Joe Arroyo was born in Cartagena. At the age of ten he was already singing in one of Cartagenas' popular music halls. His father had 40 sons with different women, a story that he usually tells.
In the year 1971 Arroyo had his biggest opportunity of becoming a nationally known artist. He was discovered by Ernesto Estrada, the bass player and singer of the band "Fruko y sus Tesos" (Fruko and his buddies) and signed up with Colombian record label Discos Fuentes. With the band he performed for ten years until in 1981 when he began his solo career leading his own band, named "La Verdad" (The truth).
Joe Arroyo became very successful by mixing salsa, merengue, soca, zouk and other Afro-American music beats in a unique style that has earned him the prefix of Sonero de la Salsa by renown critics and fans.
Born in Cartagena de Indias, 1 November 1955 – Died in Barranquilla, 26 July 2011
Catalina Del Mar
Joe Arroyo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Una tarde en la playa no se olvida
Yo me fui para el mar con catalina
En la tarde estival se presentía
Que la felicidad no duraría
El mar se llevó a catalina
Entre tumbas colorida. hai se va catalina eh .eh .eh
Catalina
Corta vida q tu viste para amar catalina
Catalina
Catali catali mi bambina
Catalina
Va a dormir en arrecifes de colar cristalina
Catalina
Catli catali cosa mia
Catalina catalina ven ven a la orilla
Mar devuélveme a catalina, mar devuelme a catalina
Con un grano de cebellina aquí espero a catalina eh eh eh eh
Catalina
Corta vida q tuviste para amar catalina
Catalina
Catali catali mi bambina
Catalina
Va a dormir en arrecifes de colar cristalina
Catlina
Corta vida q tuviste para amar!
Q no se la lleven compadre q no se la lleven todavía
Que rico! Eh
Catalina del mar mi bambina
Amargándome la vida tu despedida
Mañana te voy a ver si Dios me da la oportunidad pues la esperanza perdida no tiene valía
Que va!
Catalina del mar mí bambina
Amargándome la vida tu despedida
Catalina del mar mi bambina amargándome la vida tu despedida
Mañana te voy a ver si Dios me da la oportunidad pues la esperanza perdida no tiene valía
Que va!
Catalina del mar mí bambina amargándome la vida tu despedida
Ven aca
The song "Catalina Del Mar" by Joe Arroyo is a ballad about a brief and intense romance that took place on a beach. The lyrics seem to be addressed to a woman named Catalina who is no longer with the singer. The opening lines set the nostalgic tone, as the singer recalls a memorable afternoon he spent on the beach with Catalina. The next line, "En la tarde estival se presentía / Que la felicidad no duraría" (In the summer afternoon it was clear / That the happiness wouldn't last), foreshadows the tragic ending to their romance.
The chorus repeats the phrase "El mar se llevó a Catalina" (The sea took Catalina away) in a mournful but catchy melody. The third verse introduces the image of "tumbas coloridas" (colorful tombs), suggesting that Catalina has died and been buried at sea. However, the singer still clings to hope, willing the sea to return Catalina to him. The repeated cry of "Catalina del mar mi bambina" (Catalina of the sea, my baby) combines affection and sorrow in a powerful way.
Overall, the lyrics are an evocative expression of love and loss, set against the backdrop of the sea. The melody and rhythm are typical of the cumbia genre, which originated in Colombia but has spread throughout Latin America and beyond.
Line by Line Meaning
Catalina ven acá
Come here, Catalina.
Una tarde en la playa no se olvida
One afternoon at the beach is unforgettable.
Yo me fui para el mar con catalina
I went to the sea with Catalina.
En la tarde estival se presentía
In the summer evening, it could be felt.
Que la felicidad no duraría
That happiness would not last.
El mar se llevó a catalina
The sea took Catalina.
Entre tumbas colorida. hai se va catalina eh .eh .eh
Among colorful tombs, there goes Catalina.
Catalina
Catalina.
Corta vida q tu viste para amar catalina
Short life you had to love, Catalina.
Catali catali mi bambina
Catali, Catali, my little girl.
Va a dormir en arrecifes de colar cristalina
She will sleep in reefs of crystal clear waters.
Catalina catalina ven ven a la orilla
Catalina, Catalina, come to the shore.
Mar devuélveme a catalina, mar devuelme a catalina
Sea, give me back Catalina, sea, give me back Catalina.
Con un grano de cebellina aquí espero a catalina eh eh eh eh
With a grain of cebellina, I wait for Catalina here, eh eh eh eh.
Catalina
Catalina.
Corta vida q tuviste para amar catalina
Short life you had to love, Catalina.
Q no se la lleven compadre q no se la lleven todavía
Don't take her away, buddy, don't take her away just yet.
Que rico! Eh
How delightful! Eh.
Catalina del mar mi bambina
Catalina of the sea, my little girl.
Amargándome la vida tu despedida
Your farewell is making my life bitter.
Mañana te voy a ver si Dios me da la oportunidad pues la esperanza perdida no tiene valía
Tomorrow, I'll see you if God gives me the chance, as lost hope has no value.
Que va!
No way!
Catalina del mar mí bambina amargándome la vida tu despedida
Catalina of the sea, my little girl, your farewell is making my life bitter.
Ven aca
Come here.
Writer(s): Arroyo-gonzalez Alvaro Jose
Contributed by Liliana L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@carlosg2054
Exitaso de Fruko y sus Tesos en la voz de Joe Arroyo.
Nunca pasa ni pasará de moda, salsa de la buena, no como las de hoy.
Saludos desde Lima, Perú.
@alejandramaria8734
Ya se dió cuenta que casi todas , por no decir todos los temas mas escuchados de la salsa colombiana, hablan de tragedias?
@alejandramaria8734
Esto NO ES SALSA.... ES UN CALIPSO.... CUMBIA A RITMO DE CALIPSO
@jorgesandoval6608
ESTA SALSOTA LA TENGO EN UN CD CON OTRAS DE FRUKO Y SUS TESOS PERO AHORA LAS ESCUCHO POR YOUTUBE GRACIAS A DIOS
@alejandramaria8734
Esto no es salsa... ES UN CALIPSO
@felipeherrera3584
Están tan buena esas mujeres que volví a poner el video para volverlas a ver mientras disfruto la canción. El disfrute es doble
@MAMC2014
Colombia el país de las mujeres más bellas del Planeta
@vergalechera
Negativo 😭
@JoseLuis-nt2gc
Quién es Guerrero?... esta canción no necesita ni necesitó colgarse de nada ni nadie. Este tema es simplemente excelente.
@gersoncamacho9206
Angel Ramirez No todos tienen por qué conocer a Guerrero, yo no vi su película, soy peruano, peo vine por el gusto que tengo a la música del Joe