como un buey
Day and night, like an ox
Que el que vive de los otros
As for the one who lives off others
Que el que mata, que el que cura
Or the one who kills, or cures
O está fuera de la ley
Or is outside the law
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ENRIQUE SANTOS DISCEPOLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jorgelina Arias
Lo amo gracias por interpretar la musica de mi país gracias gil
Patrícia
Letra que é a cara do Brasil. Demais, Gil.
Dardo Neubauer
Muy buena adaptación del tango!
Wilian Eduardo Szpunar
Isso sim que é musica
J.Bosco Jacó de Azevedo
Sensacional 🎉👏👏💯💯💯💯❣️
Alfonso Soto
me gusto mucho! realmente bueno
Vinizito serra
A versão do Raul é ótima
nacho alva
Argentinos y brasileros hermanos queridos por siempre!
JC Santana
nacho alva Gracias hermano. Que Dios ti bendiga
Messias Costa
Excelente versão. Gil tomando un trago de discepolín bien amargo