Born in New York City where he has always lived.
Father: Puerto Rican
Mother: Italian-American
Children: Henry Fiol is the father of three children. Orlando, the oldest, is a pianist/arranger/percussionist who sometimes performs with his father.
Education: Graduated from Hunter College where he studied art and received his bachelor’s degree, BFA.
Work Experience: Before beginning his career in music, he worked as an art teacher in the Catholic schools of New York, and then as a counselor for students with behavior problems for the NYC Board of Education.
Artist: During the era of the LP, he painted the cover illustrations for all of his albums---in 1978 he won Latin New York magazine’s award for best album cover of the year for the cover of his first album with Saoco, “Siempre Seré Guajiro”---but ever since the format for recordings was reduced down to the size of a CD, he has forsaken the use of his original art in favor of photography instead.
Composer: Over the years, the majority of the songs recorded by Henry Fiol have been of his own composition, and although he doesn’t read or write music, he has always been actively involved in the preparation of his arrangements as well.
Writer: In the late nineties, he dedicated himself to the writing of his first book, a novel in English, entitled, The Short End of the Stick. Although finished, it remains unpublished.
Musical Career: Began all most forty years ago, initially as a conga player/coro singer.
1974-1978: Co-founder, co-leader, conga player, and lead singer of Saoco, where he composed most of the group’s material and recorded two LP’s.
1980-1982: Recorded two LP’s with SAR Records as a soloist, and was fortunate enough to score several number-one hits in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Dominican Republic. He subsequently toured Latin-America, doing numerous concerts and television appearances.
1983-1987: Formed his own band, “Corazón”, and introduced his signature brass instrumentation of trumpet with tenor sax.
1984-1987: Founded his own record company, Corazón Records, and began using the characteristic red-and-black stage clothing with the symbol of the heart. During this period, he recorded three albums on the Corazón label.
1987-1991: Returned to working as a soloist, and in 1989 he recorded a solo album with his son, Orlando. A year later, he re-organized his band---this time augmenting his horn section to two trumpets and a tenor sax---and, with his new instrumentation, he continued to travel and do live performances.
1991-2002: In 1991, Earthworks/Virgin released a compilation album worldwide. Also, in this period, two additional albums were recorded (one in New York and the other in Colombia), and another compilation album, entitled “Lo Máximo”, was released.
2002-present: In 2002, the album "Guapería" was recorded and produced by Henry Fiol for his own production company, Corazón Productions. It Contains seven original Fiol compositions and three adaptations of old Cuban favorites. In 2008, Henry Fiol Produced and Recorded the album "De Cachete" in Cali,Colombia with the help of some excellent Colombian musicians. This recording, on Fiol's own label, Corazón Records, contains nine original Fiol Compositions and is available to be downloaded free from his website.
To this day, Henry Fiol continues to travel and perform on an international level, particularly in Latin America and Europe, where, over the years, he has acheived the status of being considered a "classic artist" and a perennial favorite.
Travels: USA, Canada, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Spain, etc.
Ahora me da pena
Henry Fiol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tengo pena contigo Tú dices que estás penando
Tú dices que no te quiero Que ya te estoy olvidando
Tengo pena contigo Y comparto tu condena
Tengo pena contigo Yo comparto tu condena
También espero el grito Que rompera las cadenas
Yo nací en New York En el condado de Manhattan
Donde perro come perro Y por un peso te matan
La rutina (pena me da)
El truquito (hasta pena me da)
La maroma (pena me da) Ay, bendito
(Hasta pena me da) la rutina
(Pena me da) el truquito
(Hasta pena me da) la maroma
(Pena me da) ay bendito
(Hasta pena me da) la jugada
(Pena me da) el truquito
(Hasta pena me da) la maroma
(Pena me da) ay bendito
(Que pena me da) de mi gente abusada
(Que pena me da) siempre la misma jugada
(Que pena me da) víctimas de avaricia
(Que pena me da) que son víctimas de injusticias
(Que pena me da) esto no puede seguir
(Que pena me da) pronto todo cambiará
(Que pena me da) no pierda fe, no pierda fe, no pierda fe
(Que pena me da) víctimas del ay bendito
(Que pena me da) víctimas de ignorancia
(Que pena me da) que son víctimas de circunstancias
(Que pena me da) víctimas de su truquito
(Que pena me da) eeeh, víctimas del ay bendito
(Que pena me da) esto sí ta bueno ya (Que pena me da)
(Bendito, bendito, bendito, bendito)
Pobre pa' pobre (bendito)
Rico pa' rico (bendito)
Viene cantazo (bendito)
Eh viene, eeeh grito (bendito)
Espera que salga (bendito)
Tu numerito (bendito)
Espera que gane (bendito)
Tu caballito (bendito)
Hasta pena me da, pena me da,
Hasta pena me da, pena me da,
Hasta pena me da, pena me da,
Hasta pena me da, pena me da
Pobre pa' pobre (bendito)
Rico pa' rico (bendito)
Viene cantazo (bendito)
Eh viene, eeeh grito (bendito)
Oye boricua (bendito)
No pierda el orgullo (bendito)
Despierta mi pana (bendito)
Defiende lo tuyo (bendito)
(Ay bendito, ay bendito, ay bendito, ay bendito)
Viene cantaso (bendito)
Eh viene cantaso (bendito)
Sonará el cantaso (bendito)
Llegará el cantaso (bendito)
Espera el cantaso (bendito)
Eh viene cantaso (bendito)
Que se oiga el negrito (bendito)
Eeeh, que venga el grito (bendito)
The lyrics to Henry Fiol's "Ahora me da pena" are about feeling shame and sorrow for the injustices and struggles faced by the poor and marginalized in society. The first two stanzas express empathy for someone who believes they are being forgotten and unloved. The repetition of "tengo pena contigo" emphasizes the artist's solidarity with the person's pain. The third stanza shifts the focus to the artist's own background, growing up in Manhattan, where he witnessed the brutality and desperation of survival in the city. The chorus "hasta pena me da" reinforces the artist's overwhelming feeling of sadness and compassion towards those who are exploited and abused.
The latter half of the song is a call to action and empowerment for the Puerto Rican community, as the artist addresses his people directly. He urges them not to lose their pride and to defend their own interests, rather than falling victim to the traps set by those in power. The repetition of "ay bendito" punctuates the sense of powerlessness and frustration expressed in the song, while at the same time signifies a hope for change.
Overall, the lyrics of "Ahora me da pena" are a passionate and poignant plea for justice and remembrance of those who are struggling and suffering in the shadows.
Line by Line Meaning
Tengo pena contigo Tú dices que estás penando
I feel sorry for you. You say you are suffering.
Tú dices que no te quiero Que ya te estoy olvidando
You say I don't love you and I've already forgotten you.
Tengo pena contigo Y comparto tu condena
I feel sorry for you and share your punishment.
También espero el grito Que rompera las cadenas
I am also waiting for the scream that will break the chains.
Yo nací en New York En el condado de Manhattan
I was born in New York, in the county of Manhattan.
Donde perro come perro Y por un peso te matan
Where dog eats dog and you can be killed for a dollar.
La rutina (pena me da)
The routine (I feel sorry)
El truquito (hasta pena me da)
The trick (even makes me feel sorry)
La maroma (pena me da) Ay, bendito
The pretense (makes me feel sorry) Ay, bless.
(Hasta pena me da) la rutina
(Even makes me feel sorry) the routine
(Pena me da) el truquito
(Makes me feel sorry) the trick
(Hasta pena me da) la maroma
(Even makes me feel sorry) the pretense
(Que pena me da) de mi gente abusada
(It makes me feel sorry) for my abused people
(Que pena me da) siempre la misma jugada
(It makes me feel sorry) always the same play
(Que pena me da) víctimas de avaricia
(It makes me feel sorry) victims of greed
(Que pena me da) que son víctimas de injusticias
(It makes me feel sorry) who are victims of injustice
(Que pena me da) esto no puede seguir
(It makes me feel sorry) this cannot continue
(Que pena me da) pronto todo cambiará
(It makes me feel sorry) soon everything will change
(Que pena me da) no pierda fe, no pierda fe, no pierda fe
(It makes me feel sorry) don't lose faith, don't lose faith, don't lose faith
(Que pena me da) víctimas del ay bendito
(It makes me feel sorry) victims of the ay bendito
(Que pena me da) víctimas de ignorancia
(It makes me feel sorry) victims of ignorance
(Que pena me da) que son víctimas de circunstancias
(It makes me feel sorry) who are victims of their circumstances
(Que pena me da) víctimas de su truquito
(It makes me feel sorry) victims of their trick
(Que pena me da) eeeh, víctimas del ay bendito
(It makes me feel sorry) victims of the ay bendito, eh.
(Que pena me da) esto sí ta bueno ya (Que pena me da)
(It makes me feel sorry) this is really good already (It makes me feel sorry)
(Bendito, bendito, bendito, bendito)
(Blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed)
Pobre pa' pobre (bendito)
Poor to poor (blessed)
Rico pa' rico (bendito)
Rich to rich (blessed)
Viene cantazo (bendito)
Comes a hit (blessed)
Eh viene, eeeh grito (bendito)
Hey comes, hey yell (blessed)
Espera que salga (bendito)
Wait for the outcome (blessed)
Tu numerito (bendito)
Your little act (blessed)
Espera que gane (bendito)
Wait for the win (blessed)
Tu caballito (bendito)
Your horse (blessed)
Hasta pena me da, pena me da,
Even makes me feel sorry, makes me feel sorry,
Pobre pa' pobre (bendito)
Poor to poor (blessed)
Rico pa' rico (bendito)
Rich to rich (blessed)
Viene cantazo (bendito)
Comes a hit (blessed)
Eh viene, eeeh grito (bendito)
Hey comes, hey yell (blessed)
Oye boricua (bendito)
Listen, Boricua (blessed)
No pierda el orgullo (bendito)
Do not lose your pride (blessed)
Despierta mi pana (bendito)
Wake up, my friend (blessed)
Defiende lo tuyo (bendito)
Defend what is yours (blessed)
(Ay bendito, ay bendito, ay bendito, ay bendito)
(Ay blessed, ay blessed, ay blessed, ay blessed)
Viene cantaso (bendito)
Comes a big hit (blessed)
Eh viene cantaso (bendito)
Hey comes a big hit (blessed)
Sonará el cantaso (bendito)
The big hit will sound (blessed)
Llegará el cantaso (bendito)
The big hit will arrive (blessed)
Espera el cantaso (bendito)
Wait for the big hit (blessed)
Eh viene cantaso (bendito)
Hey comes a big hit (blessed)
Que se oiga el negrito (bendito)
Let the black man's voice be heard (blessed)
Eeeh, que venga el grito (bendito)
Eeeh, let the yell come (blessed)
Contributed by Connor N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@locuracomofue5542
Quiero decirle a la persona que este leyendo este mensaje, que le deseo una buena vida, bendiciones, paz y armonía, que sepas que te mereces lo mejor, que tú eres lo mejor. ❤
@albertovalenciagomez1286
Lo miso para vos hermano
@rafaelernestosandoval1848
Gracias ,hermano y pico por tus buenos deseos!!!!! Bendiciones PA' tí!!!!
@yoanmendez8965
Amén vendiciones 🙏🇻🇪
@jhonnydelarosa2303
Amen 🙏Dios te bendiga mas
@leandrogonzalez5956
Muchas gracias muchas gracias Leandro
@nathanaelgonzalez6455
Soy dominicano 🇩🇴 con 24 año de edad, pero esta salsa me hace sentir tan contento me gusta la salsa y más viejas. Que vivan las leyendas boricuas 🇵🇷
@samyholgin7868
Que tristeza por mis hermanos puertorriqueños que no supieron valorar su salsa por que aquí en colombia se escucha, se baila, se lleva en el corazón, se lo dice un amante al rock y a la salsa maldito reggaetón sucia música si es que se le puede llamar música arriba la salsa y el rock jamás morirán.
@estharlyndelacruz8945
Nací en 1989 y empecé a escuchar salsa a los 12 años por la insistencia de un amigo muy salsero. Y de todos los regalos que el pudo darme les juro que el gusto por la Salsa fue lo mejor que me dio, grande entre los grandes Henry Fiol
@laculturahechagenteceromus8434
Yo también nací el 09 de febrero de 1989 a las 12 años empecé a profundizar en salsa y dejé de escuchar salsa romántica tradicionales con las que me crié escuchando. Me enamoré como un loco de estás joyas y jamás he dejado de ser salsero