Born at a dance in San Luis, Cuba, near the city of Santiago de Cuba, Ferrer's mother died when he was 12, leaving him orphaned and forcing him to sing on the streets (busk) to earn money. The next year, Ferrer joined his first ever musical group, a duet alongside his cousin called Jóvenes del Son (Spanish: Youth of el Son). They performed at private functions and the two youths managed to scrape together enough money to live.
Over the next few years, Ferrer would perform with many musical groups, including Conjunto Sorpresa and Orquesta Chepin-Choven.
The leader of the latter composed one of Ferrer's biggest hits, "El Platanal de Bartolo".
In 1953 Ferrer started to play with Pacho Alonso's group in Santiago. In 1959 the group moved permanently to Havana, renaming themselves Los Bocucos, after a type of drum widely used in Santiago.
With Alonso, Ferrer primarily performed guarachas, sones and other sorts of up-tempo songs. However, he yearned to sing boleros. It was not until almost 40 years later, with the release of Ry Cooder's Grammy Award winning, Oscar nominated Buena Vista Social Club recording in 1999, that Ibrahim Ferrer's talent as a bolero singer would become widely known.
In 1996, Ferrer took part in the World Circuit sessions, when it was announced than an old-style bolero singer would be required. In that year, he recorded the album A Toda Cuba le Gusta with the Afro-Cuban All Stars, an album nominated for a Grammy Award.
In 1998 he recorded an album for the Cuban label EGREM, Tierra Caliente: Ibrahim Ferrer con Los Bocucos. It features Ferrer's unique voice and phrasing, band leader Roberto Correra's rich, intricate arrangements and excellent lead trumpet, and tight, rhythmic playing by the Bocucos. The album's is in the style of son-jazz big band fusion.
In 1999 Ry Cooder recorded Ferrer's first solo album, shown above.
In 2000 Ferrer famously received a Latin Grammy for "best new artist" - at the age of 72.
In 2001 he appeared on the track Latin Simone on the self-titled debut album of the virtual-band Gorillaz.
Ferrer toured internationally in Europe in 2005, after releasing his second solo recording, Buenos Hermanos, in 2003.
He was an adherent of the Santería faith, a blending of traditional African religions and Catholicism. He died of multiple organ failure on 6 August 2005 at CIMEQ hospital in Havana, Cuba, after returning from a European tour. He was 78.
Perfidia
Ibrahim Ferrer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Canto pues ya no puedo sollozar
Solo temblando de ansiedad yo estoy
Todos me miran y se van
Mujer
Si puedes tú con Dios hablar
Pregúntale si yo alguna vez
Y al mar
Espejo de mi corazón
Las veces que te ha visto llorar
La perfidia de tu amor
Te he buscado por doquiera que yo voy
Y no te puedo hallar
Para qué quiero otros besos
Si tus labios no me quieren ya besar
Y tú
Quién sabe por donde andarás
Quién sabe que aventuras tendrás
Qué lejos estás de mi
Te he buscado por doquiera que yo voy
Y no te puedo hallar
Para qué quiero otros besos
Si tus labios no me quieren ya besar
Y tú
Quién sabe por donde andarás
Quién sabe que aventura tendrás
Qué lejos estás de mi
Te encontré
en el alma de una rosa
Herida por el sol y la traición
Tu perfume todavía en mi corazón
Y tu amor dejando solo dolor
La canción Perfidia de Ibrahim Ferrer trata sobre el dolor de un hombre que ha sido traicionado por el amor de su vida. Se siente solo y ansioso, cantando su dolor ya que ya no puede llorar. Nadie parece comprender la magnitud de su sufrimiento, todos lo miran y se van.
En la segunda parte de la canción, este hombre le habla directamente a su amada. Pide a Dios que le pregunte si alguna vez dejó de adorarla, ya que él no puede vivir sin ella. A lo largo de la canción se habla de la tristeza que siente al buscarla y no poder hallarla, y de la inutilidad de buscar a otras mujeres si sus labios no quieren besar a nadie más que a ella.
Line by Line Meaning
Nadie comprende lo que sufro yo
No one understands the pain I am going through
Canto pues ya no puedo sollozar
I sing because I can no longer cry
Solo temblando de ansiedad yo estoy
I am trembling with anxiety all alone
Todos me miran y se van
Everyone looks at me and goes away
Mujer
Woman
Si puedes tú con Dios hablar
If you can talk to God
Pregúntale si yo alguna vez
Ask Him if I ever
Te he dejado de adorar
Stopped loving you
Y al mar
And to the sea
Espejo de mi corazón
Mirror of my heart
Las veces que te ha visto llorar
The times it has seen you cry
La perfidia de tu amor
The treachery of your love
Te he buscado por doquiera que yo voy
I have searched for you everywhere I go
Y no te puedo hallar
And I cannot find you
Para qué quiero otros besos
Why should I want other kisses
Si tus labios no me quieren ya besar
If your lips don't want to kiss me anymore
Y tú
And you
Quién sabe por donde andarás
Who knows where you are wandering
Quién sabe que aventuras tendrás
Who knows what adventures you will have
Qué lejos estás de mi
How far away you are from me
Te encontré
I found you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Alberto Dominguez, Milton Leeds
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Solange Voiry
Grande, inmenso Ibrahim Ferrer !
Nadie comprende lo que sufro yo
canto pues ya no puedo sollozar,
solo temblando de ansiedad estoy
todos me miran y se van.
Mujer,
si puedes tu con Dios hablar,
pregúntale si yo alguna vez
te he dejado de adorar;
Y al mar,
espejo de mi corazón,
las veces que me ha visto llorar
la perfidia de tú amor...
Te he buscado dondequiera que yo voy,
y no te puedo hallar,
para que quiero otros besos
si tus labios no me quieren ya besar.
Y tú,
quien sabe por donde andarás
quien sabe que aventuras tendrás
que lejos estas de mí...!
Te he buscado dondequiera que yo voy
y no te puedo hallar,
para que quiero otros besos
si tus labios no me quieren ya besar.
Y tu,
quien sabe por donde andarás
quien sabe que aventuras tendrás
que lejos estas de
mi...!
De mí...!
De mi..
Erzebet Tot Bagi
Nobody understands what I suffer
So much that I can not sob
Just shaking with anxiety I'm
Everyone looks at me and leaves
Woman, if you can with God speak
Ask him if I ever
I have stopped worshiping you
And to the sea, mirror of my heart
The times he has seen me cry
The perfidy of your love
I've searched for you wherever I go
And I can not find you
Why do I want other kisses
If your lips do not want me anymore to kiss?
And you who knows where you'll go
Who knows what adventure you will have
How far are you from me
Phemelo Khetho
Good music is a vehicle that carries emotions across, from the singer to the listener. Never mind the language barrier, I'm sitting here in the middle of the Kalahari Desert and I can't understand a single word that he says but the emotions in his voice coupled with the harmony from the instruments just hits me right straight into my heart and soul. Absolute beauty!!
Roots Rock
It's a song about a mans love who has left him. I'd recommend Glen Millers and then Phyliss Dylons version to listen to👌
Hürrem Mares.
Excelente interpretación de la Creación de mi paisano y compatriota Alberto Domínguez Borrás. 🌷🌷
Revelações da experiência
Sempre me emociono com o carisma e capacidade artística de Ibrahim Ferrer. Uma estrela dessa grandeza jamais se apagara.
Melina Aguilar Domínguez
Interpretacion de un genio absoluto, Desde Mexico todo mi reconocimiento a esta gran voz
Silvia Chambarelli
Magnífico Ibrahim. Magníficos músicos. Magnífica canção!
Elisabete Antonietto
A voz de Cuba. Inconfundível!
jrhamp
Truly one of the greatest..So glad he was able to play to those who love his voice and music. RIP Ibrahim!
Dixie Pena
Que linda cancion y su interpretacion bella ,suave y dulce!
Jesús Oropeza Oviedo
Hermosa interpretación de Ibrahim Ferrer, hermoso arreglo y hermosa escenografía...!