Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing the "Banana Boat Song", with its signature lyric "Day-O". Throughout his career, he was an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes.
Belafonte won three Grammy Awards (including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. In 1989, he received the Kennedy Center Honors. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994. In 2014, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category and was the oldest living person to have received the honor.
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Sweetheart from Venezuela
Harry Belafonte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You feel in your heart you would marry to me (Si, señor)
You promise to love me the rest of your life (Si, señor)
I love Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
A yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
I'll teach you to "Abla" in English like me (Si, señor)
No worries no nothing no difficulty (Si, señor)
I love Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
A yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
Forget all the young men that you used to know (Si, señor)
I'm sorry but they wouldn't see you no more (Si, señor)
Forget all the letters that you used to write (Si, señor)
I love Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
A yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
I'll kiss you each morning again and again (Si, señor)
And if we get children, must be about ten (Si, señor)
I love you, I love you till death do us part (Si, señor)
I love Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
A yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
The lyrics to Harry Belafonte’s “Sweetheart From Venezuela” is a love song that tells the tale of a man’s undying love for a woman from Venezuela named Juanita. The song opens with the man questioning if Juanita truly loves him and if she can see herself marrying him. Juanita responds with an enthusiastic “Si, señor,” assuring the man of her love for him and her desire to spend the rest of her life with him.
The next verse addresses the language barrier that exists between the couple, with the man promising to teach Juanita to speak English like him. He assures her that there will be no problems or difficulties in this process. The man then suggests they visit a padre and get married immediately. Throughout the song, the man repeats his love for Juanita, claiming her as his “sweetheart from Venezuela.”
The song’s lyrics are simple but convey the message of love and devotion. In its simplicity, the song paints a picture of two people in love, promising each other a lifetime of commitment to one another, regardless of any obstacles that may come their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Juanita my darlin' you sure you love me (Si, señor)
Harry is asking Juanita if she truly loves him and Juanita affirms it by saying 'yes' in Spanish.
You feel in your heart you would marry to me (Si, señor)
Juanita expresses her love for Harry and says that she can see herself marrying him.
You promise to love me the rest of your life (Si, señor)
Juanita assures Harry that she will love him for her entire life.
I love Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
Harry expresses his love for Juanita, who is from Venezuela and calls her his 'sweetheart.'
A yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
Harry repeats his sentiment for Juanita, stating that she is his beloved from Venezuela.
I'll teach you to "Abla" in English like me (Si, señor)
Harry offers to teach Juanita English, just like him and reassures her that it will be easy.
No worries no nothing no difficulty (Si, señor)
Harry emphasizes the ease of learning English and promises that it will not be difficult.
I'll take you to Padre and marry you now (Si, señor)
Harry offers to marry Juanita immediately and suggests that they go to a clergyman, 'Padre,' to make it official.
Forget all the young men that you used to know (Si, señor)
Harry tells Juanita to forget about her past relationships and focus on their future together.
I'm sorry but they wouldn't see you no more (Si, señor)
Harry implies that those young men won't get a chance to be with Juanita anymore because she is now with him.
Forget all the letters that you used to write (Si, señor)
Harry tells Juanita to forget about any previous correspondence with other men and focus on their life together.
I'll kiss you each morning again and again (Si, señor)
Harry promises to show affection to Juanita every morning throughout their life together.
And if we get children, must be about ten (Si, señor)
Harry states that they will have a large family with at least ten children.
I love you, I love you till death do us part (Si, señor)
Harry affirms his love for Juanita, saying that he will love her until they die.
Contributed by Tyler M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rahulbanerjee4181
Juanita, my darlin', you sure you love me
(Si, señor)
You feel in your heart you would marry to me?
(Si, señor)
You promise to love me the rest of your life?
(Si, señor)
I love Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
A yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela, whoa
Yezzir
Talk to me
I'll teach you to habla in English like me
(Si, señor)
No worries, no nothing, no difficulty
(Si, señor)
I'll take you to Padre and marry you now
(Si, señor)
I love Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
A yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela, whoa
Yezzir
Talk to me
Ay
Forget all the young men that you used to know
(Si, señor)
I'm sorry but they wouldn't see you no more
(Si, señor)
Forget all the letters that you used to write
(Si, señor)
I love Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
A yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
Yezzir
I'll kiss you each morning again and again
(Si, señor)
And if we get children, must be 'bout ten
(Si, señor)
I love you, I love you 'til death do us part
(Si, señor)
I love Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
A yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
Oh, me darling yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
My little darling, oh, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
Yes, yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
Oh, I love you, oh, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
A little kiss, yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela, Juanita, my darling, oh
Yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
Play that thing, yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
Yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
Round the corner, yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela
Oh, I love you, yes, Juanita, my sweetheart from Venezuela, whoa
@kenwatson9406
Just heard this song in the opening of “Beetlejuice”. RIP Mr. Belafonte.
@FIATLUX333
😂😂😂yes me too 🤭
@Shred_The_Weapon
I think most people my age, slightly older and slightly younger (born in 1980) were introduced to this song and Harry‘s music that same way when Beetlejuice came out. Better than having it played for you when you weren’t interested or something.
@kukumuniu5658
Beetlefonte, Belajuice, Beetlejuice!!
@DBayonetta
And i come from Venezuela. Oh my lovely Land. Juanita from Venezuela
@FlownXp
RIP one of the greatest latin singers that ever lived.
@erickfisher7501
Latin singer ? Calypso is from Trinidad not Venezuela
@tamerry1
Born in Harlem, from Jamaican parentage.
@allsmoshedup
Rest peacefully beautiful legend ♥️
@thulanimakhaye8458
I fell in love with this song when I hward it in the early eighties. We in South Africa also loved Harry Belafonte when he partnered with Miriam Makeba and took part in the fight against apartheid. Rest in peace Harry. You ran your race well.