Portabales was born José Guillermo Quesada del Catillo in the province of Rodas, in the former department of Las Villas.
At age 11, Portabales began work as a printer's assistant in Cienfuegos.
In 1928, he made his radio debut on the station CMHI, and from then on divided his time between his work as a printer and performing.
In the beginning, Portabales sang a variety of styles -- canción, tango, bolero, son until he discovered that his listeners enjoyed the guajira the most. He thereby refined the style and developed his signature salon guajira style in which he depicted in bucolic terms the life of the Cuban guajira (the rural campesino). Portabales sang and played guitar, accompanied bass and percussion. His guajiras have a gentle, lilting rhythm, mixing elements of the traditional son and the bolero.
Portabales continued to perform and perfect the guajira in eastern Cuba (the Orient) until invited to Puerto Rico in 1936. Portabales became instantly enamored of the neighboring Caribbean island and remained there for several years, singing in theaters, clubs and on the radio. In 1939, he married the puertoriqueña Arah Mina López, a journalist who joined him as toured Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, New York, and Tampa.
In 1940, Portabales returned to Havana to perform on stage and on radio with the Trio Matamoros. He also made a successful tour of United States and took an extended stay in Baranquilla, Colombia.
In 1953, Portabales finally settled for good in Puerto Rico, where he continued to record and perform and from where he made occasional tours of the continent. During the 1960s, he expressed his opposition to the Cuban Revolution in several compositions in discreetly poetic terms.
Portabales' career was tragically cut short when he died at age 59 in a traffic accident on Puerto Rico in 1970.
Romance Guajiro
Guillermo Portabales Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
miro el verdor de los montes
oigo trinar de sinzontes
voy a cantarte amor mio
hoy esta alegre canción
de un guajiro laborioso
róbate un rato de ocio
para ti es mi inspiración
Elevados cocoteros
forman plácidos rumor
florecidos limoneros
saturado por el sol
forman primorosas flores
bañadas por el rocio
de los primeros albores
oye mi canto amor mio
tú verás como quieren los guajiros, tú verás
Guajira desde el bohio
estoy cantando para ti
hoy te espero en el bajio
donde me tú diste el si
Yo no encuentro la colmena
la miel que encuentro en tus labios
se me acabaron las penas
y de ti no tengo agravio
tú verás como quieren los guajiros, tú verás
Aquí desde mi bohio
siempre admiro la belleza
que puso naturaleza
a la orillita del rio
hay belleza en los palmares
hay belleza en la arboleda
hay belleza en los platanales
y belleza en la pradera
tú verás como quieren los guajiros, tú verás
The song "Romance Guajiro" by Guillermo Portabales is a beautiful love song that is sung from the perspective of a guajiro, or a Cuban peasant who lives a simple life close to nature. From his bohio, or humble dwelling, the guajiro looks out at the verdant mountains and listens to the trilling of the sinzontes, or mockingbirds. He sings this cheerful song to his beloved as an expression of his love and devotion. The guajiro urges his lover to steal a moment of leisure so that they can enjoy the beauty of nature together. He invites her to see how much he and his people love and appreciate the world around them.
The guajiro goes on to describe the natural beauty that surrounds him, including the swaying coconut palms and the fragrant lemon trees. He marvels at the delicate flowers that bloom in the early morning dew and dedicates his song to his beloved. He recalls the spot where they first agreed to be together and sings of the sweetness he finds in her company. The guajiro's voice is full of joy and tenderness as he sings of love and the splendor of nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Aquí desde mi bohio
From my humble home, I can admire the beauty of the natural surroundings.
miro el verdor de los montes
I see the greenery of the mountains in the distance.
oigo trinar de sinzontes
I hear the melodious singing of mockingbirds.
voy a cantarte amor mio
I am going to sing for you, my love.
hoy esta alegre canción
Today, I sing an upbeat song.
de un guajiro laborioso
Of a hardworking Guajiro.
róbate un rato de ocio
Take a break from your routine.
para ti es mi inspiración
This song is my inspiration for you.
tú verás como quieren los guajiros, tú verás (bis)
You will see how the Guajiros love, you will see.
Elevados cocoteros
Tall coconut trees.
forman plácidos rumor
They create a pleasant rustling sound.
florecidos limoneros
Flowering lemon trees.
saturado por el sol
Saturated by the sun's rays.
forman primorosas flores
They give birth to beautiful flowers.
bañadas por el rocio
Bathed by the dew.
de los primeros albores
At the first light of dawn.
oye mi canto amor mio
Listen to my song, my love.
Guajira desde el bohio
A song of Guajira from my humble home.
estoy cantando para ti
I am singing for you.
hoy te espero en el bajio
Today, I await you at the valley.
donde me tú diste el si
Where you said yes to me.
Yo no encuentro la colmena
I can't find the beehive.
la miel que encuentro en tus labios
The honey I find is in your lips.
se me acabaron las penas
My sorrows have ended.
y de ti no tengo agravio
I don't hold any grudges against you.
hay belleza en los palmares
There is beauty in the palm groves.
hay belleza en la arboleda
There is beauty in the wooded areas.
hay belleza en los platanales
There is beauty in the banana plantations.
y belleza en la pradera
And beauty in the meadows.
tú verás como quieren los guajiros, tú verás
You will see how the Guajiros love, you will see.
Contributed by Hunter B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tobias Clausen
Damn, I adore this song!
Salud,Consejos,Reflexion Y Mucho Mas HD
Mucha sabrosura ufff