The restaurant where he worked as a young man, "La Sirena" was frequented by Andres Huesca, who heard some of his compositions of the then young singer, among which was "Cuando el Destino" and "Yo". Huesca immediately decided to record this and following this in 1948 for the first time on the radio station XEX-AM and months after the XEW-AM, which was catapulted to fame. He married Paloma Gálvez and had two children, José Alfredo and Paloma.
He had no musical training—according to the singer Miguel Aceves Mejía, Jiménez didn't play an instrument and didn't even know the Spanish terms for "waltz" and "key". Nonetheless he composed more than 1000 songs. Among the most famous are "Ella", "Media Vuelta", "El Rey", "El Jinete", "Si Nos Dejan", "Amanecí Entre Tus Brazos", "Cuando el Destino", "El Caballo Blanco", "Llegó Borracho el Borracho" and "Que Te Vaya Bonito", as well as "Camino de Guanajuato", where he sang about his home State of Guanajuato as well as his home town of Dolores Hidalgo Guanajuato.
In addition to his own hit recordings, many of his songs have been recorded successfully by recording artists around the Spanish-speaking world, most notably by Pedro Infante, Rocío Durcal, Javier Solís, Pedro Fernández, Jorge Negrete, Vikki Carr, Luis Miguel, Lola Beltrán, Lucha Villa, Vicente Fernández and by Spaniards Julio Iglesias, Joaquín Sabina and Manolo García.
Jiménez passed at a young age, like others of his contemporaries: Negrete, Infante and Solís, the so-called "Three Mexican Roosters", or Tres Gallos Mexicanos all died young. He was struck-down by hepatitis at age 47 and is regarded, along with Agustín Lara and Juan Gabriel, as one of the best songwriters that Mexico has ever produced. He was certainly one of the most prolific composers in the history of popular music, world-wide.
Shortly before his death, he wrote and recorded his last song, "Gracias", thanking the public for all of the affection they had shown him. His tomb has become a place of pilgrimage for serious music fans from around the Spanish-speaking world.
Palabra de Hombre
José Alfredo Jiménez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La tengo casi perdida pero soy necio en quererte
Mientras que tu alma me olvida yo pienso volver a verte
Te di palabra de hombre que asta la tumba te amaba
El día que supe tu nombre supe que ya te adraba
Aunque te extrañe y te asombre ya te tenia señalada
Te voy a estar esperando desde las 6 de la tarde
Y has de venirte volando antes que mi amor se acabe
The lyrics of José Alfredo Jiménez's song "Palabra de Hombre" are an expression of deep love and commitment despite the odds. The singer is risking his life and his luck to be with the person he loves, even though he knows that he is close to losing her. His devotion to her is unyielding, even as she seems to forget him. He thinks constantly of seeing her again and repeatedly promises to love her until death.
The singer has given his word as a man that he loves this woman and will do so until he dies. He says that he knew the moment he heard her name that he would love her forever. Even though he misses her and is surprised by the strength of his feelings, he has always known that she was the one for him. He doesn't know how or when, but he is sure that she will come looking for him, and he will be waiting for her, always hoping that she will arrive before his love for her fades away.
The lyrics of "Palabra de Hombre" reveal a heartwarming message of love, devotion, and persistence despite obstacles, underscoring the powerful emotions that love can evoke.
Line by Line Meaning
Me estoy jugando la vida me estoy jugando la suerte
I am risking my life, I am risking my luck.
La tengo casi perdida pero soy necio en quererte
I am about to lose everything, but I am stubborn in loving you.
Mientras que tu alma me olvida yo pienso volver a verte
While your soul forgets about me, I still hope to see you again.
Te di palabra de hombre que hasta la tumba te amaba
I gave you my word as a man that I loved you until the end.
El día que supe tu nombre supe que ya te adoraba
The day I knew your name, I already adored you.
Aunque te extrañe y te asombre ya te tenía señalada
Even though I miss you and am astonished by you, I had already marked you as mine.
No sé ni dónde ni cuándo pero vendrás a buscarme
I don't know where or when, but you will come to find me.
Te voy a estar esperando desde las 6 de la tarde
I will be waiting for you since 6 in the afternoon.
Y has de venirte volando antes que mi amor se acabe
And you must come flying before my love ends.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOSE ALFREDO JIMENEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sakalakawama6177
Me estoy jugando la vida
me estoy jugando la suerte
la tengo casi perdida
pero soy necio en quererte
mientras que tu alma me olvida
yo pienso volver a verte
Te di palabra de hombre
que hasta la tumba te amaba
el dia q supe tu nombre
supe que ya te adoraba
aunque te extrañe y te asombre
ya te tenia señalada
No se ni donde ni cuando
pero vendras a buscarme
te voy a estar esperando
desde las seis de la tarde
y has de venirte volando
antes que mi amor se acabe
@marcosmarimon6508
Grande entre los grandes ese si cantaba a lo macho viva Colombia y viva México🤝👌💪
@ramonesponda1293
IDOLO INMORTAL.. MAESTRO Y COMPOSITOR ... QUIEN NO HA LLORADO CON ALGUNA CANCION DEL MAESTRO J.A JIMENEZ.. SALUD..OS.DESDE TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, CHIAPAS..
@antoniozamora469
Ramon Esponda EL REY MI ÍDOLO POR SIEMPRE JOSÉ ALFREDO JIMÉNEZ
@sorayarojas6056
El tunel del tiempo me ha transportado a una epoca maravillosa que hoy recuerdo con mucha nostalgia con el rey Jose Alfredo Jimenez Saludos desde Lima Peru
@arturodelgado9879
Ay José Alfredo Jiménez, filósofo y poeta de todas mis pasiones... eras un chingonazo ....
@josemanuellarafarias9749
Chulada de canción simplemente el mejor compositor de nuestro México
@titan_bocina_mejorado
Sin duda, Jose Alfredo Jimenez es el mas grande compositor mexicano de todos los tiempos.
@gustavojimenez1968
ricardo fregoso asies Ricardo. don José Alfredo Jiménez fueungran conpositor elconponiasuscanciones queastaeldiadhoy muchos catantios ancopiadosuscanciones
@josebarajas8461
Verda de Dios que si...
@agustoendo7471
afortunademente Mexico tiene mas para el mundo para Mexico y el mundo: Agustin Lara siempre sera el mejor de Mexico.