In 1976 he started with a group of amateurs in Puerto Rico, and his first recording was with the Mario Ortiz Orchestra. He then moved on to Orquesta La Grande, and during the two years Gilberto was with them, he met Mr. Elias Lopés who later helped mold and polish the promising young singer, releasing three recordings.
In 1980, he got an important opportunity recording "Homenaje a Eddie Palmieri" with the Puerto Rico All Stars. He then went on to record with Tommy Olivencia. From 1981 through 1986 he was with the Willie Rosario Orchestra where he recorded six albums.
Santa Rosa then signed with Ralph Cartagena's Combo Records. In 1986, he debuted on Good Vibrations fronting his own salsa orquesta. After releasing three more albums on Combo, including "De Amor y Salsa", he switched to CBS Records and issued the chart-topping salsa romantica set Punto De Vista in 1990, which went platinum and spawned the smash hits "Vivir Sin Ella" and "Perdoname". Santa Rosa's 1991 CBS/Sony follow-up, Perspectiva, was another monster hit.
Since the mid-80s, the mainstream salsa recording industry in Puerto Rico and the USA has been largely preoccupied with developing and marketing the images of "good looking" young male vocalists, rather than producing solid, stimulating music performed by swinging soneros (improvising salsa singers). Santa Rosa, however, who was one of the first of this new crop of solo singers, is regarded as being amongst the small number who deserve to be called a sonero.
In 1990, Santa Rosa was in the illustrious company of Andy Montañez and Pedro Brull (from Mulenze ), as one of the contemporary soneros assembled by bandleader Don Perignon for his all-star La Puertorriqueña project. In 1990, he won the Billboard Lo Nuestro award for Best Male Singer. He has also performed at New York's prestigious annual salsa festival. But 1990 was an important year in other respects. Santa Rosa made acting debut in the play "La pareja dispareja", where he was joined by Rafo Muñiz and Luis Vigoreaux.
He visited Japan in 1995 as Puerto Rico's musical ambassador and sang one of his songs, "De cara al viento" in Japanese in his effort to bridge the cultural barriers. Since then Santa Rosa's fame reached across borders and continents; commanding recognition as salsa artist in most demand. In 1996 he released yet another smash album Esencia which included hit songs such as No Quiero Nada Regala'o.
Santa Rosa's recent work has not been limited to soloist recordings. He joined other artists in the First President's Festival in the Dominican Republic; Andy Montañez in New York's Lincoln Center, in 1997; and Olga Tañon in the Universal Studios Amphitheater in Holloywood, in 1997.
In 1999, he released Expresión, which reinforced his international fame. The album included the hit song "Que alguien me diga", written by Omar Alfanno, which was at the top of Billboard‘s latin chart for various weeks. The album also included the song Fulana, unlike his well known salsa, demonstrating his wide range of interests and ability. The album was selected as one of the 20 best recordings of the year by the National Foundation Popular Culture of Puerto Rico.
Caballo Viejo
Gilberto Santa Rosa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
uno no se da ni cuenta, el cauca reverdece
y el guamanchito florece y la soga se revienta
Cuando el amor llega así, de esta manera,
uno no se da ni cuenta, el cauca reverdece
y el guamanchito florece y la soga se revienta
Caballo le dan sabana porque está viejo y cansao,
cuando le sueltan la rienda es caballo desbocao
Y si una potra lasana caballo viejo se encuentra,
el pecho se le desgrana y no le hace caso a faceta,
y no lo obedece a freno ni lo para un pas arrienda
Caballo viejo carrachaca
A este caballo viejo, hay que darle dos aspirina hombre
Cuando el amor llega así, de esta manera
uno no tiene la culpa, quererse no tiene horarios,
ni fecha en el calendario cuando las ganas se juntan
Cuando el amor llega así, de esta manera,
uno no tiene la culpa, quererse no tiene horarios,
ni fecha en el calendario cuando las ganas se juntan
Caballo le dan sabana, y tiene el tiempo contao,
y se va por la mañana con su pasito apurao,
a verse con su potranca que lo tiene emparrascao
El potro va tiempo al tiempo porque le sobra la edad,
caballo viejo no puede perder la flor que le dan,
porque después de esta vida no hay otra oportunidad
El caballo no quiere perder el tiempo
Cuando el amor llega así, llega así,
de esa manera
Cuando el amor llega así, llega así,
de esa manera
Cuando el amor llega así, llega así,
de esa manera
Cuando el amor llega así, llega así,
de esa manera
Caballo le dan sabana
Porque esta viejo y cansao
Caballo le dan sabana
Porque esta viejo y cansao
Caballo le dan sabana
Porque esta viejo y cansao
Caballo le dan sabana
Porque esta viejo y cansao
Quererse no tiene horario,
ni fecha en el calendario caballo
Quererse no tiene horario,
ni fecha en el calendario caballo
Quererse no tiene horario,
ni fecha en el calendario caballo
Quererse no tiene horario,
ni fecha en el calendario caballo
"Caballo Viejo" by Gilberto Santa Rosa is a romantic song about falling in love unexpectedly. The lyrics describe how love can bloom without warning and turn a person's world upside down. The first verse talks about how one may not realize that love has arrived until it is already in full swing. The singer uses vivid imagery to describe how the world around them changes, with the Caucan River turning green and flowering plants blossoming. The phrase "la soga se revienta" (the rope breaks) implies that one may feel overwhelmed by their emotions and lose control.
The second verse compares falling in love to a horse. The singer suggests that people often underestimate the power of a tired or old horse, not realizing that once it is unleashed, it can run wild. Similarly, many believe that older people cannot experience or appreciate love, but they can be just as passionate as younger lovers. The line "el pecho se le desgrana" (the chest is de-seeded) refers to the horse's heart, which may break free once it encounters a young filly.
The chorus repeats the idea that falling in love happens in unexpected ways and that there are no set rules or timelines for love. The final verse returns to the horse metaphor, with the singer warning that an older horse cannot let opportunities for love pass them by because they may not get another chance. This is why the horse cannot waste time and must seize the moment to be happy.
Overall, "Caballo Viejo" is a timeless classic that reminds us of the power of unexpected love and the urgency of seizing the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando el amor llega así, de esta manera, uno no se da ni cuenta, el cauca reverdece y el guamanchito florece y la soga se revienta
When love comes in this way, one doesn't even notice it. The lush vegetation around becomes greener and flowers start to bloom. And once the love takes hold, everything else just falls apart.
Caballo le dan sabana porque está viejo y cansao, pero no se dan de cuenta que un corazón amarrao cuando le sueltan la rienda es caballo desbocao
They let the old horse roam in the green pastures and think that he has lived his life to the fullest. However, what they don't realize is that when they finally set the heart free, it can take off like a wild horse.
Y si una potra lasana caballo viejo se encuentra, el pecho se le desgrana y no le hace caso a faceta, y no lo obedece a freno ni lo para un pas arrienda
When an old horse meets a young mare, his heart starts beating faster and he becomes uncontrollable. No bit or saddle can stop him from chasing after his love interest.
Caballo viejo carrachaca, a este caballo viejo, hay que darle dos aspirina hombre
This old horse needs some form of medication to keep up with his passion. He needs something to calm him down, but it will not be enough to keep him from chasing after his love interest.
Cuando el amor llega así, de esta manera uno no tiene la culpa, quererse no tiene horarios, ni fecha en el calendario cuando las ganas se juntan
No one can be blamed when love hits them suddenly. Love does not have an appointed time, nor does it care about your schedule. When the two hearts meet, there is no schedule to follow.
Caballo le dan sabana, y tiene el tiempo contao, y se va por la mañana con su pasito apurao, a verse con su potranca que lo tiene emparrascao
They let the old horse enjoy his last years in the fields, but his heart still races with excitement. He trots off in the morning to see his love, who has him wrapped around her hoof.
El potro va tiempo al tiempo porque le sobra la edad, caballo viejo no puede perder la flor que le dan, porque después de esta vida no hay otra oportunidad
The young horse has all the time in the world, but the old horse knows that this may be his last chance at love. He mustn't waste it, for there may not be another opportunity.
El caballo no quiere perder el tiempo
The horse doesn't want to waste any time, for he knows that life is fleeting and love is rare.
Cuando el amor llega así, llega así, de esa manera
Love comes however it pleases.
Caballo le dan sabana porque está viejito y cansao
The old horse is given a comfortable place to rest so that he can enjoy his remaining days in peace.
Quererse no tiene horario, ni fecha en el calendario caballo
Love doesn't follow a schedule or a calendar. It arrives when it decides to arrive, horse.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SIMON DIAZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lesli briceño
Yo me goce este espectáculo,grandioso.Gracias Gilberto,eres único y especial en nuestro país.
Lola Lashy
ASI MERO,ES GILBERTO ROSAS,, ARRIBA PERTO RICO CUBA Y VENEZUELA,,DIOS NOS BENDIGA., PORQUE CON MUSICA NOS DEJA OLVIDAR EL DOLOR QUE ESTAMOS VIVIENDO EN ESTOS TIEMPOS.
Miriam
wow es precioso escuchar a un extranjero interpretar un tema tan emblemático y versionado por tantos artistas.. en su voz es fabuloso.. los venezolanos lo amamos de mas......
maraluna lopez
Es una de las canciones que la han grabado innumerables artistas. Del maestro Simón Díaz compositor venezolano con la sinfónica venezolana, el concierto no tuvo desperdicio con el gran cantante Gilberto Santarrosa. Magnifico
RAUL VAZQUEZ
DIOS MIO!!! QUE ARMONIAS!!! QUE CUERDAS!!!! QUE ARREGLOI!!! TE ADORO GILBERTO SANTAROSA!!!!! EL CABALLERO DE LA SALSA!!!!! AJUAAA !!!!
SUPER LATINA 90.1FM MADRID LATINA 90.1FM MADRID
gracias por lo que has hecho por la musica latina en genral y por la SALSA EN PARTICULAR
Ybeth Judith Torres Parra
¡Extraordinario Gilberto!
Rodolfo Ortega
Este señor de la salsa es unico en su genero ....
Ademas cantando este clasico venezolano con sinfonica agregada no podia ser mejor su actuacion musical ....grande Gilberto
E. GARCIA SEGUROS Y FINANZAS
Grande nuestro país Venezuela, hasta ese año 1998; espectáculos de gran performance y gran nivel, como éste del Caballero Gilberto, eran frecuentes en esa Sala hermosa, del Teatro Teresa Carreño. En 1999 entramos en la etapa más triste y oscura de nuestra historia, al punto que hoy día, solo quedan escombros de lo que fuera ese país extraordinario
David Mijares
Fe que volveremos hacer igual o mejor que antes