Born Peter Nitollano, of African-American/Filipino parents, Joe Bataan grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he ran with Puerto Rican gangs and absorbed R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences. His music career followed a pair of stints in Coxsackie State Prison. Self taught on the piano, he organized his first band in 1965 and scored his first recording success in 1967 with "Gypsy Woman" on Fania Records, . The tune was a hit with the New York Latin market despite the English lyrics sung by Joe, and exemplified the nascent Latin Soul sound. In early anticipation of the disco formula, "Gypsy Woman" created dance energy by alternating what was fundamentally a pop-soul tune with a break featuring double timed hand claps, . Joe would take this tendency even further on his influential Salsoul, which fused funk and latin influences in slick yet soulful orchestrations. Salsoul remains influential as a rare groove cult item, but pointed to the future at the time of its release. The LP embodied the artist's highly deliberate and culturally aware musical concept. Bataan theorized the '70s next big thing as a hybrid: an Afro Cuban rhythm section playing Brazilian influenced patterns over orchestral funk. In many ways, his vision was on the money, though most of the money would go to others, and mainstream stardom would elude him. He did, however, get in on the ground floor of the new trend as an early hit maker. His biggest commercial move was a Salsoul production released under the Epic umbrella, and promoted to the new disco market as Afrofilipino, which included 1975's "The Bottle", a much anthologized classic that drives an R&B horn arrangment with a relentless piano montuno.
Always in touch with the street, Joe Bataan picked up on rap very early in the game. His minor rap hit, "Rap-O, Clap-O" was a bit more successful in Europe than in the States, and is remembered as rap's debut in the European market. Nevertheless, his legacy remains his gritty and realistic Latin soul lyrics, his self identification as an "Ordinary Guy", and his highly personal and prophetic merger of Latin and soul influences.
Para Puerto Rico Voy
Joe Bataan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Un canto suspirar
El zumbido de tus playas
Es el murmullo del mar
Cuando las olas llegan
Y acarician su arena
Mi Puerto Rico
(Para allá voy, para Puerto Rico voy, ¡eh!)
Que yo me voy con este son
Para Puerto Rico voy
(Para allá voy, para Puerto Rico voy, ¡eh!)
A gozar sus ricas plenas
Y a probar el bombón de Elena
(Para allá voy, para Puerto Rico voy, ¡eh!)
Saque esa bolsa, de esa one
Para Guaynabo, para Guaynabo a probar su chicharrón
(Para allá voy, para Puerto Rico voy, ¡eh!)
¡Ay ama!
Pues recuerdo mi infancia
Y es como verme en un espejo
Cierro los ojos
Y en su reflejo me veo gozar mi son
Di, di, di, tu, cu, eh-eh
Du-uh-uh, sibaritas
En el mundo hay más bonitas
(Para allá voy, para Puerto Rico voy, ¡eh!)
Que yo sigo con este son
Para Puerto Rico voy
(Para allá voy, para Puerto Rico voy, ¡eh!)
Y en mi pueblo Aguadilla, mira mami, yo cantaré
(Para allá voy, para Puerto Rico voy, ¡eh!)
Y en sus aguas cristalinas
María, me bañaré
(Para allá voy, para Puerto Rico voy, ¡eh!)
Saque esa bolsa, de esa one
Para Guaynabo, para Guaynabo a probar su chicharrón
(Para allá voy, para Puerto Rico voy, ¡eh!)
(Para Puerto Rico voy, ¡óyelo bien!)
(Para Puerto Rico voy)
Quiero gritar con todo el pecho
Que yo sí soy puertorriqueño
Y en las calles de mi barrio
Daré lo que yo siento
Yo te digo, para Puerto Rico donde hay felicidad
(Para Puerto Rico voy, ¡óyelo bien!)
(Para Puerto Rico voy)
En esto, es una isla de marfil mi Puerto Rico
Por eso yo te quiero, te quiero de corazón
Y nunca, nunca, nunca yo te puedo olvidar
Allí tengo yo a mi abuelita que me cocina arroz con habichuelitas
(Yo me voy a Bayamón)
(A comprarme chicharrón)
(Yo me voy a Luquillo)
(Para bailar contigo)
(Yo me voy a Santurce)
(Para comprar mi dulce)
(Yo me voy a Cataño)
(En sus aguas de baño)
(¡Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh!)
(¡Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh!)
(¡Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh!)
(¡Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh!)
(Para Puerto Rico voy, ¡óyelo bien!)
(Para Puerto Rico voy)
(Para Puerto Rico voy, ¡óyelo bien!)
(Para Puerto Rico voy)
(Para Puerto Rico voy, ¡óyelo bien!)
(Para Puerto Rico voy)
(Para Puerto Rico voy, ¡óyelo bien!)
(Para Puerto Rico voy)
The song "Para Puerto Rico Voy" by Joe Bataan is a joyful tribute to his beloved Puerto Rico. The lyrics express his longing to return to his homeland and enjoy its beautiful beaches, delicious food, and vibrant music. Bataan reminisces about his childhood and how he finds himself in the reflection of the island's crystal-clear waters. He celebrates the uniqueness and beauty of Puerto Rico and proudly proclaims his Puerto Rican identity.
The song lyrics are a cheerful and catchy combination of Spanish and English, and they feature the use of Puerto Rican slang and expressions. Bataan sings about going to different parts of Puerto Rico, such as Guaynabo, Luquillo, and Cataño, where he plans to taste some famous dishes like chicharrón and dance to plena music. Bataan also mentions his hometown of Aguadilla, where he plans to sing his heart out for his people. The song's chorus repeats the phrase "Para Puerto Rico voy" (I'm going to Puerto Rico) and encourages listeners to join in the joyful celebration.
Overall, "Para Puerto Rico Voy" is a vibrant and uplifting song that pays tribute to Puerto Rico's culture, music, and beauty. It reflects the pride and longing of Puerto Ricans who live away from their homeland and reminds them of the joy they feel when they go back.
Line by Line Meaning
Desde lejos yo oigo
I can hear from afar
Un canto suspirar
A sighing song
El zumbido de tus playas
The buzzing of your beaches
Es el murmullo del mar
Is the murmur of the sea
Cuando las olas llegan
When the waves arrive
Y acarician su arena
And caress its sand
Mi Puerto Rico
My Puerto Rico
(Para allá voy, para Puerto Rico voy, ¡eh!)
I'm going there, to Puerto Rico, hey!
Que yo me voy con este son
I'm leaving with this rhythm
Para Puerto Rico voy
I'm going to Puerto Rico
A gozar sus ricas plenas
To enjoy its rich plenas
Y a probar el bombón de Elena
And to try Elena's treat
Saque esa bolsa, de esa one
Take that bag, of that one
Para Guaynabo, para Guaynabo a probar su chicharrón
To Guaynabo, to try its pork rinds
¡Ay ama!
Oh my!
Pues recuerdo mi infancia
Well, I remember my childhood
Y es como verme en un espejo
And it's like seeing myself in a mirror
Cierro los ojos
I close my eyes
Y en su reflejo me veo gozar mi son
And in its reflection, I see myself enjoying my rhythm
Di, di, di, tu, cu, eh-eh
Di, di, di, tu, cu, eh-eh
Du-uh-uh, sibaritas
Du-uh-uh, sibaritas
En el mundo hay más bonitas
In the world, there are prettier ones
Que yo sigo con este son
That I continue with this rhythm
Para Puerto Rico voy
I'm going to Puerto Rico
Y en mi pueblo Aguadilla, mira mami, yo cantaré
And in my town of Aguadilla, look mom, I'll sing
Y en sus aguas cristalinas
And in its crystal clear waters
María, me bañaré
Maria, I'll bathe
Saque esa bolsa, de esa one
Take that bag, of that one
Para Guaynabo, para Guaynabo a probar su chicharrón
To Guaynabo, to try its pork rinds
(Para Puerto Rico voy, ¡óyelo bien!)
(I'm going to Puerto Rico, listen well!)
(Quiero gritar con todo el pecho)
(I want to scream with all my heart)
(Que yo sí soy puertorriqueño)
(That I am indeed Puerto Rican)
Y en las calles de mi barrio
And in the streets of my neighborhood
Daré lo que yo siento
I'll give what I feel
Yo te digo, para Puerto Rico donde hay felicidad
I tell you, to Puerto Rico where there is happiness
(Para Puerto Rico voy, ¡óyelo bien!)
(I'm going to Puerto Rico, listen well!)
En esto, es una isla de marfil mi Puerto Rico
In this, my Puerto Rico is an ivory island
Por eso yo te quiero, te quiero de corazón
That's why I love you, love you from the heart
Y nunca, nunca, nunca yo te puedo olvidar
And never, never, never can I forget you
Allí tengo yo a mi abuelita que me cocina arroz con habichuelitas
There I have my grandmother who cooks rice and beans for me
(Yo me voy a Bayamón)
(I'm going to Bayamón)
(A comprarme chicharrón)
(To buy myself pork rinds)
(Yo me voy a Luquillo)
(I'm going to Luquillo)
(Para bailar contigo)
(To dance with you)
(Yo me voy a Santurce)
(I'm going to Santurce)
(Para comprar mi dulce)
(To buy my sweet)
(Yo me voy a Cataño)
(I'm going to Cataño)
(En sus aguas de baño)
(In its bathing waters)
(¡Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh!)
(Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh!)
(Para Puerto Rico voy, ¡óyelo bien!)
(I'm going to Puerto Rico, listen well!)
(Para Puerto Rico voy)
(I'm going to Puerto Rico)
(Para Puerto Rico voy, ¡óyelo bien!)
(I'm going to Puerto Rico, listen well!)
(Para Puerto Rico voy)
(I'm going to Puerto Rico)
Writer(s): Bataan Nitollano, Felix Papo
Contributed by John D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.