José Manuel Yáñez Meira de Vasconcellos, known as Joe Vasconcellos, is a si… Read Full Bio ↴José Manuel Yáñez Meira de Vasconcellos, known as Joe Vasconcellos, is a singer and composer born in Santiago, Chile on March 9, 1959, to a chilean mother and brazilian father. He developed a unique latin american fusion borne out of a life of traveling, dominated by latin and brazilian rhythms. Songs like Huellas and Hijo del Sol Luminoso (written while he played as part of the band Congreso) became hits from the beginning. In his eclecticism, his music still breathes from the roots of the local traditional chilean music. Today he's recording for an independent label after a big problem with his first label, EMI.

Ni Chicha Ni Limoná
Joe Vasconcellos Lyrics

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Arrímese más pa'ca,
aqui donde el sol calienta,
si uste' ya está acostumbrado
a andar dando voltereta,
y ningun daño le hará
estar donde las papas queman.
Y ningun daño le hará
estar donde las papas queman.

Y usted no es na',
no es chicha ni limoná,
se la pasa manoseando
caramba zamba su dignidad.
Se la pasa manoseando
caramba zamba su dignidad.

La fiesta ya ha comenzado
y la cosa esta que arde,
uste' que era el mas quedao,
se quiere adueñar del baile.
Total a los olfatillos
no hay olor que se les escape.
Total a los olfatillos
no hay olor que se les escape.

Y usted mire, no es na',
no es chicha ni limoná,
se la pasa manoseando
caramba zamba su dignidad.
Se la pasa manoseando
caramba zamba su dignidad.

Si queremos ma'que toca
primero hay que trabajar
y tendremos pa' toitos
abrigo, pan y amistad,
y si usted no esta de acuerdo
es cuestion de uste' noma'
la cosa va pa'elante
y no piensa recular, eeeh!

Usted oiga, no es na',
ni chicha ni limoná,
se la pasa manoseando
caramba zamba su dignidad.
Se la pasa manoseando
caramba zamba su dignidad.

Ya dejese de patilla'
venga a remediar su mal
si aqui debajito'el poncho
no tengo ningun puñal
y si sique hociconeando
le vamos a expropiar
la pistolas y la lengua
y toito lo demas.
Usted mire, oiga, no es na'
ni chicha ni limona,

se la pasa manoseando
caramba zamba su dignidad.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joe Vasconcellos's song Ni Chicha Ni Limona speak of an individual who is trying too hard to fit into a particular social setting. The invitation is extended to this individual to come closer to where the sun is shining and where things are heating up. The individual is cautioned that being in a place where the action is happening could jeopardize his safety. At the same time, the singer is saying that the individual is not important enough to make any difference, and therefore, he shouldn't worry about being in a dangerous situation.

The repetition of "ni chicha ni limoná" emphasizes that the individual is not important and is further reiterated by the cautions that are built into the lyrics. The singer tells the individual that he/she is "manoseando," that is, compromising one's own dignity by trying too hard to fit in. The lyrics stress that the individual is not necessary to the social event, but if they choose to participate, then they should be aware of the consequences.

Overall, Joe Vasconcellos's song Ni Chicha Ni Limona is a commentary on class differences and the struggle to fit in with a certain social group. The song speaks to the importance of maintaining one's own dignity, even when trying to fit in with a different group of people.

Line by Line Meaning

Arrímese más pa'ca,
Come closer over here,

aqui donde el sol calienta,
Where the sun is hot,

si uste' ya está acostumbrado
If you are already used to

a andar dando voltereta,
Walking around,

y ningun daño le hará
And it won't do any harm

estar donde las papas queman.
To be where the action is.

Y usted no es na',
And you are nothing,

no es chicha ni limoná,
Not this or that,

se la pasa manoseando
You are always touching

caramba zamba su dignidad.
Your own dignity.

La fiesta ya ha comenzado
The party has already started