Despite his personal struggles, he rose up during the 70's, the heyday of Salsa. He performed in sold out nightclubs, stadiums, and in some of the most prestigious concert halls. His recordings garnered him many awards and gold albums. His musical success is attributed to his extraordinary lyrical improvisations. His unique salsa flavor has remained without rival. Sadly, due to his losing battle with addiction to heroin, it played havoc with his career. There was a suicide attempt and ultimately he died from AIDS.
"El Cantante" (The Singer), a biopic based on Hector Lavoe's life, was releaded in 2006. Jennifer Lopez, who produced the film, also plays the role of one of his wives Puchi, while Marc Anthony portrays the ill-fated lead role.
Abuelita
Hector Lavoe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Los refranes que ella decнa me hacнan reir
Y ahora soy yo quien lo digo
Escucha que tъ tambien los vas a decir
Escucha que tъ tambien los vas a decir
Palo que nace dobla'o, jamбs su tronco endereza
Que ella solнa decir
Dime con quien andas, y te dirй quien tu eres
Ten cuidado mi nietecito,
Cuidate de las mujeres
Ojo por ojo, diente por diente
Ay que el corazуn es ciego
Y tambiйn es mucha gente
Coje consejo, llegara a viejo
Escucha bien mi consejo
Para que llegues a viejo
Coro:
Abuelita tus refranes me hacнan reir
ЎAy! abuelita de mi vida
Como te recuerdo a ti
Yo te quiero yo te adoro
Es que tu eres mi ъnico tesoro.
Aquel que abuela tiene
Oye mi voz que retumba
Y si muerta tu la tienes
Vete llorale y rezale a la tumba
ЎAy! abuelita de mi vida
Como yo te quiero a ti
Abuelita y abuelita, por mi madre, por mi madre
Que tu eres la mujer mas bonita
Agua que por la ribera
Mira que bonita va
Asi es el pelo de abuela blanquito
Y bonito de verdad abuelita
Edovago
The song "Abuelita" by Hector Lavoe is a tribute to the singer's grandmother, whom he fondly remembers for her wise sayings and humorous anecdotes. The lyrics reflect Lavoe's nostalgia for his grandmother and the life lessons she imparted to him through her old sayings. The opening lines of the song, "Recordando a mi abuelita/Los refranes que ella decía me hacían reir" (Remembering my grandma/The sayings she used to say made me laugh), set the tone for the rest of the song, as Lavoe goes on to recite some of his grandmother's favorite sayings.
The first saying, "Palo que nace dobla'o, jamás su tronco endereza" (A tree that is born crooked, will never straighten its trunk), is a metaphor for the importance of upbringing and how a person's character is shaped early in life. The next saying, "Dime con quien andas, y te diré quien tú eres" (Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are), underscores the influence that others have on a person's behavior and the need to choose friends carefully. The song also touches on the hazards of romantic relationships and the need for caution, as Lavoe's grandmother warns him to "beware of women."
Line by Line Meaning
Recordando a mi abuelita
I am remembering my grandmother, thinking about the things she used to say to make me laugh.
Los refranes que ella decнa me hacнan reir
The sayings that she used to repeat always made me laugh and kept me entertained for hours on end.
Y ahora soy yo quien lo digo
Now that she is no longer here, I find myself repeating her words and sayings as a way to feel connected to her memory.
Escucha que tъ tambien los vas a decir
Listen closely and you will find that you too will start to repeat the same words that were passed down to us from our grandmother.
Palo que nace dobla'o, jamбs su tronco endereza
A tree that grows bent will never straighten out its trunk, reminding us that our past experiences shape who we are in the present and future.
Lleva eso en la cabeza, Que ella solнa decir
My grandmother used to tell me to always keep this saying in mind, as a reminder of the importance of learning from the past.
Dime con quien andas, y te dirй quien tu eres
The people you surround yourself with can greatly influence who you become, and my grandmother was always reminding me to choose my friends wisely.
Ten cuidado mi nietecito, Cuidate de las mujeres
My grandmother was always looking out for me, warning me to be careful around women and to protect myself from their charms.
Ojo por ojo, diente por diente
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth - this phrase speaks to the importance of justice and fairness in our lives.
Ay que el corazуn es ciego Y tambiйn es mucha gente
Our hearts can be blind to the faults of others, and it can be easy to be misled by the actions of others who may not have our best interests at heart.
Coje consejo, llegara a viejo Escucha bien mi consejo Para que llegues a viejo
My grandmother always emphasized the importance of listening to advice and seeking wisdom, reassuring me that following her guidance would help me reach old age.
Coro: Abuelita tus refranes me hacнan reir
The chorus serves as a tribute to my grandmother, celebrating the joy and laughter that her words and sayings brought to my life.
ЎAy! abuelita de mi vida Como te recuerdo a ti
Expressing the deep love and affection I feel for my grandmother, who holds a special place in my heart.
Yo te quiero yo te adoro Es que tu eres mi ъnico tesoro.
Affirming the profound impact that my grandmother had on my life, and acknowledging how much she means to me.
Aquel que abuela tiene Oye mi voz que retumba Y si muerta tu la tienes Vete llorale y rezale a la tumba
Those who are fortunate enough to have a grandmother in their lives should cherish her and show her love and respect at all times, even after she has passed on.
Abuelita y abuelita, por mi madre, por mi madre Que tu eres la mujer mas bonita
Repeating the same sentiment - that my grandmother is the most beautiful woman in the world - as a sign of my deep love and admiration for her.
Agua que por la ribera Mira que bonita va Asi es el pelo de abuela blanquito Y bonito de verdad abuelita
Comparing the beauty of my grandmother's white hair to the peaceful flowing of a river, and again expressing my admiration for her beauty and her ability to inspire me.
Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.