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
Por Ti No Morire
Joe Arroyo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Llora
Si supieras mi amor,
Lo mucho que pienso en tu amor
Pero no te vas a creer, que voy a ceder
Dentro de mi corazón, se escucha una voz,
Se escucha una voz, que al alma envenena.
Son mis sentimientos nobles que me asesinan
Pero he llegado a la conclusión
Que una cosa fue tu amor,
Y otra cosa fue interés
Fallaste otra vez, Leonor.
(Por ti no moriré, fallaste)
Fallaste, fallaste y ahora sufre tu castigo
Tú sabes lo que te digo mujer.
(Por ti no moriré, fallaste)
En este juego de la vida se debe aprender
A ganar y perder, a ti te tocó ceder.
(Por ti no moriré, fallaste)
Fallaste, fallaste y ahora tú te equivocaste
Confiesa porqué te dejé, confiésate
(Por ti no moriré, fallaste)
Por ti no moriré, por ti no moriré cosita linda
Hay muchas mujeres que me pueden dar
Una vida chévere.
Pero claro que si
Ahora
Te equivocaste
Ay Dios mío pero que le ha pasado a la pobre
Y la dejaron caballero ¡como!
Olvídate
Vente morena (Olvídate)
No dejaré que te vayas (Olvídate)
Camina y cierra la puerta (Olvídate)
Olvídate, olvídate, olvídate (Olvídate)
Ya me safé de tu maña (Olvídate)
Epa morena pa' lla (Olvídate)
Olvídate
Que, que, que, que, que, que.
Confiesa que te equivocaste
(Fallaste)
Conmigo fallaste, reconoce porque te dejé
(Fallaste)
Por ti no moriré, por ti no moriré cosita linda
(Fallaste)
De tu amor, de tu amor sólo malos recuerdos quedan
(Fallaste)
Ahora Llora.
The lyrics of Joe Arroyo y La Verdad's song Por Ti No Morire are a passionate plea from the singer to a woman named Leonor. The song begins with a rhetorical question about the whereabouts of Pacheco, followed by the singer expressing how much he thinks about Leonor's love. He then states that he won't give in to her and that his heart is torn apart by his noble feelings for her. The chorus, "Por ti no moriré" (I won't die for you), is repeated throughout the song as the singer accuses Leonor of using him only for her own interests and failing in her love for him. He tells her that she must learn to win and lose in the game of life and that she now suffers the consequences of her actions.
The song's lyrics evoke strong emotions of love, betrayal, and pain, all wrapped up in Joe Arroyo's signature Afro-Caribbean sound. The message is that while the singer may love Leonor deeply, he won't sacrifice himself for someone who doesn't truly love him back. The lyrics are poetic and leave much to interpretation, but at their core, they are about the complexities of human relationships and the difficulty of navigating them.
Line by Line Meaning
¿Y dónde está Pacheco?
The singer is asking about the whereabouts of someone named Pacheco.
Llora
The singer tells someone to cry (possibly in response to the situation or events that occurred).
Si supieras mi amor, lo mucho que pienso en tu amor
The singer is saying that if their loved one knew how much they thought about their (the loved one's) love, they would understand their feelings.
Pero no te vas a creer, que voy a ceder
The artist is telling their loved one that they won't believe that they will give in (to something, possibly a disagreement or confrontation).
Dentro de mi corazón, se escucha una voz, Se escucha una voz, que al alma envenena.
The artist is saying that there is a voice inside their heart that poisons their soul (possibly due to the pain caused by their loved one).
Son mis sentimientos nobles que me asesinan
The singer is expressing that their noble feelings are what are causing them pain (due to their loved one's actions or behavior).
Me acusan de ser rebelde en mi condición, si
The singer is being accused of being rebellious, despite their circumstances.
Pero he llegado a la conclusión Que una cosa fue tu amor, y otra cosa fue interés
The artist has come to the realization that their loved one's actions were not solely out of love, but more so out of interest (possibly financial or material).
Fallaste otra vez, Leonor.
The artist is saying that Leonor has failed them once again (potentially by repeating past mistakes or betrayals).
(Por ti no moriré, fallaste)
The artist is reminding Leonor that they will not die for her, and that she has failed them.
Fallaste, fallaste y ahora sufre tu castigo Tú sabes lo que te digo mujer.
The singer is saying that Leonor has failed and must suffer the consequences, and she knows what he means (possibly implying that she has been warned or cautioned before).
(Por ti no moriré, fallaste)
Repeat of the earlier line, reminding Leonor that they will not die for her and that she has failed them.
En este juego de la vida se debe aprender a ganar y perder, a ti te tocó ceder.
The singer is saying that in the game of life, one must learn to both win and lose, and that it was Leonor's turn to concede (possibly implying that she did not do so).
(Por ti no moriré, fallaste)
Repeat of the earlier line, reminding Leonor that they will not die for her and that she has failed them.
Fallaste, fallaste y ahora tú te equivocaste confiesa porqué te dejé, confiésate
The singer is saying that Leonor has failed and made a mistake, and asking her to admit why they left (possibly referring to a breakup or ending of their relationship).
(Por ti no moriré, fallaste)
Repeat of the earlier line, reminding Leonor that they will not die for her and that she has failed them.
Por ti no moriré, por ti no moriré cosita linda Hay muchas mujeres que me pueden dar una vida chévere.
The artist is telling Leonor that they will not die for her, and that there are many other women who could offer them a good life (implying that Leonor is replaceable).
Pero claro que si Ahora te equivocaste
The singer is stating that Leonor did make a mistake (potentially in regard to their relationship or treatment of the singer).
Ay Dios mío pero que le ha pasado a la pobre Y la dejaron caballero ¡como! Olvídate
The singer is expressing sympathy for someone (potentially Leonor), who was left behind (possibly by the singer), and telling them to forget about it.
Vente morena (Olvídate) No dejaré que te vayas (Olvídate) Camina y cierra la puerta (Olvídate) Olvídate, olvídate, olvídate (Olvídate) Ya me safé de tu maña (Olvídate) Epa morena pa' lla (Olvídate) Olvídate que, que, que, que, que, que.
The artist is telling someone (potentially Leonor) to come back and forget their problems, asserting that they won't let them leave and that they (the artist) have escaped from them. The artist repeats the phrase 'Olvídate', suggesting that they want the person to forget and move on from their past issues.
Confiesa que te equivocaste
The artist is asking someone to confess that they made a mistake. It is possible that this line is directed toward Leonor, or it could be a general statement.
(Fallaste) Conmigo fallaste, reconoce porque te dejé (Fallaste)
The artist is reminding someone that they failed with them (potentially talking to Leonor), and asking them to acknowledge why they were left behind.
(Por ti no moriré, fallaste)
Repeat of the earlier line, reminding Leonor that they will not die for her and that she has failed them.
De tu amor, de tu amor sólo malos recuerdos quedan
The artist is saying that only bad memories remain from their loved one's love (potentially because of the hurt or disappointment they caused the artist).
(Fallaste) Ahora Llora.
The singer is emphasizing that Leonor failed (potentially in regard to their relationship), and telling them to cry (potentially in response to their own actions or the consequences of their actions).
Writer(s): Alvaro Jose Arroyo Gonzalez
Contributed by Violet Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jose Martinez
Si sufrieras leonor
Lo mucho que pienso en tu amor
Pero no te vas a creer que voy a ceder Dentro de mi corazón se escucha una voz se escucha una voz que al alma envenena Son mis sentimientos nobles que me asesinan
Me acusan de ser rebelde mi condiciodo
Si
Pero llegado a la conclusión que una cosa fue tu amor
Y otra cosa tu interés
Fallaste otra vez
Leonor!
Salsa coño!!
Andrés G
Soy Colombiano ..pero hay que decirlo, el Joe pertenece a toda Latinoamérica... Puelto Rico, Perú, Ecuador le tienen mucho cariño... Maestro de maestros
sulem flores
Ecuador siempre escuchara y bailara tu ritmo especialmente el salsero Bambam de Ecuador
Humberto RNG
Claro que si, recuerdo cuando se presentó en la Feria Mundial del Banano en Machala - Ecuador. Todo un espectáculo con su voz y su clarinete.
Claudia Days
Lo amamos saludos desde Roma de una peruana
Dr zurita
Feria Hogar de Durán Guayaquil Ecuador lo presentó durante una semana entera allá x los 90s.. Tuve la suerte de verlo de cerquita al Joe un espectáculo siempre con delineador en los ojos.. Tuve la oportunidad de entrar al camerino entraba maquilladito el tipo pero eso no importa era un show mágico un derroche de entrega y q voz potente la q tenía
Simon Santana
Aquí en Guayaquil Ecuador, escuchando las músicas del inolvidable Joe Arroyo, por siempre serás recordado maestro.
Arturo Marileo
Soy chileno pero mi corazón y alma es de Colombia mi bella Colombia.
Andres Macias
Así habla hermano
colombia i chile
Verónica Delgado Salazar
@Andres Macias a mi tía vivían en mi Jai Jai Jai Jai
MARILYN MONROE
PERÚ SIEMPRE TE AMARÁ EL GRAN JOE ARROYO