José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945 in Lares, Puerto… Read Full Bio ↴José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945 in Lares, Puerto Rico) is a singer and guitarist, who has been successful in both Spanish and English music. A victim of congenital glaucoma, he was left permanently blind at birth. He is most known for his Christmas song "Feliz Navidad", as well as his covers of "California Dreamin'" and "Light My Fire".

La Bamba
José Feliciano Lyrics

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La Bamba by Valens Richie
Para bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
a Una poca de gracia para mi para ti
ya Arriba y arriba
ay arriba y arriba por ti sere
Por ti sere

Por ti sere
Baila bamba (repeat)
Yo no soy marinero
Yo no soy marinero
Soy capitan
Soy capitan
Soy capitan
Bamba la bamba
Bamba la bamba
Bamba la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Se necesito una poca de gracia
a Una poca de gracia para mi para ti
ya Arriba y arriba

Para bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
a Una poca de gracia para mi para ti
ya Arriba y arriba
ay arriba y arriba por ti sere
Por ti sere
Bamba la bamba

Bamba la bamba
Bamba la bamba

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "La Bamba" by Valens Richie describe the dance that is the song's namesake. The singer of the song begins by stating that grace is needed to dance the bamba, "Para bailar la bamba/ Se necesita una poca de gracia." This sentiment is repeated several times throughout the song. The singer also asserts that they are not a sailor, but a captain, which adds to the idea of needing grace and skill to perform the bamba properly.

The repeated phrase "Por ti sere" means "for you, I'll be" or "I'll be for you." This likely refers to the singer's desire to impress or entertain a particular person through their bamba dancing. The song has an energetic and upbeat rhythm that perfectly compliments the lively dance it describes.

Line by Line Meaning

Para bailar la bamba
In order to dance the bamba

Se necesita una poca de gracia
A little bit of grace is required

a Una poca de gracia para mi para ti
A little bit of grace for me and for you

ya Arriba y arriba
Now up and up

ay arriba y arriba por ti sere
Oh, up and up, I'll be there for you

Por ti sere
I'll be there for you

Baila bamba (repeat)
Dance the bamba

Yo no soy marinero
I am not a sailor

Soy capitan
I am a captain

Bamba la bamba
Bamba the bamba

Para bailar la bamba
In order to dance the bamba